How a Bulawayo entrepreneur turned her side hustles into successful businesses
Lerato Chikerema a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Bulawayo was inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. From watching him run his own bus company, she learned the importance of capitalizing on every little idea to create a successful business. After working as an administrator for some time, she decided to turn her side hustles Fealty Runners and Fancy Bits into full-fledged businesses.
Lerato turned her passion for business into two successful ventures, Fealty Runners and Fancy Bits, both of which started as side hustles before becoming full-time businesses.
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Entrepreneurial Spirit
“My father’s entrepreneurial spirit has always inspired me to monetize every idea I get,” revealed Lerato. “I learnt a lot about procurement and business management while working for my father’s bus company and that has helped me put my business theories into action.”
Fealty Runners is a delivery service that takes orders from various shops and online stores in Zimbabwe, with clients in major cities such as Harare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Gwanda, Vicfalls and Masvingo. The service is run by Lerato and her mother Faith Stoole, who handle orders from South Africa and sometimes the UK and the USA depending on suppliers.
Fancy Bits is an online gift shop that caters to a broad range of ages and occasions. The store has a colorful mixed bag of unique and interesting items for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, lounge, toys and clothes. The products are sold at landed prices, making them affordable for everyone.
Providing Solutions
“I started these businesses as a way of providing a solution to the challenges people face in Zimbabwe such as a lack of efficient and reliable delivery services and access to unique and quality gifts,” said Lerato.
In an interview, Lerato shared that she sources her products from South Africa and sometimes the UK and the USA, depending on the supplier. She added that what sets her gift shop apart from others in the market is that it caters to everyone, unlike other gift shops that target a specific age group or audience.
The pandemic has affected many businesses and individuals, leading to a fall in sales for both Fealty Runners and Fancy Bits. “It’s been a difficult time for everyone but I’ve tried to be above it all in order to satisfy my clients,” she stated.
Despite the challenges, Lerato continues to work hard towards growing her businesses. “I spend most of my time thinking about business even though I work from home, and I’m always looking for new ways to expand and improve my services,” she said.
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Vision for the Future
When asked about her vision for the future of her business, Lerato said she hopes to see Fealty Runners and Fancy Bit expand throughout Zimbabwe, offering their services and goods in physical outlets.
Lastly, Lerato gave the following advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Work smart. It does not matter if one is employed or not. Push your hustle and create those two streams of income. Invest in educating yourself in the fundamentals of business management. Above all, dedicate your works to God, for he shall never let you work in vain.”
Lastly, Lerato’s dedication to her business, passion for entrepreneurship, and lessons learned from her father have led her to pursue her dreams, despite the challenges of the pandemic. As she continues on her entrepreneurial journey, Lerato serves as an inspiration to others who dream of starting their own businesses.
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