Duo Strive To Succeed In Garments Design Business
Lebogang Baingapi | Monday July 10, 2017 15:12
The project, which was government, funded to the tune of P200,000 through the Poverty Eradication Programme in Jwaneng, had attracted four ladies and the other two left for greener pastures.
The design firm which does bedding designs and curtains, wedding garments and school uniforms, is one of the biggest projects in town and is expected to boost the mining town’s economy when diamonds finally run out.
Malefo hailed the support they got from social workers adding that their advice has kept them firm and striving even during a pool of challenges. After they lost two of their members, they sat down and mapped a way forward.
She reveals that they roped in a veteran designer from the town to assist them with different designs and since then business has been better, as they were able to supply one of the security companies with uniform.
Though their funding package came with a multi-functional embroidery machine, Malefo said they were still learning how to use the machine to perfect their craft. She said they once enjoyed a government tender that boosted their financials in 2014, which involved designing bedding for the orphans under the Social and Community Development Department.
She highlighted that, working on commission has helped them to strive and look for customers to keep their business going and to pay rent. She said market days have also been useful and they intend to open a stall in the open market to sell their products.
“We will have to leave our comfort zone and go out to sell our products. One of us will take our products to the people while the other one keeps the production going,”she said.
Their wish is to keep government tenders and have also requested for the lease extension to keep their business alive.
They expressed gratitude towards lodges within the town for supporting their business.
Though they admit that sometimes they do not make enough profit, passion and patience have always been their driving force.