Teacher ‘orders with me’ to success

ONGWEDIVA – What started as a small side hustle while she was a student at the University of Namibia has grown into a business that continues to provide teacher Julia Nakale with an additional source of income and financial independence.

Nakale started her ‘Order with me’ business in May 2019, motivated by the need to earn extra money to cater to her personal needs.

“I ventured into this business because I needed to make an extra income to cater to my needs. As a university student back then, I needed transport money and food every day,” she said.

The business allows customers to order a variety of products, including clothes, shoes and electronics. When she started, customers were required to pay a 50% deposit, but she has since changed the arrangement, with customers now able to pay for their orders and collect them when they arrive.

Nakale also uses the business to restock items and keep some products available.

She maintained that balancing the business with teaching requires careful time management, since weekdays are dedicated to teaching and learning.

She mainly processes orders on Saturdays and uses school holidays to attend to business-related responsibilities.

“It is all about time management,” she said.

Her experience as a teacher has also equipped her with skills that have proved useful in running the business.

“Patience, communication, planning and organisation have helped me manage customers, track orders and maintain records and bookkeeping,” she said.

She stated that delays are among the challenges she encounters, particularly when customers expect their parcels to be delivered during working hours.

“Some customers would want their parcels delivered during working hours, which is quite impossible,” Nakale said.

She added that finding time to manage the business alongside her teaching responsibilities remains a challenge. Despite these difficulties, the business has brought memorable experiences and valuable lessons. She said every order and parcel received remains special to her because it represents trust in her service.

The income generated from the business has contributed to her financial independence.

Nakale said it has helped her cover expenses while she was at university, and it continues to supplement her teaching salary.

“It gives me financial independence outside my teacher’s salary, so I can proudly say I am not relying on one source of income,” she said.

Nakale credits friends, strangers and customers for supporting the business, noting that some of her best customers have been colleagues and people outside her immediate circle.

Her motivation comes from her passion for business and determination to keep going despite challenges such as outstanding debts and customers who lose interest in their orders.

“There is no business without obstacles. All we have to do is learn from our mistakes and keep going,” she said. Looking ahead, Nakale hopes to grow the venture from the small operation, currently run from the corner of her room, into a formally registered business. She also dreams of expanding the business and eventually employing someone to help run it.

–maxhenrich35@gmail.com