By: Noko Mashilo
Frustration led Buti Ramahuma, affectionately known as Bro Buti, to establish Tembisa Print in 2010.
Previously, he co-owned the Black Star supermarket in Mashemong section, Tembisa with his cousins and friends.
“During our supermarket days, we often had marketing specials and promotions that needed printing. Printers couldn’t meet our deadlines and by the time we received promotional materials, the promotion had ended. This persistent issue drove us to start our own printing business to handle these needs in-house,” he told Vutivi News.
Starting with just one client —their own supermarket— Tembisa Print soon expanded its services to other customers across Gauteng.
“Our services grew from printing flyers to producing pull-up banners, foam boards, chromadek, perspex, vehicle branding, light-up signs, stickers, T-shirt printing, labels and many other branding materials,” Ramahuma explained.
After starting the business, Ramahuma realised that he was not a trained businessman and sought to empower himself by joining an incubator programme run by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) at the University of Pretoria in 2018.
“GIBS took us under their wing to develop our business skills until we were ready to operate independently. We learned how to manage finances, market ourselves, grow the business and separate personal from business finances. GIBS even became one of our clients and remains so to this day,” he said.
One of the standout lessons for him was the Business Model Canvas.
“It’s like a simplified business plan. It helps you understand your customers, build trust, market your product and deliver value. This concept helped me focus entirely on Tembisa Print instead of the supermarket. I now have a clear vision of where we are and where we’re heading,” Ramahuma said.
In 2019, he joined another incubator, Eruditio, where he completed the Business Enterprise Development Programme, sponsored by Hyundai.
“This programme taught me how to tell my business story, run it efficiently and ensure its sustainability. Following this, I participated in a supply development programme sponsored by Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company, where I learned how to prepare my business to supply large companies and how to communicate effectively with them,” he explained.
The skills Ramahuma gained from these incubators have allowed him to present Tembisa Print in various ways and attract major clients.
“Today, we serve both small businesses and large corporates like Kellogg’s, Cobra, Sanofi, and Hyundai,” he said.
Starting with just three employees, Tembisa Print now employs 12 full-time staff.
In addition to skills development, Tembisa Print received a significant boost in the form of large format printers from Peermont.
“We used our early struggles to apply for equipment assistance. This equipment has eliminated our need to outsource, allowing us to control delivery, quality and pricing.”
Ramahuma said that incubators were invaluable in building a business, particularly for networking and sharing frustrations.
“You also gain solutions from other businesspeople,” said Ramahuma , who has mentored many young entrepreneurs, helping them become skilled designers and start their own printing businesses.
Local business owners like Dikeledi Maleka and Peter Maroku are loyal clients of Tembisa Print, praising the company for its quality service and proximity.
