Polokwane company exhibits furniture for cramped spaces at South Africa Showroom of Giant US wholesale market
It was 2010, Football World Cup year for South Africa, and Polokwane-based Anikie Mphahlele was caught up in the wave of ‘business success’ optimism that was sweeping through the ranks of thousands of would-be entrepreneurs. Unlike most of the others, however, Mphahlele knew what she wanted to do - and was convinced that her idea would work. But there was one major snag: a lack of finance threatened to kill her dream.
But much can happen in four years.
Determination, a willingness to work hard, a strong religious conviction - and significant help from the Small Enterprise Development Agency - contributed to Mphahlele and her husband, Irish, setting up Tlanggape Upholstery and Motor Trimmers, a furniture and upholstery company, in the Limpopo capital.
Today - and for the foreseeable future - Mphahlele’s company, which specialises in designing and manufacturing furniture to fit tiny spaces (as well as bigger areas), is exhibiting a selection of its products at a permanent South African showroom in the biggest wholesale market of the US City of Atlanta.
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) is the driving force behind the move to get local products manufactured by small businesses into the South African showroom of Atlanta’s Americasmart - after an absence of five years. The reinstatement of the showroom to this market has been widely welcomed - and the quality of the goods that have been put on display has been fulsomely praised.
Another of the better-known exhibitors in Atlanta is Bayede!, a home decor and ceramics project, which has been backed by the Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelethini. Bayede! Is displaying amongst other products, bed linen, with a range of designs that includes the Zulu royal crest, a tribal shield and a Zulu love letter, as well as a range of ceramics.
Some of the stand-out products in this respect are sets of ottomans and coffee tables made out of recycled tires by Yolanda Msutwana and Sazi Mkunqwana , and their East London-based company, Ozzys Eco Decor, and award-winning baskets hand-woven out of ukhasi grass and ilala palm leaves by Angeline Masuku.
In reopening the showroom, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, said she was highly impressed by the talent and skills that had gone into designing and crafting an ‘impressive array of fashionable products.
“The cultural diversity of these products ought to be a source of inspiration to all South Africans. I am convinced that American and international consumers will be impressed with the quality of the goods on display,” added Thabethe.
In his message of support, the South African ambassador to the USA, Mr Ebrahim Rasool, said thrilled that the dti has brought project to fruition.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Twitter: @the_dti
