An Obviously Creative Tailor

 

By Derrick Silimina

At 38, Obvious Makozo is a versatile entrepreneur running tailoring, hair salon and barbershop, typing and printing businesses in Kapepa area of Solwezi District.

Some of the products from his tailoring shop include dresses, shirts, leather handbags, school uniforms, jerseys and many more. 

“Our products are sold to schools and the general public. Some clothes are exchanged for maize and beans around April, and around December, we sell them at a 75 percent profit. My immediate plans are to register the business, and open a tailoring school that shall produce various items,” Makozo said. 

In 2019, armed with six blowers, five hair clippers and seven dryers, Makozo and his wife opened the barbershop. At the time, he had no sewing machine. 

“Some of the benefits from the training include a change of mindset as I was able to identify business opportunities and started purchasing tailoring machines towards the end of 2019 and 2020. The first machine I bought was a manual sewing machine out of proceeds from the barbershop and salon,” he said. 

He bought the hair clipper at K2,500 and nine months later, his business was able to purchase a pattern-making electric sewing machine at K4000. This was followed by an overlocking machine which he bought at K3, 800 five months later. 

“Today, I am a proud owner of nine machines altogether valued at approximately K25,000. With my printer and laptop the total value of assets is K35,000,” Makozo said. 

He is appreciative of sound business management practices he has learned, which have enabled him to diversify his business. 

With an initial monthly turnover of about K1,500, Makozo’s salon and barber business is now able to make a profit of over K6000 with a gross of about K7000. 

He proudly stated that currently, the business employs himself and his wife as partners. Makozo has continued following the training sessions on radio as it is beneficial to follow training on radio because of time saved while continuing to do his work. 

He has urged Kansanshi Mining Plc to continue with the good work to benefit more people. 

“My message to KMP is a word of thanks for imparting knowledge through the training which has greatly empowered me with knowledge from the training which has greatly impacted my business,” Makozo stated.