Look around and find business opportunities, says Tembisa newspaper entrepreneur
Sibanda says unemployed people must find a gap to start a business.
For some entrepreneurs raising capital to start a business is a basic requirement to venture into a startup business.
Mlamuli Sibanda argues that it should not always be the case, suggesting that aspiring entrepreneurs must try to find business opportunities that can be started with little or no monetary investment at all.
The 34-year-old is a newspaperman. He distributes a variety of newspapers along Andrew Mapheto in Tembisa Drive.
“I started off as building assistant but the job was not paying much money and I then saved for a security certificate.
“I spend a while not getting a job as a security guard and when I got it, it paid little.
“I spent most of the money on transport which led to me venturing into the newspaper business,” said Sibanda.
He said he started by looking for a busy place where he could start his business and found it.
He surveyed the spot to establish what business opportunity was there to embark upon to attract passing pedestrians.
“I realised that in the morning and in the evening people going to and from work had no time to pop into remote shops for a newspaper.
“That is how my newspaper business was born.
“I spoke to newspaper publishers and they were more than willing to assist me.
“They delivered newspapers; I sold them and made my commission.
“I did not spend a cent to start this business and it is sustainable,” explained Sibanda.
He said the only major challenge in his business is the rainy season because he sells at an open intersection.
“If I could only get a branded gazebo for the rainy and sunny days.
“I want my business to grow bigger than what it is today.
“Many customers know and support me here.
“Some people take the paper even if they don’t have money and pay on monthly basis.”
Sibanda said unemployed people must look around the area where they stay and look for possible business opportunities. They may be surprised that there exist business gaps they can exploit.
“That can give you a lot of profit which can be a revenue that is better than what a working person makes at the end of the month.
“Don’t give up. Do your own thing to take you out of poverty,” Sibanda said.
“If you need The Tembisan newspaper, go to Mlamuli Sibanda at Tembisa Plaza along Andrew Mapheto and Dan Nkabinde Drive.”
