There is something strikingly common in 99% of entrepreneurs that Transform SA Online has profiled in the SMMEs section: they possess that rare trait of tenacity to rise above tribulations to successfully execute a business concept. And brothers, Thulare and Tumi Rabotapi, are not the exception to the rule.
Thulare Rabotapi holds a diploma in entrepreneurship while Tumi Rabotapi has diploma in electrical engineering. They are co-directors of Encotype whose main business focus training and distribution of corporate gifts.
Established in 2013, based in Midrand, Johannesburg, Encotype is run from Thulare Rabotapi’s home.
A ready market for training services and corporate gifts has buoyed the company, Rabotapi states. “As long as companies want to brand themselves and sustain relationships with customers corporate gifts will always be needed.”
Most of the clients as of now are corporate clients. The volume of orders is increasing and new employees are likely to recruited.
Unlike opportunists who seize upon a business for quick gains, Rabotapi is in a field that has almost become his second nature. “I joined a company that dealt with corporate gifts. I thought I would move on after sometime, but the corporate gift but catch me and developed interest and felt that it was something I really needed.”
“We are aware that there are many corporate gifts specialists, or people calling themselves that. But we believe that we differentiate ourselves through service delivery and the uniqueness of our products.”
With no lender keen to take a gamble on the small business, Rabotapi has had to use his own financial resources to cover operating costs.
According to Rabotapi, Encotype has not rushed into securing funding, opting to attend events that advise and educate people on how to get funding.
But for now, the main priority is securing more business from companies. Social media and networking are two vehicles Encotype will use to grow its business nationally and, at some point if feasible, internationally.
As someone who follows small business developments, Rabotapi is of the view that government and other institutions should introduce entrepreneurship at an early age, say in primary school. “Entrepreneurship should be nurtured in families. There are many stories of taxi owners with nobody amongst their children to take over the business. This is because there is no culture of entrepreneurship introduced in family. What is often overlooked is that entrepreneurship is about exposure and knowledge,” he observes.
Thulare urges people in townships to be more creative beyond focusing on catering and construction companies. He also decries the culture of believing that a good business can only be sustained by preferential procurement government tenders.
“For us tenders are not a priority, if they come they come, if they don’t they don’t and that’s how it is,” he says.
