Award-winning entrepreneur refuses to look back
HAVING an ironing board in your house is taken for granted. But have you ever wondered how long it takes to make one, and how often people buy ironing boards?
Well, Durban entrepreneur Philangezwi Ngcobo is setting things straight with his ironing board manufacturing business – and won an award for his entrepreneurship.
Born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, Ngcobo, a business consultant, branched out into making wooden trays and selling those from his home in 2010.
Recognising a gap in the market for locally made ironing boards, Ngcobo started making them, and, in a year, has managed to secure 10 supermarkets and a cash and carry outlet as his main customers.
“As a business consultant, I was very much involved in identifying business trends and while I focused on productivity, I knew this was the way to go. Whenever I made the wooden trays, people would say to me that I must extend my business and they will support us as they liked my style and attitude,” said Ngcobo.
His company, Wooden Pyramid, has seen a turnover of about R800 000 in the first year, but his production volume has recently doubled.
With bases in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, Ngcobo said he was looking to buy additional machinery and raw materials as well as extra production space.
“I have no formal training in making wooden items but we purchased the machinery and there was no looking back from there.
“Having a vision and working towards it is essential. Although we have not reached our visionary point yet, we are definitely taking big steps in getting there.
“It’s also important to remember that you have to take one step at a time,” said Ngcobo.
Having recently bagged the Entrepreneur of 2014 award from the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, Ngcobo was described by Melanie Veness, the chamber’s chief executive, as a “true entrepreneur”.
“Phila was able to identify market opportunities and to act once he gathered favourable market intelligence. He is measured and sensible and takes calculated risks. He is making good inroads into retail and has developed a solid plan to get his products into other businesses.
“He has created a number of jobs already and the judges are confident, that given his track record and his personality, Phila has what it takes to establish a formidable business,” said Veness during the awards ceremony.