Entrepreneur becomes backpack king

Growing up, Poloko Masizane (26) of Montshioa in Mahikeng would watch his mother and uncle mend clothes and design outfits. They inspired him so much that today, he designs backpacks and duffel bags.

Masizane is the founder of a bag brand called King Size, a business he started three years ago after resigning from his job in the retail industry.

The self-taught designer explains that he became curious every time he saw his uncle and mom using their domestic sewing machine.

“I guess that’s how I learnt. I went on to patching clothes and tearing backpacks apart and putting them back together,” he says.

Masizane was motivated to leave his job and start his own business when a friend admired Masizane’s backpack and asked if he could make one for him.

It dawned on him that many people use backpacks, meaning there was a huge market.

“I realised that I had been carrying backpacks from as early as primary school and I also carried one while I was still working in retail. This is the case with many South Africans, especially in the townships, like where I stay.”

He called his new venture King Size to inspire people to believe in themselves. “People must believe they are the size of kings and nothing less,” says Masizane.

The young entrepreneur received help from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), which helped him get a small enterprise training certificate. This in turn helped him secure funding from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

“I received a business grant worth R50 000 to buy equipment, including industrial sewing machines. I am now able to produce products of great quality and to produce more items on time, thanks to the NYDA,” he says.

Apart from marketing his bags online, Masizane sells them in his township and also delivers around Mahikeng. He also has pop-up stores at a local mall on Fridays and Saturdays.

“I believe that social media and selling online can work for young businesspeople like me, as long as they make time to respond to clients, deliver on time and keep their social media pages updated,” he says.

For more information about getting support from Seda, call 0860 663 7867.

For more information on services offered by the NYDA, call 0800 52 52 52 or go to www.nyda.gov.za