08 Jun 2023

It takes innovation and an audacious spirit to chart an unconventional business path.

This sums up the story of Ms Mpho Motsamai, a self-taught craft maker who is based in Pitsane, but travels countrywide to sell her products.

When she decided to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, she chose neither of the two very distinct fields she studied, secretarial services as well bricklaying and plastering, instead she looked back to her childhood for inspiration.

“My grandmother was very gifted in craft-making and crocheting, and her products were highly sought-after,” says Ms Motsamai.

“So when I decided to go into business it came almost naturally for me to follow in her footsteps.”

That was in 2018 - and she has not looked back since. In fact, her only regret is that she didn’t do this earlier. Not only is business good, but she is thrilled to be doing something she is so passionate about.

“There is never a dull day when you do what you love,” she declares. “I look forward to each day, notwithstanding the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur in a small market.”

Her creations are marketed through her company, Posty’s Crafts, which was registered the same year she decided to start making crafts for a living.

As well as being the primary producer of the company’s merchandise, she is also the chief marketing officer.

The latter role sees her travel to various exhibitions and trade fairs across the country to market her creations – an assortment of handmade products such as sandals, handbags, bracelets, and hats.

“It’s not just about functionality,” she explains the popularity of her crafts. “Each product tells a unique story. It’s different from purchasing a mass produced item from a store.”

She has steadily cultivated an online market, and her products are now sourced by customers outside Botswana.

She finds that international customers value her products greatly.

From strictly craft-making, the business has diversified to include repairs of leather bags and shoes, as well as production of various ornaments.

There is even a service to tutor others who want to take up craft-making.

Though she wouldn’t swoop what she does for anything, Ms Motsamai states that it is not all plain sailing. There are many challenges that she has to contend with – and at the top is the high cost of raw material.

“Most of the raw material I use for my products is hardly available in the local market.

So I have to import it, and it can be quite expensive. I don’t have the convenience of running to a nearby supplier to procure material when it runs out. So I always have to keep a lot of stock, which can impact on cash flow,” she says.

Coming just when she was finding her feet, the COVID-19 pandemic was a nightmarish experience as the restricted movements meant that she could not go about to market her products.

She also felt the knock-on effect that came with a compressed business environment because consumers prioritised basic needs such as food due to limited disposable income.

Ms Motsamai points out that what makes her business unique is that “I prioritise customer satisfaction”.

“Happy customers are bound to come back, and in some cases even refer friends and family members,” she says.

“So I go all out to ensure that I have satisfied customers. I also encourage my customers to give me honest feedback about any aspect of the business to help me get better because there is always room for improvement.”

For Motsamai, her vocation is more than just a source of income; it has also brought spiritual fulfilment and enhanced her self-confidence.

“Before I ventured into this business, I did not have much hope and was generally despondent,” she says. “Now I am a completely different person and I have a very positive outlook about life.”

She advises the youth to utilise government programmes in order to improve their livelihoods, adding that Botswana has many opportunities for self-employment, and one only has to find their niche. ENDS