SMEs hail business summit as a success

Several budding entrepreneurs who exhibited products at the recent First National Bank, City of Windhoek Business Summit held in Windhoek say it was worth their while.

The summit was organised by Windhoek entrepreneur Martin Nankela with Botswana-born South African actress and businesswoman Connie Ferguson as the guest
speaker.

TV personality Surihe Gaomas-Guchu, the owner of Forever Business, says the summit afforded budding entrepreneurs a platform to talk about how to grow a business, and to share business ideas with the right people.

“It was also an encouragement to young people to work for themselves and to grow into their own bosses,” she says.

She was exhibiting Forever Living Business products.

“These wellness and personal care products help people to supplement their health and wellbeing with the organic aloe-based products,” she adds.

“If you really want to earn extra income, be selfsufficient and independent, entrepreneurship is the way to go and the business summit just offered me that opportunity.”

Gaomas-Guchu says given the relatively high unemployment rate nationwide, Namibians must adopt an entrepreneurial mindset.

“Its about helping fellow Namibians who want to be healthy with the products I sell. It’s about making an impact in someone’s life,” she says.

She says her ambitions resonate with Ferguson’s message that entrepreneurs should aim to establish sustainable businesses that create generational wealth.

“My children should be able to continue with that business even when I am no longer there,” she says, urging Namibians to look into the southern Africa regional market of 300 million people.

Scented Grace founder Regina Penda says the summit was a great event that met her expectations.

“I really enjoyed that there was an opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to showcase their products and their services, allowing for a lot of networking, highlighting the challenges SMEs face and the best way to bring our products to the community,” she says, adding that this was her first time attending a business summit.

“My priority was to market my products and getting people talking about them. To have made some sales was a bonus.

So it definitely met my expectations, above and beyond,” she says.

The entrepreneur says Scented Grace has three products, with the flagship being scented candles made from soy bean wax. They also make reed diffusers.

“That was introduced as a value-add product after we started with the candles for people who may not want candles but still want their space to smell great.

“The third product is the room and linen mist, an alcohol-based spray for curtains or any fabric that can freshen up the room and even furniture,” she adds.

Penda says the reaction to her products, which comes in glass containers, was exceptional, with people expressing surprise that the candles were made at her Pioneerspark home.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs?

“Just start. If you have started, keep being persistent. Even if it’s a small step every day, it adds value at the end of the day to what you are trying to
achieve.”

Fashion designer Ngatendwe Gowera, who shared the stall with Beatrice Lucas, does not regret attending the summit as she learnt about managing a small businesses.

“We also made a lot of connections with potential clients,” says the owner of Made By Ngaa, a Goreangab settlementbased company whose primary product is brand
ed headbands.

Gowera says her main target is mostly ladies working in the office.

“I’m trying to incorporate our African attire into the corporate wear,” she says, adding that the headbands can be worn at various occasions.

Entertainment entrepreneur Pinehas Shikulo, known as Zulu Boy and who was part of a panel discussion, says the summit was a success as it attracted not only small entrepreneurs but also the corporate world, including bankers.

“In the past the sector did not take the business summit seriously,” he says, adding that they should sponsor SME visits to manufacturing plants in other countries to see how things are done. – email: matthew@ namibian.com.na

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