DSE News Network
This week on the DSE News network, we focus on the furniture business in the Midlands Province Of Zimbabwe – which is experiencing remarkable growth, transforming the city into a vibrant hub for both traditional and contemporary furnishings.
With Nyasha T
IG@shu_shue.zw
Furniture is more than just a piece of wood or metal shaped into a functional item; it’s a testament to human ingenuity and craftsmanship.
From the intricate carvings on an antique chair to the sleek, modern design of a minimalist coffee table, furniture reflects our creativity, innovation, and attention to detail.
In Kwekwe’s Mbizo 4 popularly known as ‘kuma ME”, a growing industry of skilled craftsmen and women are breathing new life into traditional woodworking techniques, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with wood and other materials.
Innovative furniture designs
The art of furniture-making requires a deep understanding of materials, design, and functionality.
It’s a delicate balance between form and function, where every cut, joint, and finish is carefully considered to create a piece that’s both beautiful and durable.
Whether its a study table, a comfortable sofa, or a elegant wardrobe, each piece of furniture is a reflection of the craftsman’s skill and dedication.
In recent years, Kwekwe has seen a surge in innovative furniture designs that blend traditional techniques with modern materials and styles.
Local craftsmen are experimenting with new shapes, textures, and colors, creating unique pieces that are both functional and visually stunning. This fusion of old and new has given rise to a thriving industry that’s not only creating jobs but also showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Skills, creativity, a vision to life
At the heart of this industry are the passionate individuals who bring their skills, creativity, and vision to life.
One such individual is Godfrey Nicholas Chiwara, director of Good Morning Furnitures, a company thats been making waves in Kwekwe’s Mbizo 4 furniture scene.
Through his company, Chiwara is not only creating beautiful pieces of furniture but also inspiring a new generation of craftsmen and women to follow in his footsteps.
In this interview with the DSE News Network: Chiwara shares his insights on the furniture industry, the challenges and opportunities he faces, and the passion that drives him to create innovative and functional pieces that are redefining the boundaries of furniture design.
We sat down with Godfrey Nicholas Chiwara to learn more about his journey, his vision for Good Morning Furnitures, and the secrets behind his success.
Here’s what he had to say:
How did you get into the business of making wood furniture
At school I used to love woodwork throughout all my high school years so that’s where the insipiration started and growing up I decided to look at carpentry fulltime.
The good thing was my uncle had a furniture shop and I went there to continue developing my skills.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge that I faced was that I had the idea in my head but the equipment I didn’t have as well as the funds to purchase all those materials and equipments.A lot of equipment is needed for one to start a carpentry business including materials that need electricity and some which do not need power such that even when there is no electricity we can still continue working.
As we all know the loadshedding which are ongoing in Zimbabwe and being located in Mbizo we are highly to be affected by loadshedding hence electricity also being another challenge I face.
Where do you source your materials from, and what types of wood or materials do you typically use and how do you ensure the quality and sustainability of your materials?
I get my materials from Halsted and some in Harare Glenview area 8 and the materials I use are called superwood, melamine and bison .Halsteds company is a very realiable company known for its quality materials so three quarters of my materials come from Halsteds and the rest come from Glenview.
I cannot get all materials from Halsteds because of the prices. Glenview has cheaper nails glues and windows and the rest of the bigger and main materials come from Halsteds to make sure I maintain the quality of my furniture ton please my customers and remain in the business.
Can you walk me through your design process, and how do you come up with new ideas and making sure you stay relevant in the industry?
So as a carpenter people expect you to know how to craft anything of their choice so most of my designs come from the clients .Then some of the designs I know them myself since ive been in the industry for quite some time , I use some which I learnt at school some from my uncle and in this century designs are no longer hard to find as anyone can just go on tiktok or youtube and get some designs from there.
I myself I am a very creative person hence to stay relevant I try to play around with designs some which are extra ordinary to an extent whereby nearby furniture companies beg me for the design if they do not steal it by look (shares this with a laugh)
Who are your typical customers, and what types of businesses or individuals do you supply to? Do you have any partnerships or collaborations with other businesses or suppliers?
In terms of clientele , as a registered company I mostly do business with schools which I supply with tables and chairs as well as Higher institutions but since I am located in Mbizo which is out of town I usually do business with the locals in Mbizo, Amaveni and other locations. This isalso because most of these people find my work impressive and affordable hence there is no need for them to go all the way to the CBD to get something which they can purchase locally. The partnerships that I currently have are with my suppliers especially in Glenview. These help in times whereby my sales are low and I cannot afford to get more materials so they help me out by lending them to me and I would pay when I have raised enough money. And also I have an account at Halsteds which enables me to buy some of my materials at a low price.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your business, and how do you overcome them?
In every business or hustle there are some good and bad days. The biggest challenge I face apart from electricity and raw materials is sales generation. This business is different from selling jiggies and tomatoes in the sense that furniture requires a lot of money to purchase hence I mostly make sells in 2 seasons only which is the cold season whereby I sell a lot of beds and mattress and in this season I sometimes run out of stock.
In December the festival season I make quite a lot of sells due to people who would have gotten bonuses at work or those who would have been saving up the whole year to purchase furniture. During the rest of the year sells are very low as people don’t tend to just randomly buy furniture.
Any last words Mr Chiwara , projects future plans?
I am excited that I am going to be in the newspaper, and I am thankful for the DSE News Network for giving me this opportunity.
I am excited about the growth of my company as I am now bringing students from Kwekwe Polytechnic for attachment.
Everything is moving smoothly we are taking advantage of the internet but now I want to expand to other cities like Kadoma, Gweru but my biggest disadvantage is that I do not have the proper connections and channels to order raw materials in other countries outside Zimbabwe outside Africa like China.
My wish is to even partner with other carpenters worldwide and we form partnerships so. we are still looking for such partnerships hence I will leave my contact details so that anyone who can help me can reach out to me. In terms of carpentry I will do everything in my power and also I would love to mentor the youth create employment and help them start their own companies and remove them from the street.
We would love to thank Mr Godfrey Nicholas Chiwara for the insightful insipiring story on what is going on in the furniture business in the heart of Mbizo 4 MEs. If one is to take a tour there they would see the good work or let me say wood work being done there.
Kindly find Mr Chiwaras contact details below.
+263778536341
“Where Craftsmanship Meets Innovation”: With Good Morning Furnitures
