Small scale furniture manufacturers record improved sales

Staff Reporter 30-05-2009

Small scale furniture manufacturers have started enjoying the benefits which came with dollarisation.

Furniture manufacturers operating in Harare’s Glen View and Kuwadzana said the use of a stable currency has made planning easy as well as allowing them to offer credit facilities.

“We are realizing the benefits of the use of the United States dollar as customers now can come and pay a deposit and payoff the balance in the following month. This was virtually impossible last year as there was a serious shortage of cash as well as the need to meet other pressing needs such as food. As such not many people were willing to buy furniture."

“In fact there are cases where one would make a deposit and then fail to pay the balance as it would have shot above the roof,” said Mr Phillip Sanyanga who operates in Kuwadzana.

Last year was probably the most difficult in the 10 years of economic recession as there were serious food and cash shortages and massive unemployment.

Mr Sanyanga added that he was getting an average of two orders a week.

“I get orders to manufacture wardrobes, room dividers, kitchen units and chairs and these are made at least twice a week. It is interesting to note that we are almost always busy each day trying to meet demand which has been surging since February."

“We think that demand would increase with an increase in earnings especially by civil servants who constituted our largest customers,” added Mr Sanyanga.

Small scale manufacturers operating in what is usually referred to as home industries have been providing safety nets for the unemployed and those who have been retrenched. This is a sector which has a lot of potential especially at a time when there is still an element of lethargy on the part of the formal sector.

Apart from furniture, some are into tools manufacture, basketry, repairing of electric and mechanical equipment and production of an assortment of wares.