Babusi�s Embroidery Business Blossoms
Tumelo Mouwane | Monday February 27, 2017 18:00
Babusi began literally from zero when he opened an embroidery business in Lobatse in 2010. Subsequently, he registered a business he called Plat4m Studio Investment. Babusi was to later receive financing from the Youth Development Fund, giving him a lifeline to kick-start and hold on amid challenges. But still high rentals forced him to operate the business from home, something that has proven to be a major setback for young entrepreneurs locally.
The business deals in logo embroidery, sable machine printing, heat press printing, artwork production and digitising artworks.
Before going it alone, Babusi worked for embroidery experts.
“I started with nothing when I developed interest in embroidering back in 2009 learning under directorship of Tap Signs, who specialised in screen printing.
I worked with them for months and they advised me to venture into embroidery because they noticed the potential in me and the market gap. I went on to work with Creation of Africa company in Gaborone who specialised in embroidery and I learnt most of the necessary skills there,” he said.
Among the challenges Babusi said he had to overcome to be where he is today is lack of market.
“There are several challenges in the market including the fact that when I started in 2010, most schools did not have emblems. It was not a must for the schools to have logos, so I struggled to find business. I had to go out and market myself outside Lobatse.
Later on, schools developed emblems and students were compelled to wear uniform with emblems and things stared to gradually be better in terms of market,” he said. Another change the business faced was purchasing of material, as some specific accessories like embroidery machines needles can only be found in South Africa.
“Even now, my machine is down and I have to go to South Africa to fix the machine, which is a great setback looking at the fact that we work under strict time schedules,” he said.