Speaking to Mmegi at the Women in Business Expo held over the weekend, the women said they are still striving to penetrate the local market in order to sustain their small businesses. They hope the Expo will be a launching pad for their businesses. The event was held at Airport Junction Mall in Gaborone as part of last Friday's International Women's Day commemorations.
At the Expo, over 66 women showcased their products and services. The exhibitions ranged from financial services, education, local manufacturers and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO). The exhibitors said the event would give them exposure to the market because it is an annual event. "Getting yourself into the market is not very easy, most of the times I had doors closed in my face when I approached suppliers. They did not want to listen to me," said Thato Chiba, the founder of All Things Baby Shop. Even though she managed to get suppliers last August, her business is not growing because of lack of exposure to the market. "I believe this business expo is a good platform for our small businesses to grow," she said.Some NGOs assist women to start businesses that collapse because of competition.
