Dibuseng Mokwena’s (31) floral business has flourished to new heights thanks to the assistance of a Soweto Opportunity Centre.
The Orlando East entrepreneur is now looking forward to opening a floral shop in the Baragwanath Hospital Precinct in Diepkloof, Soweto. Mokwena is currently operating her flower business out of a room in her family home.
Seated in a chair in the orange-painted room, she is dressed in a red T-shirt marked with her business logo, surrounded by colourful flowers and baskets as she speaks passionately about her business, which she’s dubbed The Flower Box Blossom.
“I love my flower business,” she says with a smile.
One of her favourite flowers is the calla lily, which takes up to five days to blossom out. “It’s the flower that made me fall in love with flowers. It’s like my gradual journey in business. I opened it and I’m learning a lot about myself and the business,” she says.
Mokwena sought advice from the Atlehang Opportunity Centre at the Soweto Empowerment Zone in Diepkloof in early April after a post about Opportunity Centres was shared on Twitter by Cllr Nkululeko Mbundu, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development.
The City’s nine Opportunity Centres are laid out across all quadrants of the metro, designed to assist small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) develop a long-term viability strategy through a series of training courses like business planning and supply chain management. They also offer pre-start, start-up, and existing businesses’ advice on the importance of adequate planning.
Mokwena received training on how to make her business sustainable for the next six to 12 months. “I wouldn’t have known how to sustain the business if I hadn’t gone to the Opportunity Centre,” she says.
She founded The Flower Box Blossom in 2015 after the passing of her uncle. Their family didn’t have a florist at the funeral, so she took it upon herself to arrange the flowers. Since then, she has never looked back, and the rest is history.
Mokwena’s flowers are perfect for any occasion or event, and she recently added pamper baskets. It takes her about 20 minutes to arrange a flower basket.
The single-mother of two sons was born and bred in Orlando. She is part of a twin who also has her own business. They have four other siblings.
Asked what motivates and inspires her, she says, “my boys. They motivate me to be a better mom and an entrepreneur and to work hard”.
Her father always motivates her to stay the course during tough times. “My dad always reminds me that it won’t always be easy. But I look forward to the good times of growing my business and leaving a legacy”.
“I’m always thinking of ways to make myself better, make my father proud and have my kids look up to me,” she adds.
Mokwena is excited about the next chapter in her business journey and will deal with challenges headstrong.
“Challenges are there, but what defines us is how we rise from them. If you allow those challenges to overcome you, then what is the purpose of starting?” she notes.
Mokwena encourages other small business owners to approach the City’s Opportunity Centres. “Opportunities are there, sometimes you have to go out and reach for them,” she says.
The Flower Box Blossom is on Facebook (TheFlowerBoxJHB) and Twitter (@theflowerbox_jhb).
Residents can locate Opportunity Centres in each region of the metro:
- Khoebo Opportunity Centre in Johannesburg, 1st floor, 66 Jorissen Street, Jorissen Place, Braamfontein
- Isiqalo Opportunity Centre in Roodepoort, 4th floor, Roodepoort Civic Centre
- Thlabologo Opportunity Centre in Diepsloot, 1131 Ingonyama Street
- Thusanang Opportunity Centre at the Klipfontein View Multipurpose Centre
- Ikamvalethu Opportunity Centre, Alexandra Multipurpose Centre
- Atlehang Opportunity Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto Empowerment Zone
- Simunye Opportunity Centre at Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre
- Joburg Market Opportunity Centre, 4 Fortune Street, City Deep and
- Eldo’s Opportunity Centre, 4064 Link Road, Eldorado Park
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi
18/05/2022