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Ruth Butaumocho : Gender Editor
In business you have to remain optimistic and also plan ahead. I do not see any problem with the imminent introduction of bond notes in Zimbabwe, because I will still be able to go to the bank and transact, something which is crucial to business Faith Mashami’s entrepreneurial journey started the day she made a decision to control her meal card by becoming an employer rather than working for someone.That decision was the starting point in her life as it inspired her to venture into business when most of her peers were content to be just employees.
Today, she gets paid to do what she loves most – travelling around the globe in search of clothing merchandise to sell at her boutique in the capital.
Faith is the owner of the Vessels of Honour boutique, situated in Harare’s central business district.
She is also a leading supplier of huge consignments of confectionery ingredients to a chain of retail shops in Zimbabwe.
But beneath all that entrepreneurial spirit lies a humble and unassuming woman who believes in hard work.
“I am motivated by hard working individuals that I come across in my day to day endeavours, as I struggle to raise the bar in my business,” she revealed.
For her, success did not come on a silver platter but was a result of persistence, good business strategies and networking skills.
Her experience in running various business enterprises until she settled for retailing and supplying has made her realise that running a viable business is not a game of chance, but is achievable through employing good business strategies.
“What I have today is not an overnight achievement. I had to build my way up from running a flea market, restaurant and owning a packaging entity, projects that I had to abandon after some challenges,” she said.
Coming from an average family where academic achievements had to precede other goals, Faith managed to achieve that goal and used it to set herself up in business.
Running a boutique, managing a vibrant supply chain and investing time and money in the real estate sector are a fulfilment of her dream of becoming an employer.
“I have had to streamline my projects and ensure that I have time to manage them. I am a hands on person and I want to personally be involved in their day to day operations.
“It is important interact and create a personal relationship with my customers so that I can attend to their needs and also get sound advice from them when the need arises,” she said.
Vessels of Honour sells an array of clothing from executive wear to sleek casual, to cater for its growing clientele made up of executives in different fields.
The boutique selects the very best from Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, and designers from around the world like Gucci, Versace and Dolce and Gabbana among many more.
In trying to maintain exclusivity, the boutique brings in limited edition pieces and exclusive designers while paying particular attention to the requirements and needs of clientele base that has remained loyal to the boutique from the time it opened in 2007.
Vessels of Honour also supplies bridal wear which includes suits, lapel pins and bow ties as part of its efforts to support the marriage institution.
For one to successfully run a boutique, Faith says, an appreciation of fashion is important. That appreciation is achieved through research, interaction with fashion connoisseurs and observing how people dress.
“Whenever I travel, I make it a point to go through various media of communication and glean through what is trending on the international scene and how great leaders the world over dress.
Looking back Faith concedes that venturing into business was not easy. She owes her success to the now defunct MicroKing financial institution which gave her several loans to kick-start and sustain her business, when most financial institutions were banging the door in her face.
With no stable income to boost her business after leaving her formal employment with Moonlight Insurance in the early 2000, Faith applied for a loan at MicroKing, which was immediately approved.
She immediately recapitalised her business and acquired another flea market table, selling different clothing merchandise, resulting in her opening a clothing shop in 2007.
During her frequent trips to South Africa to buy merchandise for her flea market table, she stumbled on a business opportunity to supply a well known retail shop with food commodities.
Fully cognisant of the extra workload she was putting on herself, Faith increased the frequency of her trips to the neighbouring country so that she would deliver her orders in time.
During one of her trips in 2012, she was involved in a accident and lost all her consignment worth $10 000, a development that nearly pushed her out of business,
Determined to restore her lost glory, she managed to recapitalise her business, and the rest is history.
“In business you will face a lot of challenges, but that should spur you to grow. I am owed thousands of dollars by customers, who bought clothes on credit and never paid a single cent. However, you cannot allow such challenges to pull you back, but you have to forge ahead,” she said.
Faith remains optimistic and affirms that the future looks bright despite the economy challenges that the country is going through.
Despite the reservations that people have about the introduction of bond notes on the market in October, Faith is already preparing for the coming of the bond notes.
“In business you have to remain optimistic and also plan ahead. I do not see any problem with the imminent introduction of bond notes in Zimbabwe, because I will still be able to go to the bank and transact, something which is crucial to business,” she said.
Having been in business for more than two decades, Faith believes that business opportunities are vast for women.
“Women should not be left behind but should come forward and explore business opportunities that are at their disposal, no matter how small the idea is,” she said.
Online Reporter