By Seleoe Nonyane
‘Maphotho Thebe is a woman of many talents.
She runs three businesses at the same time.
The Mafeteng-born entrepreneur owns a clothes-making business, a confectionery called MmaJuny Cakes and the relatively new MmaJuny, which makes custom-made Crocs shoes.
Crocs are a type of lightweight, functional shoes that are designed primarily as beachwear. They were originally designed as waterproof boating shoes with non-slip soles and foamy material. By design, they are an excellent choice for the beach, pool, or waterpark and are ideal for short-term usage.
Thebe told this publication this week that she ventured into the crocs business by chance. She had bought a pair for her child but felt they lacked decoration. She thought of a way to the same shoes and ordered material from China.
“I bought two pairs for my children then emblazoned their initials on the Crocs. Everything took off from there.
“I noted that these grabbed a lot of people’s attention. I then took advantage of the rave and turned the creations into business,” she recounted.
Thebe said when she first got into this business she would purchase crocs from shops in the country and remove their decorations to make her own. Over time, she found other means to procure Crocs and a wide range of adornment material.
These alternatives were much easier than having to order from China; she now orders from South Africa.
Growing up, Thebe would observe her father who was a businessman, but she actually went into business because of unemployment.
The budding businesswoman is a graduate from the Lesotho Agricultural College where she studied fashion and fabrics.
“I started out by opening a cloth-making business, but I had this desire to spread my wings further as I felt the business was not enough.
“I then branched into making cakes using the skills I learned from online video sharing and social media platform YouTube.
“Running my businesses is not as difficult as it may look. I have found ways to make each business work and I ensure that one business not interfere with the other,” Thebe pointed out.
She described running a business as ‘fulfilling’ although it has its own challenges. The major challenge is that of clients not willing to pay up before receiving their order.
She works by order only and her clients sometimes find it difficult to pay upfront because they are not completely sure if they will receive their merchandise. To place an order, Thebe can be reached on +266 56326402 or 63178514.
