Retired Couple Ventures Into Events Business
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday February 4, 2019 16:16
While many retire and retreat to agriculture or look after their grandchildren, the Bayani’s preferred a journey into entrepreneurship.
Trading under BOLAM Investments (BI) (PTY) LTD, the business that started operating in December 2018 is situated at Shashe Bridge village.
Shashe Bridge is located a just kilometer from Shashe dam and 20km from Francistown. Their core business include hosting corporate events, training seminars, product launches, weddings and parties.
The centre, which has two venues indoor and outdoor, would cater for 20 to 1,000 guests and offer unique, professional and tailored solutions for a range of corporate events.
Speaking to Business Monitor, Benedict said BI would benefit Batswana with the provision of skills, employment and subsequently reduce poverty amongst the youth in greater Francistown.
“We have so far employed about 13 locals who are skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled. This number will increase as our operation grows in a few months to come,” he said.
The Makaleng-born said young people will have a chance to be employed by organisations that will take advantage of the project.
Benedict said some services would be outsourced to other services providers, which would also boost the economic performance of the area.
The 59-year-old disclosed that he partnered with his 55-year-old wife, Bathusi who is a former nurse so that they could stay motivated, happy, and healthy for years to come and as well as supplement their retirement incomes.
When speaking about BI, Benedict said the newly established business has a multi-purpose facility boasting a state-of-art-service and audiovisual technology, menu selections and a spacious car parking lot.
Benedict said their entity serve a wide variety of dishes from creative indigenous and exotic menus broadening people’s conception of their food basket.
“We are able to conduct two functions at the same time and our customers will be spoilt for choice as far as the venue is concerned,” she said. “Our pricing will be pegged at 10% lower than the aggregated prices of well established entities.”
Benedict stated that their marketing strategy is advertising through different media outlets, social media, participating in community projects and activities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
The retired teacher further said their business location gives them an advantage over their competitors, as most people prefer hangout spots, which are a few kilometres away from town.
He indicated that as far as the sales forecasts were concerned they are not going to limit themselves in anyway by thinking and dreaming small.
The businessman said BI is positioned to take on the available market here, north east and parts of central district. Benedict holds a Bachelor of Education in Humanities and his wife a Diploma in General Nursing.