Tshuma’s big dream to open welding franchise

Just like other small businesses in Botswana, for many years, welding has been viewed as a career and a hobby which often overlaps the business acumen.

Case in point is Modisaotsile Tshuma, a young and highly motivated entrepreneur who eight years ago used his welding skills and passion to set up his enterprise.

His Palapye-based company, which trades as General Trade and Manufacturing Supplies, provides welding services and manufactures trailers, sliding gates, burglar doors, door frames, aluminium windows, doors, trelidoors, electric fence, gate motor, intercom and house glasses amongst others.

According to the entrepreneur, his entrepreneurial journey was sparked by his uncle who was a welder. Tshuma says he started by assisting his uncle at home until one day he learnt that Morupule was looking for trailers, but could only be supplied by a registered company.

“I missed on that tender, and then the following week the Department of Buildings came looking for burglars. They also wanted to buy from someone who had registered a business. I then rushed to Serowe to open it because I was missing out on opportunities,” he revealed.

Since then, Tshuma has never looked back as orders started pouring in, mostly from individuals and companies. Most of his orders were mainly for gates, then interest grew for trailers, gate mortars, aluminium windows which gave General Trade and Manufacturing Supplies a competitive edge as they were offering all services under one roof.

“We were a one stop shop unlike our competitors, so most clients preferred to come to us because they were guaranteed to be given all the service from one spot. This gave us an added advantage over them,” he explained. Tshuma said he has been marketing his business through social media and has been heavily reliant on referrals.

“Most of our clientele is individuals who want to have their houses to be developed, and the most selling products are sliding gates, burglar doors, aluminium windows, doors and gate mortars,” he said.

To date they have employed 10 people and have plans to increase the number as they are looking to expand. In future he wants to open his own franchise and sell his products in Gaborone, Palapye, Serowe, Selibe-Phikwe, Letlhakane and Francistown highlighting that he has most orders from Gaborone.