S T creative carpentry
| Business Location: | Rural area - Villages |
| Province | Limpopo |
| Branch: | Waterberg |
| Business Start Date: | 2020-01-08 |
| Busniess Type: | Company |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
Sabelo Magnificent Dlamini is the founder and sole director of S T creative carpentry. The business is located at Sekgakgapeng, approximately 5km from Mokopane CBD, and it operates from the home of the owner, however 95% of services is manufactured/ assembled at client premises. Mr Dlamini stated the business in 2021 and subsequently registered it with CIPC in august of 2021. He started the business as a means of creating employment opportunity for himself as it was becoming harder to get employment during lockdown period.
With an initial investment of R 700, Mr. Dlamini funded the business himself. This was utilized for the rental of carpentry tools and the transportation costs associated with visiting his first client to provide interior furniture fitting services. In addition to other woodworking projects, S T Creative Carpentry specializes in carpentry services such as as built-in wall drops, kitchen cabinets, TV stands, kitchen worktops, and shelves for homes and businesses.
Challenges/Needs:
The entrepreneur first contacted SEDA Waterberg branch in 2022, seeking business development advice; while conducting an assessment, the following challenges were identified:
• The business was lacking marketing materials and strategy to attract customers.
• The business needed an investment for operational tools and equipment.
• Lacked both financial planning and record keeping knowledge and skills.
• The business had no quality management system to monitor production processes and ensure consistent product quality.
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
• During the consultation, the client was introduced to SEDA income statement excel template, which he learns to record his income and expenses.
• The client attended 3-days QMS training, as a result the client was able to improve production processes and implement quality checks at the end of each service delivery.
• The client was assisted with marketing materials that he uses to market the business such as during pop-up markets.
• Facilitation of access to finance in the form of a business plan as well as submitting application for SEFA TREP funding
• Client was assisted with SEDA Asset assist funding.
• The client attended 3-days QMS training, as a result the client was able to improve production processes and implement quality checks at the end of each service delivery.
• The client was assisted with marketing materials that he uses to market the business such as during pop-up markets.
• Facilitation of access to finance in the form of a business plan as well as submitting application for SEFA TREP funding
• Client was assisted with SEDA Asset assist funding.
Outcome Details:
• Turnover increased from R 120 050 to R 143 000 per annum, a 19% growth.
• Profit has increased from R 4,210.00 loss to R 3,540.00 profit per annum.
• The client received Asset Assist funding of R82 000 to which he used to procure operational tools and equipment.
• With the help of quality management training, the client has now implemented quality monitoring of all services he is offering at project completion all projects. He is also advising clients to which material to buy to ensure durability of their wooden interiors.
• The entrepreneur’s financial management skills are improving, and he now has the confidence to keep the company’s records using MS Excel.
• Profit has increased from R 4,210.00 loss to R 3,540.00 profit per annum.
• The client received Asset Assist funding of R82 000 to which he used to procure operational tools and equipment.
• With the help of quality management training, the client has now implemented quality monitoring of all services he is offering at project completion all projects. He is also advising clients to which material to buy to ensure durability of their wooden interiors.
• The entrepreneur’s financial management skills are improving, and he now has the confidence to keep the company’s records using MS Excel.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
I am happy with continuous services I am getting from SEDA, above all I am happy for assets I received
