The KwaZulu-Natal furniture industry cluster recently hosted five furniture companies at the inaugural Furniture Africa held at Gallagher Estate, Midrand Johannesburg, Gauteng, winning four awards for stand excellence.
Pictured on the award-winning show stand are: Standing: Shabir Ansur (Torino Lounge), Vijay Naidoo(Woodstreet Furniture Mnfctrs), Bella Cebekhulu(KZN Furniture Industry Cluster),Wassir Muller (Torino Lounge):Jeannette Nel (Insimbi Creations), Francois Josso (KZN Furniture Industry Cluster), Karen Van Rooyen( Insimbi Creations). Seated: Jo Walker (Contemporary Life), Shayleen Spears (Contemporary Life). Absent from picture: Ian Perry (Homewood).
The awards from Kagiso Exhibitions and Events, the organisers of the expo, are proof of the quality of the products of the companies and the calibre of the companies themselves. The cluster was awarded three sliver awards and one gold for Contemporary Life, manufacturers of large suites, sleeper and designer couches.
"Our selection process is quite strict and the awards prove that we brought the right companies to the expo. All the companies we selected are established SMMEs that have been doing business from five to 20 years. While not necessarily exporters, every one of them is a serious manufacturer with an established clientele. In order for them to exhibit one of the criteria was that they must be able to meet any orders they receive from the show," says Bella Cebekhulu, CEO of the cluster.
The companies, which are all also registered members of the KwaZulu-Natal furniture industry cluster, all produce a variety of products within the industry and reported good feedback from the show. The companies included Insimbi Creations, Woodstreet Furniture Manufacturers, Torino Lounge, Homewood and Contemporary Life.
Shayleen Walker of Contemporary Life, a gold award winner, says, "We had good interest, leads and contacts from the expo… the most exciting is the inquiry we received from a lodge in Mozambique as well as from a developer in Knysna." She also said that the KwaZulu-Natal furniture industry cluster had been a great help to its members in organising the stands for the exhibition and in supporting the members.
Cebekhulu says the exhibition gave the industry in KZN welcome exposure.
