Name: Gladys Chibanda
Organization: KRAFTED INK
Role: Founder & Creative Director
Other interests: Art & Craft| Designing| Philosophy |Travelling |Financial literacy|
Achievements:
– Creative Founder and Director of KRAFTED INK
– Nominated for entrepreneur of the month by KBA ADGE AFRICA
– Acknowledged by Ministry of Education for outstanding gifts
– Profiled by KURUDZIRA [INSPIRE] online inspirational platform
– Profiled at Woman Crush Wednesday by EMPOWERED LIFE TRUST
– One of the CBZ YEP top ten finalist Harare province
– Was awarded with a scholarship for the CREATIVE MASTERCLASS AT STIMULUS 2017
– Documentary done on her work by DW A GERMAN ONLINE TV MAGAZINE
– Nominated ZAACA [Zimbabwe applied arts and crafts association] artist of the day
– Current Executive board member for ZAACA [YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE]
– Partnered with IFF [INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN] 2017 EDITION
– Partnered with DZT [DEAF ZIM TRUST] to formulate a module on financial literacy for the deaf
The day everything almost fell apart:
The year had already brought me some new and exciting opportunities which has always fueled my urge to go on even in hard times, however, on this day the opportunity that came my way was much better than any I had gotten earlier which made it very exciting.
Running a line of handmade stationery like diaries, notebooks and gift packaging meant that at the beginning of the year most corporates will need various of products to help the strengthen their corporal relations with branded stationery gifts to their loyal customers.
I had just pitched to very big and prominent company about my products and they were taking them. Presented to me was an order form and this meant a great deal of growth to my business but this company though was not willing to give me a deposit to kick start the production of the order.
Instead, I was supposed to self-fund the order and receive full payment on delivery. Quick calculations stated that the amount I needed was beyond my reach and I needed some form of funding.
Already 12:00 in the afternoon with to delivery expected the following day and having searched and searched for financiers to give me a loan but to no avail, I was left with no option but to let go of the order.
It was a very difficult decision that I had to make with the constant reminder of how much money I was losing but there was nothing I could do, or so I thought.
Despite it being a tough challenge, as a matter of professionalism I drafted an email to the procurement officer notifying that I could not deliver, however, I also highlighted that they should reconsider giving me a deposit.
I felt shattered, disappointed and coupled with feelings of failure I suddenly questioned my abilities in this line of business at this moment. An hour later after sending the email though I received a call from the procurement department that they were really impressed by my unique products and they were to issue a deposit.
I was in awe, deep shock actually, to think that the company saw my product fit to give a chance was a priceless gifts. Confidence built up in me and this experience birthed a desire to create memorable products that could speak on my behalf.
