Tshekiso - the multi-talented beauty therapist

KUNYALALA MANYEPEDZA
Correspondent | Thursday April 28, 2011 00:00

She is a retired accounts officer at Debswana mine were she served for 25 years. Tshekiso is an agent distributor for Planet Nails Distributors Company that originates from South Africa. She sells and markets their products to the salons in Botswana, as she is the only agent in the country.

This woman is a well-qualified beautician too who can also manage her finances, as she is a diploma in accounting and AAT Certificate holder. She attended Kagiso Secondary School and later Lotsane Senior Secondary School for her 'O'levels.

She is a multi-talented woman as she also provides other services though she has a team of assistants. Tshekiso is a very business-minded woman who speaks the business language well with her customers, leaving them yearning for more of her services.  Tshekiso is a dedicated businesswoman who operates Planet Nails Beauty Salon and Shop in town. 'I have come a long way to be where I am today. I first operated a hair salon, then a beauty training institute which did not do well. I then got some funds from citizenship Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) which really helped me to open this business as a franchisee,' she said.

She is very confident as she tells Mmegi and shows off her beautiful nail art that she did on her nails as part of the services she provides. She stated that she does a number of services such as pedicures, manicures, facials, massaging, eyelashes extensions and sells products and equipment to other salons at affordable prices.

'I was determined to fill in the gap that was visible in the beauty industry in Francistown. At first people did not take beauty seriously as they only cared about their bodies that they have bathed and wore nice clothes.

Nowadays people need to be massaged and have their faces worked on as well as their nails,' said Tshekiso.

She feels that the market is rich and demand is also high as customers are coming fourth to get the services and products. There was little business in the past but today the business is peaking. 'Beauticians are also needed in this world and it is also an important course that one can do,' she said. 'I do not have competitors in distributing the products as I have customers from as far away as Harare and the whole of Botswana. In the services, I have many competitors but I beat them all as I offer quality services at reasonable prices because I have access to quality products. Therefore, the customers are many as I have a well-equipped salon and I have good customer service,' added Tshekiso.

Beauty therapists have a market in Botswana as they can work as their own bosses and one can work from anywhere, that is at home and also can work in a television studio as a make-up artists and at weddings. So people should consider this kind of business, as it is a high income generator.