NOT JUST A CARPENTER BUT ONE WITH A HARDWARE

Carpenters are in constant demand in Tembisa, whether working on construction sites or building kitchen cabinets in a workshop. Thomson Phalanndwa (41) chose this career 17 years ago. Today he runs a thriving business in Tswelopele, Thembisa.
“We are based at 63 Botswana street Tswelopele, but our entrance is on Olifants road,” he tells The Olifants News.

Phalanndwa received his training at a FET college in Sibasa, Venda. “I did my N1’s and my practicals there,” he recalls. “I have been doing ceilings, kitchen cabinets and so on for years. So, I am a carpenter by profession. Right now, I am on the next chapter of my business. We are running hardware in Tswelopele.” He says people can come to his hardware and buy tools and other carpentry accessories.

“We also offer cutting and edging. And we manufacture furniture for our clients,” he says.

“I have been self-employed for a long time. Since high school I was running small businesses. Like everyone else I tried to find a job, but it didn’t work out,” Phalandwa recalls.

“My Business employs four people even though sometimes we employ more, depending on the amount of work that we have. Sometimes we do installations for cabinets, so that’s when we hire more people,” he reveals.

He says the outbreak of the COVID-19 has affected his business. “The outbreak of this COVID-19 coincided with the launch of our hardware store. It is not easy because it is not like going out to see customers.” He says a challenge for him is that customers need to come to his store to buy. This means his employees are exposed to the risks of contracting COVID-19.

Phalandwa uses Facebook, his company website, and business cards to market his business.
His services include:
-Cutting and shaping timber;
-Making and fitting kitchens and assembling structures like staircases;
-Building entire interiors;
-Designing and building items like floorboards and doors; and
-And others.