Lobatse Craftsman Aims High
Tumelo Mouwane | Monday April 24, 2017 18:00
Mphetlhe designs and manufactures wood and metal products ranging from dog houses, tables, chairs, trailers and mobile tuck shops.
The 28-year-old man’s business is located in Woodhall ward in Lobatse and he is currently working from home whilst struggling to raise funds to rent his own industrial space.
He said he has been in the business for the past two years after acquiring skills from his father.
“I have been in the carpentry joinery and welding and fabrication business for the past two years. I learnt the skills from my father when I finished my form five back in 2008.
“I started working with wood because I noticed a market opportunity with used pallets. At the time they were all over the place and they were used to make fire. I was then encouraged to design and construct doghouses which people liked so much. In 2013 I expanded and started dealing in metal. I design and manufacture wooden and metal chairs, tables, beds, trailers and mobile tuck shops,” he said.
Mphetlhe said some of the challenges he faces in the business include amongst others expensive machinery.
“There are several challenges in this business; materials are very expensive and one needs good quality machinery to produce high quality work. Another challenge that I face is of those unreliable customers who will place orders and take long to collect them.
It is very costly to manufacture a trailer, and if I invest a lot of money in one trailer or a mobile tuck shop it means my production will be affected if customers don’t keep the promise,” he said.
Quizzed on his future and his dreams in terms of business growth, he said he wants to see himself having his own industrial warehouse in the next few years.
“In the next few years, I want to see this business grow into an industrial scale business. I want to employ more people than just working alone. I have also not yet been funded but I will keep trying to apply for the youth funds,” he said.