Mika Liquor Store in Molapo tells about its challenges and successes since 2019
"I have definitely seen more clientele, which makes a huge good business impact to my business, and strengthens the SMME’s participant to greater heights by involving them and helping them grow."
ABSA has embarked on a campaign to support and empower SMEs across South Africa.
Soweto Urban had a chat with Mika Liquor to get a better understanding of their business.
- When did you start your business?
Mika Liquor Store situated at Molapo SOWETO was established in March 2019
I think the business chose me, whereby I grew up in an environment surrounded by entrepreneurs within my family background from both parental side.
My grandparents from my mother’s side owned grocery shops and trucking business and whereas grandparents from my father’s side owned a restaurant and a Tavern.
Not to sound arrogant, but I think God had already planned that it was within my nature, like a calling as some will say.
I was fulltime employed at the government hospital, then one day I decided after passing of my late uncle Mr Mika Maboea to peruse the family business in Mpumalanga, Standerton in partnership with my cousin whilst still employed within the government sector, I couldn’t take the strain of traveling and managing both work and business, so I had to make a choice, a difficult choice as one had family and financial responsibilities, however I chose to go into business as I had a feeling that that was the time to take the baton and run with it. “That’s when Mika Liquor Store was born”
- What are the challenges you experience when you were starting your business and how did you overcome them?
There were a lot of challenges ranging from identifying the correct location that would be suitable for the business and also bridging the gap for consumers, then there was a plan to be put into action into acquiring Liquor license which had lot of procedures to be followed ranging from obtaining police clearance to verifying building, then raising enough capital and identifying suppliers to negotiating prices, getting correct pricing for consumers and a challenge of employing staff.
- What impact did the Covid-19 pandemic have on your business?
Covid-19 came at the time we least expected, precisely a year after opening the outlet. By that time a business to be well established and to know that it can sustain itself take about three years, so can you imagine that lock down is implemented during the course I am developing the boom.
There was lot of financial strain, laying off staff and still had to oblige in paying rent, owing supplier, risk of theft to where one had to continue paying Security Company while there was no income and with a family who’s been dependent on that financial income.
- Your business is one of the businesses that are part of the ABSA SME programme, What does this mean to you and how do such initiatives from corporates like Absa help SMEs?
It’s a great opportunity and platform to utilize their service rendered. It has upskilled me with knowledge and avenues to explore more and grow my Business to another level. Little did I know that one day I will be in a good space to proudly say I’m part of this great initiative.
It has brought me more customer base with its awareness and publication of my business on the Absa network where it encourages Absa users to participate as SME Friday’s network.
I have definitely seen more clientele, which makes a huge good business impact to my business, and strengthens the SMME’s participant to greater heights by involving them and helping them grow.
- What is your advice for SMEs?
My advice to SMME’s is for them to be patient, to always be on top of their game and have a room for growth, build a good support network, be very specific with their goal, keep their overhead low and avoiding distraction at all cost
Hector Maboea
MIKA LIQOUR STORE
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