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HOW TSHEGO TURNED ‘CANVA’ INTO A THRIVING BUSINESS

Author

KAONE HUNYEPA
March 15, 2025

 

Meet Tshegofatso Boakgomo, a Creative Entrepreneur who has turned her Passion for DESIGN into a thriving business. Boakgomo is a Graphic Designer and Canva Tutor who not only creates stunning visuals via Canva, but also teaches others how to design and sell physical products too. While she didn’t initially set out to become a Graphic Designer, she found herself enjoying the process nonetheless and built from there. In this Feature, she takes us through her journey…

Q1. Please share a little about yourself and how you got into Graphic Design. Was it always a Passion?

I’m a Creative at heart, and design has always been a way for me to express myself. While I didn’t set out to become a Graphic Designer initially, it was actually my second choice after Fashion Design. But once I started studying Graphic Design, I realized I could still have that Creative expression I loved. I found myself really enjoying the process — learning design principles, exploring different softwares, and developing ideas. That journey became something I thrived in, and it’s been fascinating ever since.

Q2. What sparked your interest in Digital Design and Canva?

My initial interest in Canva was purely practical. I needed a tool to create marketing materials for my own business. Canva stood out because it is user-friendly, and with the templates already there, I just had to tweak things; change colors, fonts, text and I had a polished design.

As for teaching Canva tutorials, that happened unexpectedly. One day, I was scrolling through TikTok and landed on the design side of the algorithm. I kept seeing videos about party snacks and kids’ party content, and I noticed people in the comments struggling with things I found very simple, like designing snack packets. It surprised me because, to me, the process was clear, but for them, it wasn’t. So I decided to create one tutorial to simplify it, just to help. And “that one video started everything.”

Q3. What are some of your favorite things about Canva?

I love how Canva is incredibly beginner-friendly while still being powerful enough for advanced design work. It’s accessible for people who aren’t designers, yet it offers endless Creative possibilities. The combination of

  •  Templates

  •  Drag-and-drop tools, and

  • Customization options

    …make it easy to bring ideas to life.

Q4. You teach people how to create and sell physical products using Canva. What are some of the easiest products beginners can start with?

The easiest products aren’t always the most marketable, so I encourage beginners to be strategic. While invitations and business cards are simple to design, they’re also highly competitive markets.

Instead, I recommend products where your Creativity can shine, like custom party packs for kids’ events. When you focus on designing exciting, memorable themes, you naturally stand out. Products that allow you to apply your Creative expression tend to be more rewarding and can help you build a niche for yourself.

Q5. What was the turning point that made you realize you could actually monetize your skill, and were there any challenges when you started?

The turning point came after I posted a few more tutorials and started receiving messages from people saying, “This is the easiest method I’ve ever seen,” or “Your video gave me the confidence to finally start my business.” I realized I had created something that people found extremely valuable.

Challenge(s): One of my biggest challenges was figuring out how to sell internationally. Since my audience came from places like Vietnam, the UK, South Africa, Uganda, and Brazil, I knew I couldn’t rely on a local setup. I had to build a Website and use PayPal to make sure my international clients could easily purchase from me, that’s how I was able to expand and grow my business.

Q6. Can you break down the services you currently offer?

I offer One-on-One Canva classes:

 The Beginner Class covers all the basics — from navigating Canva to learning essential design skills.

 The Snack Template Class teaches people how to edit and assemble my templates for chip packets, chocolate wrappers, juice boxes and other custom designs.

Q7. What are some business lessons you’ve learned from offering a design-based service?

The biggest lesson is the importance of having a clear lesson plan for each class. That’s why I always ask my students beforehand, “What do you want to create?” or “What’s your goal for this class?”

Most people have an immediate need, like creating invitations for a party or designing marketing materials for their small business. By tailoring the class to their specific goal, they leave feeling accomplished and equipped with the resources they need.

Q8. What kind of people do you work with/teach, and do you do this full-time?

I work with a wide range of people — from small business owners creating marketing materials to working moms who just want to make their kids’ events memorable.

While this isn’t my full-time role yet, it’s something I’m passionate about and actively growing. I’m excited to be moving to a new venue in April, which will allow me to offer both daily and weekend classes.

Q9. What mistakes do you think Creatives make when trying to monetize their skills?

I think one BIG mistake is undervaluing their work, pricing too low out of fear they won’t attract customers. Another mistake is trying to cater to everyone’s needs. As a Freelancer, it’s tempting to take on every type of project; logos, funeral programs, party invitations, branding packages — but spreading yourself too thin can dilute your creativity.

Instead, it’s better to focus on what you’re really good at and build your expertise there. When you fully commit to one specialty, you create a stronger identity for your business and clients trust you more because they see you as an expert in that area.

Q10. Where can people find you and access your services?

Q11. Any last words for creatives who want to build a business around their skills?

One of my favorite quotes is:

“You have enough information.”

As Creatives, we often overthink things, but the truth is, you already have the skills. The key is to START. Whatever your idea is, put it out there. You never know what value people will find in it.

I actually stumbled upon my own business idea completely by chance. At the time, I had stepped away from Design altogether and was working in a completely different industry. Creating tutorials started as something I did for fun — just to help someone. I had no idea it would open up a whole new world for me.

So don’t doubt yourself. Just start. Whether you’re scared or unsure, take that first step. That’s the beauty of social media, one idea can reach so many people, far beyond what you ever imagined.

 

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