The winner of the 2016 National Skills Development Award at the South African Small Business Awards, was Eco Furniture Design, a furniture manufacturer, supplier and store, owned by Tameron Haralambous. The company designs and produces stylish, affordable and functional products that are made using local and sustainable materials. Their range includes rustic pieces made from reclaimed and salvaged timber, as well as a sleek and elegant contemporary range.
The company was started from the ground up, with some old wood, a hammer and some rusty nails, with no investment or funding. The intricacies and systems required for a successful business were learnt in a very hands-on manner. When asked what makes Eco Furniture Design different, Haralambous replied: ‘We are focused on making a profit, but more importantly on making a difference in our country. We hire mostly unskilled staff and teach them a skill they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Our staff is like family to us and we are committed to empowering them and making a difference in a small way, also contributing to alleviating the huge issue of unemployment and lack of skills in South Africa.’
When asked what sets Eco Furniture Design apart, Haralambous replied, ‘We are committed to a certain ethos in terms of the materials we use, the manner in which we produce our furniture (no bulk production, each piece and order is custom-made to fit a specific style, function and budget), as well as the social and environmental impact we have as a business. We have a holistic, progressive view of how businesses should operate in order to be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.’
Eco Furniture Design collaborates with various industry sectors and NGOs. Their most recent and very exciting project is collaborating with Skills2Work and ASK Training Development whereby they will be taking five candidates on board and training them in their factory. They have also been selected as part of a DTI initiative called the National Gazelles, that identifies the top 200 businesses then the top 40 SMEs in South Africa and assists with growth of the businesses.
Some of the challenges the company has faced are competing with companies with much bigger marketing, budget and investment opportunities. Creating a competitive and professional website was also difficult. Cash flow problems have also been a reality, as political and economical factors have decreased demand for luxury products such a furniture. Other challenges include the time it takes to train unskilled members of the team, and the effect this has on production and quality. To remedy this, the company is partnering with organisations such as Furtnech who offer free accredited training to selected members of the team for one week a month for the next two years.
Haralambous is passionate about what she does, and is determined to succeed and make a difference in business and in South Africa. She sees challenges as learning experiences as opposed to set backs. As a woman and a mother of three, she has to work extra hard to be a good mother and business woman, but she truly loves what she does and that translates into every aspect of her life. It has taken commitment to stick to her core ethos and values and to develop a business model that she can be proud of and support wholeheartedly.
She finds it immensely rewarding to see the changes in the people she employs. Individuals who previously had not had opportunities, education or experience, are able to learn and improve their skills on a daily basis, becoming proud of themselves and developing a sense of worth.
When asked what sets her apart from other woman entrepreneurs, she had this to say: ’The most important thing I have learnt is that if you do what you love, you love what you do. I am a successful woman entrepreneur in an industry previously dominated by males. I love shaking things up and changing perceptions and traditional view points. I truly believe business should be about more than just making a profit. It should be an area that can bring people together and make a difference by being more involved in social upliftment programmes. In fact I believe businesses should be obligated to invest a certain amount of hours back into the community in terms of skills development and transfer, and government should offer incentives such as tax breaks for businesses who do so.’
For more on Eco Furniture Design visit:
Website: http://ecofurnituredesign.com
Facebook: @ecofurnituredesign
Instagram: @ecofurnituredesign
Twitter: @local_furniture
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