Furniture Design Awards Celebrate Innovation and Growth in South Africa’s Furniture Industry
Last week, amidst the atmosphere of the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit, the prestigious Furniture Design Awards Ceremony took centre stage, showcasing the ingenuity and creativity within South Africa’s furniture industry. The event, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, served not only as a celebration of design excellence but also as a platform for fostering collaboration and innovation in the sector.
The highlight of the event was a keynote address delivered by the Acting Deputy Director-General of Sectors at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Dr Anneline Chetty, where she emphasised the critical role of the furniture industry in driving economic growth and job creation in South Africa. Addressing the audience, she underscored the importance of collaboration between social partners and government to address challenges such as sluggish domestic growth, constrained demand, and high unemployment.
“Incubating critical skills and empowering entrepreneurs to establish Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in the furniture sector is essential for revitalising the industry. SMMEs, which currently account for 35% of the GDP, are the backbone of job creation in our economy,” she stated.
Referencing the Furniture Masterplan, she outlined the government’s commitment to rebuilding the furniture industry, aiming to return it to its pre-1994 stature. The masterplan, she explained, seeks to enhance the sector’s competitiveness both locally and globally, with a focus on increasing localisation and fostering innovation.
“As we embark on this journey, it is crucial to recognise the opportunities presented by initiatives such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By strengthening our furniture industry, we position South Africa to dominate the African market and maximise the benefits of regional trade agreements,” she said.
The Furniture Design Awards serve as a testament to the industry’s potential, showcasing groundbreaking designs that embody South Africa’s rich cultural heritage and innovative spirit. From contemporary pieces to traditional craftsmanship, the awards celebrate diversity and excellence in furniture design.
The event concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to rally behind the implementation of the Furniture Masterplan, working collaboratively to unlock the industry’s full potential and creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
The Acting Deputy Director-General of Sectors at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Dr Anneline Chetty delivering a keynote address during the Furniture Design Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg.
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Youth-Owned Industrialist Paint Manufacturer Aims to Expand its Footprint in South Africa and Beyond
Beside showcasing their products and services at the second Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference in Sandton last month, the Chief Executive Officer of APCoat, Mr Livhuwani Tshipuke says the biggest achievements so far is that they pride themselves on is providing employment to fourteen people and sponsoring schools within communities they operate in. Eight of those permanently employed are youth.
APCoat is a proudly South African, 100% black and youth-owned paint manufacturer and retailer operating from various locations across South Africa, primarily Gauteng and Limpopo, where you will find a modern and colourful retail concepts, offering various paint products
According to Tshipuke (31), the other achievement the company is proud of is developing a new product called APCoat sports field line marking paint which saw a rise in demand in the market. He says they are the first black-owned company to manufacture this kind of special product in the country. The sports field line marking paint is environmentally friendly and can be diluted with water.
“We are driven by the motive of creating value for our customers through the durability, aesthetics, weather resistance and improvement of the thermal performance of buildings. Through innovation and technology, we produce quality coatings, best decorative coatings and performance coatings designed to meet our customer needs and improve customer satisfaction,” says Tshipuke.
Tshipuke adds that the company aspires to be the most preferred paint brand in Africa by 2032.
The company has received an International Organisation for Standardisation System Certification, and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) product certification vouchers from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda).
The APCoat team during the exhibition hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in Sandton, Gauteng recently as part of the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference.