GrowAfrica For Me coaches bead-making entrepreneurs on building sustainable businesses
GrowAfrica For Me Executive Director Albert Shiebila Mali urges bead-making entrepreneurs to strengthen their marketing, customer relations and product innovation to turn their skills into sustainable businesses.
GrowAfrica For Me, a youth and women-focused social innovation and enterprise support organisation based in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, has held its inaugural group coaching clinic and peer-to-peer learning session for participants of its bead-making cohort.
The session, held on August 1, forms part of the organisation’s Skills-to-Enterprise (S2E) Model, which combines technical skills training with practical business development support to help young entrepreneurs turn their crafts into sustainable livelihoods and businesses.
The Executive Director of GrowAfrica For Me, Albert Shiebila Mali, who led the business coaching session, urged participants to look beyond producing quality bead products and develop effective strategies to attract and retain customers.
He advised the entrepreneurs to identify their target customers, take their products to places where potential buyers gather, and use platforms including markets and fairs, WhatsApp groups, community networks, schools, events, referrals and social media to increase sales.
Mali also stressed the importance of professional product presentation and storytelling, noting that the way a product is presented can influence customers’ willingness to buy.
He further encouraged the participants to maintain relationships with customers after making sales in order to encourage repeat purchases.
The technical coaching session was led by trainer Elizabeth Awuni, who took participants through product design and innovation.
She described bead-making as a viable business opportunity for young people but stressed that success requires patience, dedication, creativity and commitment.
The session also provided an opportunity for participants to share practical experiences and strategies that have helped them grow their businesses.
Some participants said carrying their products with them wherever they went, customising products to meet individual customer needs, and using social events such as school cultural days had helped them increase sales.
One participant disclosed that she currently earns an average of GH¢700 per week from her bead-making business.
Another participant, Azebire Joyce, shared how the programme had helped her move from unemployment and dependence on her mother to earning an income through bead-making.
She said the training had equipped her with skills to produce bracelets, necklaces, waistbands and other beaded products, which now provide her with some financial independence.
The Executive Director, Albert Shiebila Mali, in his concluding remarks, encouraged the participants to collaborate and partner on larger orders to ensure timely delivery to customers.
He also urged them to continue engaging with GrowAfrica For Me for support while exploring innovative ways of raising funds to expand and scale up their businesses.
The organisation says the combination of technical training, business coaching and peer learning is central to its Skills-to-Enterprise model, aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs to develop sustainable enterprises.
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