IYBA-SEED South Africa - Weavers Stories - Lucrisha Polton, PMCB Trade Hub Manager

[00:00:36]I um opened the very first uh craft hub at one of Quazulunatel's leading tourism sites um and that is to date still running and it's running very successfully. I then went on to join the Peter Marisburg Chamber of Commerce as an entrepreneur. Went into some of their programs and that is when I started learning more and more about the international market space and what was wanted, who wanted what and when. I was approached by the PMCB and they asked me, they told me they had this position.

[00:01:07]It was everything that I'd done in my life had led me to this point. So I was very quickly able to understand what it is that they wanted and how they wanted to get the hub up and running and who they were targeting, the type of markets. Um so within exactly 2 months we have a fullyfledged hub.

[00:01:38]The hub is here for skills development, for networking. Walk in and grab a cup of coffee. Let's talk. Let's see where your dream is. Let's see what your vision is for your business. Which countries do you see yourself exporting to? Have you ever thought that you would ever export?

[00:01:58]I think when I look back, um, low lightss would be times when I was in situations that I never believed I could overcome and that would lead to sleepless nights. Um, you know, and and now I'm going to speak to entrepreneurs because especially those who export, there were times when a container was stuck and there was no way that you could get it across. In your mind, there's no way that it can be done.

[00:02:23]However, when you reach out to your networks, when you reach out to the right people, they come to help you. The the assistance comes from all sides. So, the networking was extremely important.

[00:02:32]The type of networks that I had built.

[00:02:35]Um on many occasions when I felt that I would just not be able to go on. It is impossible. I'm going to give up right now. somebody somewhere just at that last minute came through and said, "Here's what you need to do."

[00:02:52]And that's how I got through. You know, the Big C was awful. It was exactly the time that I had chosen to start the Africrafters Hub. So, I can say that it put me into massive debt as an as and now speak as an entrepreneur. And again, I felt like I would never get beyond that. it would it was going to completely ruin me both emotionally both and financially in in in basically in all aspects. However, again um I think it was resilience. It was resilience and the ability to pivot and to reach deep down within myself and understand why I started this journey.

[00:03:35]When we refer to our networks, we don't just refer to networks that are um your business networks. I think it's very important that we must highlight the networks that support us emotionally. I believe that our well I would call it a social network. I I haven't quite got a word for it, but let's just call it a social network. I think those are the networks that ease your mind, that um quell that anxiety that you feel because not only are you a business person and you have got to be doing your business, but you're also trying to find some harmony between your your family life, your mental state and all of that. And so we don't just feed the business aspect. It is extremely crucial to feed that emotional aspect to feed that um sense of I have that support system. I can call on someone other than in the business con context.

[00:04:34]I have had the privilege of mentoring a number of women who have had um challenges in believing in themselves who have had a fear of stepping out and becoming business women. We start with the why. Why did you decide to do this?

[00:04:50]And now let's unpack it because nothing is beyond you. Nothing is um inaccessible to you. Look within yourself and ask yourself why did I do this? And if you just hold on to your why, you will overcome the fear to take that first step.

[00:05:10]My vision for the trade hub is that it becomes the epicenter for business in Quasul Natal um and more especially in Peter Marittsburg in the Midlands. From that epicenter, I can literally see a ripple effect.