At 18, Aobakwe Pheko 
began helping her mother design certificates on a home computer. She had no formal design training, but she had a clear vision: to build a printing business that could serve people from Mahikeng, North West and beyond.
That was in 2016. Today, she runs Mini Me Print and Tricks, which offers services that once forced local customers to travel to the city. The business produces T-shirts, caps, uniforms, bottle stickers, welcome boards, car branding and large-format printing.
In the early years, limited equipment made growth difficult.
Pheko (28) used a small sublimation printer and a basic heat press, sometimes printing large jobs in A4 sections and assembling them by hand.
Outsourcing also created delays and added pressure.
After applying for funding from the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), she received support to buy a solvent printing machine. That investment helped her bring more work in-house, including large-format printing, car branding and board printing, reducing the need to outsource.
To build a loyal client base, she kept prices stable, covered mistakes out of her own pocket, and learned to calculate costs carefully as fuel and materials became more expensive.
Although her team shrank after personal setbacks and relocations, Pheko is rebuilding and hopes to create opportunities for other young women. The business currently employs four people.
She markets the business through everyday visibility, by wearing personalised branded clothing and products that often spark conversations with potential customers. She is also working to strengthen her social media presence.
The bigger picture
Pheko believes that success
is not only found in big cities. She recently helped a customer who had travelled elsewhere for printing, unaware that the same service was available locally and at a lower cost.
“It’s not always about the biggest city,” she said. “It’s about the bigger picture.”
Her advice to young entrepreneurs is simple: “Take the first step, seek support and do not let your location limit your ambition.” From designing certificates at 18 to building a recognised local business, Pheko’s journey shows what persistence and vision can achieve.
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