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Being different

Monique Adams

Blue Junkies is a Windhoek-based business that aims to break down social and cultural norms through its unique product. The aim behind this entity is to be different and to show people that the simplest commodity has the power to transform itself.

What makes this product different is that its ‘vetkoek’ is blue and coated with icing sugar.

“I wanted to be different in a world that does not support individualism and in our country with its low employment rate, I believe it is important to create employment opportunities for myself and my peers,” says the founder of Blue Junkies, Collins Haipinge.

Haipinge has managed to create a lucrative business with a loyal customer base. He managed to scale up from operating in a single town to fulfilling orders from customers based in the city. His growth has resulted in a higher demand for his product and has allowed him to increase the unit price for his vetkoek from N$2 to N$3. He has also started selling them in packs, as customers are usually craving more than one.

“The flow of income in this business has shown that the business is making profit and moving from point to point towards an established company and for me that is a big achievement,” he says.

Being a young entrepreneur in a developing country is a challenge that requires extreme discipline and acceptance that it will not always be plain sailing. One has to be patient and allow the process to happen, Haipinge believes. Self-motivation is key in running a small business, he adds.

He emphasises that one should acknowledge and respect your customers’ demands. ‘’I would like to add that in order to move forward, you need to believe in yourself and your product in order to motivate yourself every day,” he says.

Currently, Blue Junkies has six employees. The culture of the entity is built on a foundation of individualism and understanding that every person has a significant role in driving the business forward.

Haipinge plans on expanding Blue Junkies countrywide within five years. He aims at diversifying and providing this unique product that targets all the different social classes in Namibia.

“I aim to unite the Namibian nation and help them to believe in the beauty of being unique and different. I also want my company to grow so that I can be in a position to provide and create more job opportunities to my fellow Namibians,” he says.

“This year has been a very difficult year for us all and as we are in the last month of the year, I would like to thank all my customers who believe in my product. Now I am looking forward to the New Year and excited to see where Blue Junkies will be,” he says.