Retired pilot sees wood-fired DRUM BUSINESS GROW
What started as an affordable way to give back to the community is becoming profitable as Gerry Erbsleben sees growth for his innovative wood-fired drum business.
This is important because it is something that we can afford to give back to the local community and it is a useful tool for people to use especially in this time of crisis.
Gerry Erbsleben Former pilot
The retired Fiji Link Chief Pilot and manager Flight Operations says since the COVID-19 pandemic, sales had taken off.
He sells a range of the wood-fired drums which are drum ovens, doublesmoker drums, garden fire pit drums, BBQ drums, beach BBQ drums, lovo and incinerator drums.
The 58-year-old said after his retirement in 2015 he went into farming.
Then last year he came up with idea with the hope of reducing Fijians’ dependency on electricity and gas. He was at the fortnightly flea market at Votualevu in Nadi recently.
“Electricity and gas may cost a lot for some families but firewood is readily available and food tastes better with it,” he said. “This is important because it is something that we can afford to give back to the local community and it is a useful tool for people to use especially in this time of crisis.” Mr Erbsleben said that he only sells at the flea market fortnightly because during the weeks he had to process orders for his customers and also deliver the items. Furthermore, he said he normally took feedback from his customers and welcomed ideas from his customers to incorporate his designs.