By Matṧeliso Phulane
The quest to promote Basotho culture and beat unemployment has led to two friends Teboho Julius Molotsi and his colleague Lehlohonolo Nelson Ncube, starting a traditional décor company using the waste materials.
Sekamaneng-based Visionary Infinite Sotho Décor and Landscaping (VISDL) which is based in Sekamaneng, Berea district started operating in November, 2019. It specialises in various decorating items such as: coffee tables, wall hangers, side lambs, chairs, stools and lounge décor.
In an interview with theReporter this week, the director of VISDSL Molotsi said he did not learn that art work at school, but was inspired to start the business in order to promote Sesotho through décor while fully indroducing their artistic work.
He described art as a language meant to communicate things which cannot be spoken and which expresses who a person is.
“We rely on specific exotic materials like hard wood, animal horns for lamps and table bowls. We also use materials such as animal skin and leather to make our products.
“Our target market is the people who want to have very fine furniture with the latest in technology combined with an old fashioned sense of fine wood. It could be a person in the corporate towers, small or medium business or in the home or office.
“The common bond is the appreciation of quality, and the lack of price constraints,” he said.
Speaking of the challenges they have met along the way, Molotsi bemoaned financial constraints which make them unable to reach out to their target audience due to lack of advertisments.
He also said they sometimes run out of tools because their products require best equipment to process their raw materials into a good finished product.
“Our mission is to provide affordable and high quality products; we are committed to our excellent customer service, integrity and moral obligation to our community,” he expressed.
Molotsi was born and raised in Sekamaneng in the Berea district. He began his education at Sekamaneng Primary where he completed standard seven in 2008.
He proceeded to Cenez High School where he completed in 2013. In 2015 he was admitted to Lerotholi Polytechnic where he studied Architectural Technology until 2018. However, he did not complete the course. He said he is willing to continue with the course this year for him to graduate.
He says he wants to see VISDL becoming known as a leading source of decorative Sesotho art décor furniture for households and decorative trade in the country in a few years.
Molotsi said prices of the products differ from each product but they range from 800 Maloti to 4000 Maloti depending on the product.
For orders, people can contact him on 57069951/63215621/58962217 or they can send an email at: tebohojuliusmolotsi@gmail.com
