By: ‘Moelo Motsiri
MASERU
Maserati Makoa enjoyed a highly successful career as a Senior Accountant at the Ministry of Agriculture. However, driven by her passion and bold vision, she decided to leave her well-paying job to pursue a dream that had always been close to her heart.
With determination and creativity, she ventured into the fashion industry, founding her very own boutique, Smart Brands. Known for her impeccable sense of style and unwavering commitment to her craft, Maserati has quickly established herself as a trailblazer in the world of fashion.
She is a Mokhotlong born and breed mother of three kids. She went to the center for accounting doing Diploma in public accounts. After graduating she worked at the Ministry of Agriculture as a senior accountant, but due to the love and passion for business and fashion, she left and created her own boutique, Smart Brands.
Smart brands was established in 2016, it started as a new shop in Leribe and later came to Maseru at the BCP Mini Market house. ‘Maserati mentioned that she has always liked fashion from her childhood. Wearing fashionable clothes, being smart as well admiring people who dress for their bodies. She believes that no one is ugly, instead people have to dress for their bodies and also, dress properly; matching clothes so that they look smart and admirable.
As the name talks for its self, Smart brand boutique sells smart fashionable clothes, shoes as well as Tupperware products. “It is where we dress kids together with the adults with shoes and clothes,” she stated.
“From my childhood, I’ve always liked fashion, sometimes I will wear the matching outfit, If I wear a red colour, I will wear it from head to foot,” she laughed.
Driven by passion ‘Maserati maintained that she made this boutigue to motivate women, to boost their confidence as well as helping them to dress for their bodies. She mentioned that a person’s confidence is boosted when she/she knows and feel that she dressed well and smart.
Smart fashion brands is a home of fashion made and created for smart people. It does not only give people clothes to wear, but it is also a consultancy hub where customers are advised on how they should wear. “I don’t just sell clothes to my clients, I help them on how to wear them they look smart. I like smart people because smartness strives to high confidence which consequently leads to people being positive just because they are smart,” Maserati said.
Articulating the challenges, a fashionist revealed that, sometimes it becomes hard in this business due to people not buying with high rates which lead to low profits. Some people make the lay buys but never come back to collect them. “This one of layby is a very serious problem which hinders my sales, I will keep the clothes even when the customers want them, saying that they have been laybuyed, but become disappointed when the owner doesn’t come to fetch them,” she stated
She also disclosed that, the situation where firms were closed, became a huge setback for her business suffering, that is when her business suffered a lot because most of her customers are the factory workers due to, that she sells with low prices affordable to everyone and that lead to low profit. She carried on to show that “Some clothes do not get bought, they depreciate and take a long time in the shelves which leads to sailing them, that leads to loss even more,” she said.
‘Maserati also maintains that it sometimes it is not easy in this journey, it need an optimistic, patient and a hardworking person. “I try as much as possible to stand still in my journey because of my passion. The other thing that motivate me is that I know that God is always on my side in every challenge that I face. Which gives me tactics to deal with them,” she emphasised.
Despite all the challenges, ‘Maserati managed to open three branches in different district as the expansion of Smart Brands boutique. This one here at BCP Mini Market, the one at Sea Point Magnet complex, the one at Mohale’s Hoek millennium building which is the biggest branch which has always been her dream. “I am so grateful for being able to open this branches it shows that all my dreams are coming true, but mostly I’m really grateful for having this biggest branch,” she exclaimed.
Passion and hard work will always pay off. Our fashion therapist stated that with her business, she managed to build a property, she is able to survive, as well as taking her kids to the with the profits coming from her businesses. “I managed to build the house rentals, but most importantly I am able to take my kids to the higher level schools of their choice. My business really pays off and I am grateful, finally my dreams come true,” she submissively explained.
For future, ‘Maserati emphasized that she wants to go abroad and open more branches in every district as she noticed that people like being smart. “Therefore, I can be their answer!” she said.
Concluding, ‘Maserati advised the coming entrepreneurs to know themselves, know what they like, then do the business which aligns with your existing beliefs. “But on top of everything, look up to the person who inspires you, that will motivate and give you passion,” she affirmed.