The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
A number of businesses in Bulawayo have embraced the business shower concept to celebrate their new ventures while getting assistance in cash or kind as well as creating synergies with other businesses to grow their newly born enterprises.
Start-up founders are increasingly throwing business showers to mark a life-changing milestone of starting their own company. Some have received assistance in cash or kind to help grow their ventures from their social networks.
In an interview, an entrepreneur in retail, Mrs Nokuthula Ngwenya-Moyo who owns One Stop Savers in Tsholotsho said her recently held business shower assisted her by putting her rural businesses in the limelight.
“As a businessperson I looked into some of the challenges that we are facing in our day-to-day business activities, and I found out that there is lack of capital and if you want a loan from banks, they need collateral which most of the ladies in business do not have. I said to myself, I have a large network, so I started selling my idea then we formed a group. It is from that group that we are doing these business showers where we crowd-fund among ourselves and our main objective is to practice accountability with the money we give to each other,” she said.
She said in their business shower concept, as eight women with various businesses, they offer each other ideas and financial literacy so that they can be able to account for the money and boost their businesses.
“As entrepreneurs, we come together with our businesses to network, grow, benefit, and empower each other just like what is done during a baby shower where mothers come together and support an expecting mother with baby preparation,” said Mrs Ngwenya-Moyo.
The business shower event is also characterised by exhibitions where those who will be showcasing their businesses pay for stalls at reasonable prices. Business showers have inspired, motivated, and given support to those starting businesses. New entrepreneurs have benefited a lot in getting to understand what experiences and challenges others went through before their businesses became big.
Mist Corporate Services business consultant, Mr Macdonald Siriza said when various people come together to discuss business ideas, there is a need for constructive criticism.
“Constructive criticism is a form of feedback that focuses on delivering critique and negative feedback constructively and positively to improve performance of a business. Constructive criticism is actionable, clear and beneficial to the recipient, while it does not focus solely on the negative aspects,” said Mr Siriza.
He said business showers were not only for new companies but also for old companies that would have survived storms.
Mr Siriza urged upcoming entrepreneurs to also take advantage of social media to promote their businesses, be able to adapt to changing market conditions as well as stay up-to-date with industry trends as this is where opportunities lie.
Entrepreneurship Development practitioner, Ms Lifneth Moyo said nowadays there was so much customer service decay, hence businesses need to be reminded that repeat sales can only be achieved through good customer service.
“If you treat your customer well, they will remain your customer forever or for a long time to come. They will talk about your business to their business associates, relatives and friends, and you gain free advertising. Remember a customer is not an outsider or an interruption to your business but is the purpose of it.”
