saves water, because when you
are using the bag you are
reducing the occurrence of
evaporation. You use more
water when you are using high
heat levels.
GM.: How functional is the
temp bag?
Blessed: I think that the major
function is the triple
COWACO. So this is the
cooker-warmer-cooling and
our motto to people is, “Go
COWACO, change your
world!” It is about people
change their mind sets, people
engaging in environmental
programs. It is about people
changing their mindsets about
their eating habits such as
having fast foods. Here we are
saying that you can have
healthy, home cooked meals
whilst sitting in your office, or
in a combi, so you wont have
to rush to the fast food
restaurants.
GM.: So do you use the
temp-bag yourselves?
Blessed: Yes I do use the
temp-bag. Actually everyone at
the office uses temp-bag. In
terms of health, the temp-bag
is critical for nutritional value
of food. So it’s about people
changing their cooking and
eating habits, changing their
attitude towards the
environment and start doing
what is health friendly and
environmentally friendly.
Thatis why our motto is
“change your world!” The use
of the temp-bag in rural
Zimbabwe could reduce
deforestation by 40%.
GM.: What has been the
market response to this
64
product?
Blessed: This project is still
very young, it’s a few months
old. But we have done so much.
We have a SARS verification,
we have won exhibitions of the
bag. Now we are a stage where
we want to deliver the bag on
the market. We have quite a
well overwhelming positive
response. We have seen people
demand for the bag at
exhibitions that we have
attended, people are spreading
the word. For the past few
months, we have been using
direct marketing and direct
sales. We are getting bags in
retailers and wholesalers in
Harare, Bulawayo, and also
getting distributors in
Chinhoyi and Masvingo.
GM.: What is your pricing
range?
Blessed: Our product ranges
from small, medium and large
and priced at $25,$35 and $40
respectively. And this is a
giveaway price because the
temp-bag is an all-in-one. And
the justification of the price is
in the functionality of bag, the
production cost and
distribution.
GM.: What do you think
about the current business
environment towards new
innovations such as the temp
bag?
Blessed: In my opinion, this is
the time when young
businesses could succeed.
Because this is the time when
big firms have left so there is a
gap. And the government is
willing to support, especially
the Ministry of Youth and
Gender Welfare, other big
Groove Magazine Zimbabwe
organisations, we have also
received support from the
Ministry of SMEs.
Opportunities are there, people
just need to know how to tap
into them. The liquidity crisis is
a challenge though because
people do not have disposable
income, therefore we are low on
sales.
GM.: Do you think there is
more room for development
for this gadget?
Blessed: There is room in terms
of distribution, production and
development. Team is working
on different designs for product
so as to cater to the market
segmentation. Research and
product development is
continuous and I am glad to
work with the temp-bag team
whom I see as COWACO.
GM.: How far do you want to
take this project?
Blessed: I want our product on
the international market. We
have been engaging with other
businesses and seeking advice
on a strategic business plan.
We want the temp bag to be in
every household more so in
rural Zimbabwe. We want to
see the temp bag cause changes
through reduction in gas
emissions, pollution,
deforestation and water usage.
GM.: Advice to the nation and
how people can get involved.
Blessed: We are calling on
every Zimbabwean to join the
movement. There are business
opportunities with the temp
bag especially for distributors.
Do not despise humble
beginnings. Start where you are
and you will get somewhere.