Vula is a purified water bottle company operating in Selebi-Phikwe. Despite being a young company with operations that started in August this year, it has muscled its way into the market, asserting itself as a force to reckon with in purified water value chains.
Giving the background of the company, Mogae explained that his success dawned when he exited the formal corporate space some years ago. According to the spirited entrepreneur, his innate ability to negotiate and sell led him to creating Vula after noticing a gap in the market.
“I think as an individual, looking at my professional life/career, I have always had a knack and skill to be able to sell, which is essentially business 101. “I left the corporate space almost a year ago due to unforeseen circumstances but rather than seeing that as a “problem”, I used it to my advantage,” he said.
Speaking to the product offering, Mogae said Vula has water bottles in different sizes ranging from 500ml, to 1.5 litres and five litres. Other value add services include refilling water bottles and containers in different sizes and providing custom-made water bottle services for different companies and organisations in Botswana.
“We also do container refills for those who want to bring their own bottle but want the special and pure taste of our water. “Another service we provide is personalised bottles for those that want branding that is specific to their needs, whether this is in corporate or for weddings and funerals,” he said.
Speaking on the competition and challenges faced by the business, Mogae said rivalry is part and parcel of every viable industry but their core competence is in developing niche solutions for markets that have not been served. “Competition is always fierce in the water industry because you have your seasoned big hitters that have been in the game longer than we have.
“There are many brands that we see as “indirect” competitors, only because they are not based in our region,” he said. Speaking on expansion, the entrepreneur said Vula has very big dreams, both in the short and in the long-term. “The three words I can give you to best describe future prospects are expansion, premiumisation, and sustainability,” he said.
