Thata Kebadire, a 28-year-old Motswana, was financed to the tune of P49 000 by Department of Youth Development Fund, under Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture.
In 2008, after 6 months of applications, he was assisted at the Tlokweng District Office.
They bought him machinery and all equipment and paid rent for two months from the grant. In 2009, he started his business, called Legend Extraordinaire and he started by producing mugs and back packs. In 2010 when the business was growing, he started branding and embroidering t-shirts of polyester and cotton that he buys from South Africa, if it’s for big orders. For small orders, he buys in local warehouses here in Botswana.
He has an impressive list of customers.
He had orders from the Youth Health Organization during their 10th year anniversary. The Botswana Network On Ethics And Law gave him a big order during their national day against homophobia; the First National Bank placed an order with him on their Wellness Day and so also did Tebelopele. Legend Extraordinaire specialises in embroidering T-shirts, waistcoats, ties, shoulder bags, mouse pad and mugs.
It is based in Gaborone West Industrial, Plot 1232/1, a good area where it is easy to access the market.
He experienced financial problems due to high rental.
Compounding the situation is the fact that his business is seasonal and depends on companies staging their events; if the company doesn’t have any events there is no order that comes, which leads to low income.
Through aggressive marketing of his company, he managed to enlist all the companies listed above, as he moved from office to office establishing and promoting his business.
At the moment, Kebadire does not have any employees as he watches his company grow.
“It was not easy for me to penetrate the market because I have to compete against big guys,” he says.
He finds his business unique because he is interested in hiring young people who he believes are willing to change.
“Sometimes working alone is a challenge,” he says but is quick to add that he crushes any challenge that comes his way by reading self development books.
He recommends that young Batswana enroll because, he says, government aims to empower youth to own businesses and to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people. He said it caters for out of school youth, unemployed and underemployed youth earning below P500, who are citizens of Botswana between the ages of 18 and 29.
Kebadire also registered a businesses called Xpose Legend, Lifeskill and Caching Agency.
“My vision is to establish and operate legendary businesses, as my company’s name suggests,” he said. “I want to venture into industry, running large employment agency. The potential businesses I will be doing is operating the Legend Extraordinary to sustainability. Get machinery that makes t-shirts and opening shop that sells gifts besides promotional merchandise for companies.
He says the second step is growing legend to a brand that is locally meaningful and globally competitive and is environment friendly business.
