Alexis Pieters (12) a young entrepreneur of the Welkom-Volkskool, who hails from Odendaalsrus, is busy proving herself as a business woman to be reckoned with.
At the end of 2022 “The Bubble Tea Monster” saw the light of day with mom, Griselda Pieters, who helps and assists in the soft drink business.
Today, she struggles to keep up with the slew of orders, and Alexis and her product can regularly be seen at local flea markets and, even more recently, at this year’s Nampo Christmas market.
Alexis’ product is also stocked in selected school tuckshops all across the Goldfields, and also at a popular restaurant in Ararat Road.
Not only is Alexis an astute business woman, but she is a scholar to boot.
She boasts provincial colours in Mathematics and works very hard on all her other subjects, to bring home a good report. Additionally, she has been selected as a prefect at her school for 2024.
Alexis’ journey into establishing her now flourishing business began in 2022, during an entrepreneurs’ day held at the Welkom-Volkskool.
She and her friend manned a candy table, but her mom had stocked up with too many candies and at the end of the day there was still a lot of stock left.
“My mom then made a joke and suggested that we should man a stall at the flea market to get rid of the sweets. I had heard of boba bubble tea, and wanted to try selling it.
“I asked Mom if we could sell them along with the candy, so we would have something that would draw people to our booth. We then bought boba bubble tea, started selling it, and wow, were we surprised! It was very tasty, and sold very well,” she says.
Alexis designed her own logo and with her mom’s help, created a Facebook page. Her product is in demand and she loves to attend markets, functions, and other events and deliver her product as per orders.
Griselda helps with the sales and papa Charles has to help carry the heavy items. Michaela van Staden, Alexis’ sister, also lends a hand when it gets busy.
“My family really supports me a lot and always helps, so that I don’t have to struggle alone,” she says.
Her Bubble Tea Monster consists of two main ingredients that are added separately to soft drinks: babo is fruit juice and tapioca can be chewed.
The Boba soft drink is a secret mixture that they make themselves.
It contains bubbles within fruit juice, which is sipped through a thick straw.
“The bubbles burst in your mouth, giving off a delicious taste. Tapioca is added separately and this creates bubbles that are chewed. It is similar to the texture of jelly, which gives an interesting flavour to your tea, coffee, or soft drink,” says Alexis.
Find out more about Alexis and her “The Bubble Tea Monster” and the range of flavoured soft drinks she has on offer on Facebook at The Bubble Tea Monster.
Alternatively get more information via a call, or a WhatsApp message on 076-221-7266.
“My family really supports me a lot and always helps, so that I don’t have to struggle alone.”
– Alexis Pieters
