Young Woman Ventures Into First-Aid Kit Business
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday June 12, 2017 15:30
The business operates under trade name, Khabaluma Investments trading as Botsogo Pele Health and Safety Supplies and Training.
Maupong told BusinessMonitor that Botsogo Pele is one of the largest suppliers of first-aid kits in Botswana and mainly supplies equipped first-aid kits and refills. The entrepreneur said their kits are expertly compiled to suit the intended purpose, giving examples that they provide personal kit, handbag kit, motorist kit, home care kit, office kit, shop kit, sport kit as well as factory kit. “The main idea behind my business is to try to minimise the loss of lives and secondary injuries in the workplace and road traffic accidents due to lack of first aid kits use and knowledge. We also supply health and safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and reflective triangles,” she said. Maupong added that they also supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like safety boots, goggles, overalls, reflectors and hard hats or helmets. The businesswoman said she started the business in September last year and it is located at the JJ Designs Building.
She said she was prompted by the alarming increase of road accidents to venture into the business. “As a paramedic, you get exposed to so many cases but seeing somebody involved in a car accident pains me so much; you would find the causality helpless and in severe pains. Thus seeing lots of lives perishing in car accidents motivated me to start this business,” she said. The aspiring entrepreneur encouraged motorists to always travel having a first-aid kit in their cars so that should they encounter an accident, they could use safety equipments and help before the arrival of EMS personnel.
Maupong said the business is doing well but it is experiencing some challenges such as business fluctuations in terms of business opportunities and over reliance on the mines.
She disclosed that when the economy of the mines is affected they also feel the heat as they are their main customers. She added that other difficulties include the community’s lack of knowledge towards the importance of a first-aid kit.,“People don’t know the purpose of a first-aid kit so a lot of time is allocated to educating people about the importance of having a first-aid kit and how to use its contents,” she said.
She added that penetrating the market is always a steep hill to climb therefore time consuming because there is need for strong marketing skills to convince potential customers. Maupong said she is an Advanced Life Support Paramedic, (Emergency Medical Technician) registered with the Botswana Health Profession Council (BHPC), adding that she is also a trainer who is accredited by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA).
She said she beats her competitors at their own game who in this case are local pharmacies and other health and safety suppliers by providing affordable and quality goods and services.