By 
Precious Lucas is one of the brilliant entrepreneurs the Free State has ever produced, she is ambitious, a visionary and passionate about what she does.
Lucas is an epitome of what entrepreneurship and risk taking is; leaving a comfortable secured guaranteed salary, she took a risk in pursuit of her dream, not knowing what is next, but by faith and confidence in her skills; she took the leap of faith.
The Business Weekly had the privilege to have an interview with the remarkable super business lady and captured her legacy on our platform. Here is our Q and A session with the brave, tenacious Precious Lucas who shares how she navigated through the challenges she faced to make her business a success.
Q: What is the name of your business?
A: The business name is R and P Lucas it was a name that was general as the opportunities were different at that time when we decided to open the business.
Q: What services do you provide?
A: We currently offer a comprehensive service offering, including really delicious food options for various events through catering, event decor and event coordination, and corporate branded items.
Q: How long have you been running your business?
A: I opened the business in 2012, not really knowing what I would do but had the skills of sales and marketing and had a real passion to run a business.
Q: What inspired you to start your business?
A: I felt I had gathered enough skills to give a service to small businesses through sales and marketing strategies. I was quite passionate about it and wanted to help those who did not know the benefits of sales and marketing.
Q: What were you doing before starting your business?
A: I was in the hospitality industry for 8 years. I was appointed as the first marketing coordinator of the Protea Hotel Willow Lake and proudly opened the hotel as a part management team. Then, I later moved over to Protea Hotel Bloemfontein Central (currently Bon Hotel) as Marketing Manager
A: What are some of the challenges you had to overcome when starting your business?
A: One of the biggest challenges was creating systems that would allow me to function efficiently as the only employee. From being part of a large team where everyone had a role to play, to being the only one fulfilling every role in the company was a big wake-up call.
Q: What kept you going?
A: I’m a very driven individual, and I learned that quitting is not an option, especially when it is uncomfortable and hard. I was determined to get to the other side of these very real challenges and grow. The only other option I thought I had was to stay in my current state, and that was no option for me.
Q: Would you say business is good now?
A: Business is good, but as a businesswoman, there are always opportunities to grow. With every project that goes by, there is always another client that needs excellent service, so there is always room for improvement.
Q: How many people are you employing now?
A: I employ individuals with every project we receive, so depending on the size of the project, it is normally from 3 constant employees up to 16 employees per project.
Q: How will the VAT increase affect your business?
A: As a VAT registered company, one learns that there are benefits to VAT when dealing with larger institutions, corporate companies, and government departments. For the smaller business owners and entrepreneurs, it is a heavy cost to carry as it increases already expensive resources we use to trade with and takes from the little cash flow we accrue. It is going to be a challenging adjustment.
Q: What are your future plans for the business?
A: It is our strategic plan to open a conventional kitchen in Bloemfontein that will allow us to cater to large events within the province. We aim to grow so as to offer permanent employment.
Q: How would you encourage other entrepreneurs to persevere in their dreams?
A: Believe in your ability to create things that do not exist. Believe that there are enough opportunities for you in your sector. Carry a positive spirit and strive to give your best service every single time. Don’t be afraid to change and evolve your business as the market changes and you are exposed to other opportunities. Lastly, hold on to the reason why you started your business. If it was worth it to start it, it is worth the perseverance.
Q: Where can people contact you to make use of your services?
A: My email address is precious@randplucas.co.za, info@randplucas.co.za and contact number is 081451 2499. You are welcome to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages at R and P Lucas
Q: Which area do you operate from?
A: We operate from Universitas
Q: Who is your target market (e.g. weddings or businesses)?
A: Our target marketing is primarily corporate companies, government departments, and institutions, though good food is for everyone we also cater for smaller celebrations, graduations, weddings, parties and funerals on request.
We aim to serve great tasting food to everyone we serve and give our best in every project and opportunity we are awarded.
