Tembisan makes beautiful furniture that’s affordable
Self-taught furniture builder to assist home owners to make their houses beautiful at a low cost this festive season.
Tembisa residents can now enjoy the privilege of having exclusive decor in their home to enhance their surroundings.
Mainstream furniture distributors sell classy furniture at exorbitant prices. With the looming festive season, rooms need to be refurbished and children are expecting to be spoiled, which leaves one’s budget very constrained.
Tinashe Mutonhodza says buying new furniture for your house should not cripple your limited budget as he offers affordable handcrafted furniture that can make your house stand out from the rest.
Mutonhodza uses his own hands to craft furniture out of seagrass, wood and light steel.
“At first it was difficult to get my product out there because people were not used to this kind of furniture and we were competing with mainstream furniture distributors,” said Mutonhodza.
He said for some people, buying that kind of furniture from big furniture suppliers meant they are guaranteed quality.
Mutonhodza said that is not the case because individual furniture manufacturers like him definitely supply good quality products which can outdo the same furniture you get in malls.
Asked how he got into furniture manufacturing business he said he learned the skill from a friend.
“My friend was building stuff out of seagrass and I thought it was very artistic. I was eager to learn and in 2002 I learned the skill.
“For me, learning any new trait will prevent people from committing crime,” Mutonhodza explained.
He said when he arrived in Johannesburg in 2009, he worked for a construction company as a plasterer.
“I took that job to raise enough money to start my own furniture manufacturing business,” added the father of two.
He said when he left that job he went straight into his furniture business. It took more than two years for business to pick up and be a sustainable business.
Mutonhodza aims to grow the business and create employment for more people.
For his dream to come true, Mutonhodza’s business needs support from Tembisa and Kempton Park residents. He is appealing to the community to support local businesses like his. Impressed customer Bagezile Vilakazi said Mutonhodza’s work is very beautiful.
“I wish he gets an opportunity to distribute his work at large businesses.
“To say there aren’t jobs for some people is an excuse.
“If you are physically able learn a skill and use your mind, then you can create a job for yourself as Mutonhodza did,” said Vilakazi.
Mutonhodza said if there are unemployed people who want to learn his trait he is willing to teach them, he could use extra hand.
“I will teach them for free.
“I would also appreciate the financial assistance to buy more tools for the business and have a proper workshop,” Mutonhodza.
Anyone who is interested in supporting Mutonhodza can call him on 084 436 1078 or find him on the corner of CR Swart Drive and Kelvin Street in Kempton Park.
