Orchid Man plants seeds of motivation
The Orchid Man aims to motivate others and grow his business, one orchid at a time.
This entrepreneur’s business is blooming after he decided to get off the street corner and start planting seeds of motivation.
Benson Vikilahle, a Munsieville resident, spent many unfruitful days sitting on streets corners begging for a piece job after he was retrenched in 2012.
Here on the street corners many like Benson wait for casual day jobs, which typically would include tiling, building, cleaning and gardening.
“It is not an easy way to earn money. When the cars come to the corner they ask for a worker who has experience in a certain trade,” Benson explained.
Sadly Benson missed out on many opportunities as he did not have most of the trade skills, except for gardening.
He remembered the day he found only R100 left in his wallet. That got him thinking about a business.
“This place is not mine, I don’t belong on the street corners.”
Benson took his R100 and bought assorted flowers, which he resold.
Quickly his R100 turned into R550 and inspired him to pursue a career in selling flowers; and not just any flower, but orchids since it is his favourite flower.
Three years later, Benson now is known as Krugersdorp’s very own Orchid Man.
After his huge success in selling flowers, Benson approached a company in Pinehaven from where he now buys stock in bulk and resells.
“I have not looked back once since that day.”
Benson sells these beautiful flowers as he walks many kilometres per day to and from hot spots such as the Veranda Coffee Shop in Kenmare and Trans Natal Glass on Voortrekker Road where he trades from.
His next goal is to save money to buy a bakkie. This will help him expand his business and inspire others to rise above their circumstances and grow a better future.
This one-man business is registered with Mogale City and he has reaped the benefits of this as he has stocked a number office blocks with his orchids.
He now sells approximately 200 orchids per week, at prices ranging from R80 to R200 each.
“My greatest ambition is to supply the whole of Krugersdorp with flowers. I am pleading with big companies to support young entrepreneurs such as me to help grow business and inspire others.”
Would you like to help Benson? You can contact the Orchid Man on 078 098 0282 or 079 024 2081.
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