Building a brand to ensure his future
The Potties Kasi Ya Manyora (PKYM) clothing brand is the brainchild of entrepreneur and promoter Tshepo "Mtshephana" Somo.
MOKOPANE – WHAT started out as a hobby among friends is now a business that employs six young people.
The Potties Kasi Ya Manyora (PKYM) clothing brand is the brainchild of entrepreneur and promoter Tshepo “Mtshephana” Somo.
He says he started out with a small outlet in Moshate, near Mokopane, in 2009 and now business is booming.
Mtshephana designs and creates specially branded T-shirts, hooded tops and beanie hats. He says his goal is to change the lives of other young people too by promoting self employment.
He is passionate about supporting local brands and businesses and says these small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy.
Mtshephana sees himself as an ambassador for Mokopane.
“I started the business because I realised there was a gap in the market. There was nothing unique to Mokopane for fashionable young people to wear and show off,” he says.
“I spent R2 500 on my first batch of PKYM branded T-shirts and it sold like hotcakes. People kept placing orders for more T-shirts and later hoodies and beanies too. I have not stopped since then.”
Mtshephana insists that his business is not only about supply and demand. He explains that the branding business needs a lot of time spent on trend analysis, social media and ensuring brand visibility at social events.
“Quality is also very important. If we don’t offer a quality product, we will lose customers and our brand will die,” he says.
The young entrepreneur praises his friends and family for their support and says that some of his friends are now working for his brand as distributors and ambassadors.
He is keeping the wraps on a new development at PKYM, but lets slip that they are working on an interesting new clothing line.
“Now that we are comfortable with mass production and distribution, we want to give our designs a face lift. You will just have to wait and see,” says Mtshephana.
“We have managed to clinch a deal with a local manufacturer and we will expand to the North-West and Gauteng. Soon PKYM will be seen in the whole country.”
