KNIGHTHOOD MARKETING THRIVES, THANKS TO TRANSFORMATION
Business transformation is key to any business which seeks to thrive. In essence, business transformation is not merely about implementing new technologies or processes; it’s about fostering a mindset of continuous improvement, innovation, and adaptation that enables organizations to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Knighthood Marketing, a youthful enterprise based in the heart of Gaborone, changed its strategy after years of operation and started offering more diverse products and services, to become even more future-ready and sustainable. “The company was first founded as a marketing, event & talent management agency. We re-registered the company with improved strategy and services in 2020, as a multi-dimensional consulting firm that encompasses business offering that provides Business Consulting, Financial Accounting & Tax, marketing, compliance, graphic design & printing, secretarial Services, training & development, PR & events,” announced Managing Consultant,
Jacob Kelebeng.
According to Kelebeng, who is also the founder of the company, over the last three years, post Covid 19 pandemic they have built up a solid reputation, having consulted many companies and individuals. “We currently have 205 companies under our secretarial services portfolio. We also help start-ups and existing business prepare winning business plans, pitch decks, and financial forecasts,” said a confident Kelebeng.
The company, which is located at Bus Station, has so far assisted more than 40 businesses to acquire funding through Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Youth Development Fund (YDF), National Development (NDB), among other financial institutions.
In addition, the Knighthood Marketing has 3 companies on retainer basis. The company provides the clients with corporate board secretarial services and social media marketing.
“We have partnered and collaborated with other youth owned firms more especially in areas of financial accounting, graphic design and printing services,” said Kelebeng, who has a degree on politics and public administration from the University of Botswana.
Like any other Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Botswana, Knigththood has challenges relating to access capital. “Although we have been able to maintain and experienced growth post Covid 19, and despite our consistency and good cashflow we still struggle to get financial assistance. The sad reality is that the banks and non-bank financial institutions don’t care about SMEs in our country. They only talk about empowerment in conferences and summits not in actual practice,” he said as a matter of fact.
‘The other challenge is corporates who don’t want to give SMMEs opportunities, we were once rejected by an insurance company (I don’t want to mention their name) for agency code, they bluntly told us they only deal with corporates and mining companies, we have submitted expression of interest and approached several corporate companies without any success. The painful part of it is that, Batswana managers at the helm of those corporates are the ones sabotaging fellow citizens’
The business, also encounters, rising costs of products and services. “Currently
there is low cash circulation among ordinary Batswana, who as I have already mentioned are our main customers,” stated Kelebeng.
Knighthood Marketing relies heavily on SMEs and individuals. What does the future hold for this company?
“This year we have introduced the ‘co.bw’ domain and business email hosting service. We also intend to add production, more especially in our printing section. We believe that, with all these, we will be a complete one stop solution for all business needs and will be able to service all our 200 plus clients and other companies,”said the company founder, adding they plan to open at least 2 branches across the country before the end of year.