Old watches put food on Dube’s table
Man sets example to unemployed people by coming up with new ideas.
Finding a job can be an impossible exercise that only exacerbates the effect of poverty in many families.
But for Abel Dube, poverty has no place in his life for as long as he can still develop new skills and identify new opportunities.
The enterprising craftsman may scrape by on dusty sidewalks, but he believes his creations have a place in the mainstream economy.
Dube does every bit of business that helps put food on the table, and among other things sells breakfast to taxi drivers, commuters and pedestrians.
“Modifying wristwatches is one of many things I can do,” he says. “These uniquely modified watches with custom-made watch straps can make a perfect Christmas present.”
If you have a wristwatch with old straps or you just want to change the look of your watch to suit different occasions, Dube has the solution.
“I learned the trade from another vendor who was just walking past my pavements business stall,” he explains.
“She had bracelets that had people’s names on them. I liked what she was doing and I asked her to teach me how to create the bracelets.
She agreed and it took me a day to learn the skill.”
Dube started to work with beads creating bracelets, but still wanted to do something different, only he could not think of what this might be.
Then one day he happened to pick up one of his old watches which was in need of new straps, and at once the idea of creating new straps out of beads came to him.
“The first person who saw me wearing the watch thought it was beautiful and unique,” Dube says.
“He suggested that I create and modify more watches. The new discovery took my business a notch up, and now I am doing something that stands out and is beautiful.”
The street vendor and kasi entrepreneur wishes his watches could be sold in mainstream fashion shops, which he could then supply in large consignments.
“To date I have sold more than 30 watches with these unique straps,” Dube says. “When a person comes to me they bring their own watches; if they don’t have one I use my own watches. Mostly people ask me to create straps bearing names of their loved ones. They support and love my business.
“Unemployed people must not laze around at home,” says Dube. “They must mingle with other vendors who can give them an idea of what to do.”
If you would like unique watch straps for a precious old watch, don’t throw it away, just call Dube on 074 459 2853.
