Lesedi Molate - Masedi Branding and Design House

Her name means light and she is just that - a leading light. Twenty-five year old Lesedi Molate, who hails from Tlhabane, Rustenburg, runs Masedi Branding and Design House, a young marketing company going places.

Lesedi says the idea of running her own marketing company came about when she was working for another enterprise that specialised in marketing. “It was quite fun, but there were problems. Then I decided I’d like to do promotions. I started this business and my first order was for R70 000.” It was an impressive start for the young business.

Lesedi started by doing promotions for various government departments and then, when she identified a gap in the market, grew the idea of incorporating corporate gifting, packaging, branding and events. 

The business - which was launched in 2005 - now employs two full-time people working in the office, four men who do sewing projects and two freelance workers. On the events side she hires the necessary staff when required. Her turnover in the past six months was over R340 000.

Lesedi studied marketing at Unisa and then attended Damelin College as a part time student where she studied project and business management. She used her initial KickStart grant of R50 000 to buy equipment.

Her motto for life is: “I run as fast as I can. What I can do now I will never be able to do again”

Tlhabane, Rustenburg, North West Province / 072 101 4221 / lesedi@masedibd.co.za / www.masedibd.co.za

Mpho Gorewang - A Re Bopeng Ceramics

A love for creating beautiful ceramic products led Mpho Gorewang to follow a long-held dream to launch his own successful business.

Thirty-three year-old Gorewang, who hails from Potchefstroom, owns A Re Bopeng Ceramics, a company that manufactures a range of items that includes casserole dishes, vases, earrings, necklaces and dinner sets.

To sell his products, Mpho targets exhibitions, trade shows and taxi ranks as well as relying on word-of-mouth and undertaking door-to-door sales.

The idea for his ceramics company came to him when he did a course in marketing arts and crafts and saw the different ceramic products available.

He then enrolled for a ceramics course and the rest, as they say, is history. Mpho started his business in 2006 and currently employs four people. His turnover during the past six months has been in the region of R50 000 but he feels it will improve thanks to his training and mentorship and better understanding of the business. Mpho received an initial KickStart grant of R20 000 which he invested in new equipment.

His advice: “One must first acquire knowledge and skills. Then you have to have a passion. Finally, you must have faith in yourself and not worry about what people think. Show them you can do it.”

Potchefstroom, North West / 083 663 6673

Smartty Mzika - Sanctuary Health and Beauty Spa

Keeping people fit and healthy is big business today and Sebokeng’s Smartty Mzika knows exactly how to improve the lives of her clients.This energetic 34-year-old entrepreneur owns the Sanctuary Health and Beauty Spa and her aim is not only to make her clients more beautiful but also to attend to the health-care side of things. She provides body massages and facial treatments, manicures and pedicures and generally tries to make her guests feel good about themselves.

The Sanctuary Health and Beauty Spa was initially launched in 2006. There are already plans to expand. Her turnover last year was around R50 000, while in one month it was between R18 000 and R20 000.

Smartty was educated at Vaal Tech where she studied business administration, and also did casual work for a major supermarket chain in Meyerton. Her next move was to a pharmaceutical company working as a dispenser and data capturer.

Smarrty then took the high road by enrolling part-time for beauty therapy courses.
She spent her initial R40 000 KickStart grant on equipment.

Aside from the monetary award SAB KickStart taught her invaluable lessons about operating a business especially the fundamentals of marketing her company.

One lesson she has learnt: “A successful strategy has been visiting an old age home once a week to attend to the needs of the resident’s free-of-charge.”

Sebokeng, Gauteng / 083 710 8861 / msmartty@yahoo.com / www.sanctuary.co.za