By Moses Kay Fembeh
The entrepreneurship industry is evolving globally, and the founding members of CessRia’s Thread saw the need to enter this industry to make a difference. Today, they can proudly recount their success stories.
On Sunday, June 2, 2024, CessRia’s Thread celebrated its 10th anniversary, which coincided with the grand opening of its new location at 101 Jomo Kenyatta Road, opposite Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. Several dignitaries attended, including the Bishop of Harvest Intercontinental Church Sierra Leone, His Grace Bishop Dr. Julius Laggah, and his team of pastors, who officially dedicated the business entity to God for His providential authority.
The grand opening celebration concluded with shopping and networking among attendees.
Speaking to the Chief Executive Officer, Madam Francess Gbondo, at the grand opening, she said, “Today is the most fulfilling day of my life. We now have a bigger space that can accommodate all of our different activities, ranging from tailoring to our fashion boutique. I am joyful for contributing to the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone by providing jobs for our young people. I recall we started with a few staff, and to the glory of God, we now boast fourteen staff on my payroll and fifteen trainees. Our contribution to the development of the entrepreneurship industry in Sierra Leone is thrilling, and I’m grateful for our efforts and excellent teamwork. God has brought us this far.”
Moving forward, Ms. Maria Kargbo, the daughter of the CEO of CessRia’s Thread, Madam Francess Gbondo, shared their journey. According to Maria, the business started on Malama Thomas Street in 2014 with just two ‘lappas’ in the shop. This humble beginning has given them hope that they can achieve more, and they are grateful for the business support they have received from people and the public. Maria also serves as the Co-founder of CessRia’s Thread, with the name being a combination of her mother ‘Francess’ and her name ‘Maria.’ Their collaboration as a supportive mother-daughter team has been a tremendous blessing to the growth of the business.
This press also interviewed one of the entity’s customers, Ms. Winnie Forewa. According to Forewa, she has been a fan and customer of the brand for the past four years. Due to the quality work produced by CessRia’s Thread, she has been excited to recommend the brand to others so they can all enjoy the same tasteful experience that has kept her patronizing CessRia’s Thread. “With CessRia’s Thread, you don’t need to go to Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Abidjan, or other places for Africana styles of any kind, as the brand caters to men, women, and children for any program or occasion. CessRia’s Thread is the place to be,” she strongly stated.
Ibrahim Kamara, a long-serving staff member, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his boss, Madam Francess, for believing in him. Today, he feels blessed, and seeing the growth of the business over the last ten years is something worth celebrating, considering their humble beginnings.