360 on Tebogo Motsie: Urban Soul 's first Franchisee

Local hip-hop artist, Tebogo Motsie, affectionately known as Eureka to his fans is now the leading man of the first ever franchise of Urban Soul, one of the country’s fastest growing home-grown brands.

From a tender age, Motsie has always had an appetite for activities that could bring him money. While in primary school, he used to make money from photography, a passion that further developed into shooting videos and selling fashion items.

The way he sees it, operating a brand like Urban Soul when one is already a brand just makes the business better. Motsie successfully attained Urban Soul outlet in Rail Park Mall in Gaborone towards the end of last year.

Urban Soul, formerly Mafia Soul is the brainchild of founder Molefi Nkwete, who started the business in the 90s as a student. Today they are trusted retailers of a wide range of merchandise sourced mainly from US, Germany, South Africa and Botswana.  They sell among others, Nike, Adidas, Timberland, Jordan, New Era and Vans. They also stock an extension of contemporary brands including Diamond Clothing, D9 Reserve, Streetwise, BLVD, DGK, Crooks and Castles.

When Motsie was presented with an opportunity to own and run one of Urban Soul branches, he seized it.

“I was excited about branching out and diversifying to another concept and learning how they do it-- and try to do it even better,” he says.

At 32, Motsie and his wife are gearing up for growth. Goal-setting is nothing new for him. He once upon a time inked his dream of becoming a business owner at the age of 30. With his self-imposed deadline looming, Motsie turned his focus from selling his own clothing brand to franchising as the smartest route to achieve his dream.

The fact that Eureka-The Cover boy is a hip-hop artist, and has experience in the local urban clothing scene, comes as an advantage to Urban Soul. “Fans and customers subconsciously have a sense of connection with the store especially that hip-hop music and fashion interchangeably exist,” says the computer specialist.

“I am very much inspired by the story behind Urban Soul and it is for this reason I chose to be a part of it,” he said.

The franchisee group, which was looking to invest in a young entrepreneur, liked what they saw in Eureka and desired him to live and continue the legacy.

The gentle yet very meticulous Francistown-born artist and entrepreneur is adamant that running the store is a totally new experience that requires more than just ‘being a brand’. Urban Soul is arguably local market leaders despite the reality that harsh competition exists.

“Competition in the retail space is brutal and definitely for us placed at the Rail Park Mall, the reality is met on a daily basis.”

Competing with international bargain stores, retail outlets like Woolworths, Mr Price, Edgars that dominate the retail space is not easy, but Urban Soul pride themselves with exclusiveness.  “I bought into it because the potential of growth is huge and we have the advantage of style that comes exclusively.”

Eureka, a self-confessed computer nerd intends to be hands on when it comes to fully utilising the mobile market in the local scene. “We are a young, vibrant store and the use of modern technology to market our products to a very selective clientele gives us real experience with our customers,” says Motsie, adding that it has not been easy, but will take time and tenacity.”

Motsie and Nkwete’s relationship does not start with the franchise. The duo has been involved in business together in other areas. As a result of Motsie’s understanding of the business, he is confident that he will do well. “It is about being a part of the dream to grow the business at the same time supporting one another in order to enhance personal growth,” he says.

Motsie is of the view that there are opportunities in retail and manufacturing in the country.

He believes that the internet has opened up the global market place to retailers to sell their products and create a shopping experience online.