10 Sep 2014

It is healthy for anyone to conclude that indeed by 2016, Batswana will be prosperous looking at the proliferation of business owned by youth currently, and, one such youth is the Maun-born, Mr Tlhaloso Gaoromelwe, now residing in Hukuntsi.

Having grown-up in a poor family, Mr Gaoromelwe said in an interview that he was inspired to change the status quo, re-write the history and leave behind a remarkable legacy when he died.

When he left his home town of Maun after failing Junior Certificate (JC), he had one option in his mind, to go in search for greener pastures. First, he headed for Ghanzi whereupon in 2004 he landed a job in the butchery section of the Ghanzi Spar Supermarket, but later resigned because of low remuneration. 

After relocating to Hukuntsi, he joined Mma Veljoen Supermarket, still under the same section until he terminated his employment contract because of what he regarded as unfair labour practice by his employers.

Subsequently, he started to explore the opportunities of self-employment, and, beginning 2012, Mr Gaoromelwe’s dream became real when the Youth Development Fund (YDF) funded him with a start-up capital of P99 000.

He bought all the necessary machinery and stock. However, the now business-minded youth revealed that the first years were difficult for him since his business, trading by the name Gao T- Butchery and Fresh Produce, was new and needed serious advertising.

However, after six months, Mr Gaoromelwe said things started to change and multitude of customers knocked on the doors of his business daily. 

That was due to good customer service, he thought, adding that he practiced the common adage that says ‘a customer is king’; therefore satisfaction of one customer is a huge advertisement because the message will spread like a veld fire through word of mouth.

“I try by all means to satisfy my customers and give them discount if they complain about my products,” he said.

The Maun-born entrepreneur described hard work and perseverance as the weapons of any business success, adding that things would not always go smooth in business.

He said there were times when it was hard and he opted to throw in the towel but he had soldiered on as he believed that hard times were not meant to destroy; rather one be strengthened by them.

Mr Gaoromelwe is really grateful for his business because it has transformed his life totally as he can now provide basic needs for his nuclear family and extend ed a helping hand to other family members.

In addition, he said it had created employment for him and his wife who also works in the business.

As they say, every successful business has its own story of challenges, Mr Gaoromelwe‘s business is faced with the lack of transport to collect cattle from far flung suppliers who are usually in cattle posts. 

Meanwhile, he is still looking into the future to invest in a new business venture to diversify his economy should the opportunity presents itself. ENDS