Expo organisers raring to go
Mother's tailoring background inspires son to follow in her footsteps.
Page Hei always admiringly stared at his mother while she was sewing garments for clients. His obsession with the sewing machine caught his mother's attention and she encouraged Page to take the time to try it out.
In 2007, he decided it was time to become involved in the business because he always loved working with his hands, something the 18-year old's mother noticed at the time.
“I have been involved in the business since 2007. It is actually my mother's business. It all started when my mother found me playing with her sewing machine. She encouraged me to practise on a box until I could sew in a straight line,” Hei recalls.
According to Hei, he does not have the patience to wait for month-end and enjoys earning his income by the day. “I like being self-employed. I am independent and I don't wait for month-end. I enjoy the business because it helps me put food on the table. I've been working in the business since 2006 when I would always come for school holidays.”
He admits that it has not always been smooth sailing and sometimes he must try everything to keep the business afloat.
“Business is not really consistent at times. At the moment it is only myself, my mother and my brother involved in the business. We also upholster car seats from home, where we have a machine. We can also work from here but we use this space really just to fix things,” says Hei.
He says other attempts have also been made to diversify the business.
“We also sell leather products like caps, handbags, belts and we have even made traditional Otjiherero dresses out of leather. We also have some bags for sale at the Craft Café in the CBD. A lady we know is selling for us from there.”
Sharing his experience of participating in expos, he says people often just look and don't buy anything.
“I participated in the Katutura Expo in 2015. The outcome was okay. People just looked and asked. The Zimbabwean trade fair in Harare was nice but we did not really sell anything. The people in Zimbabwe were friendly and there were also other upholsterers there. We just went to Zimbabwe to showcase.”
Hei says his working hours are flexible and he works till late if necessary.
“My business operates every Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00, even sometimes as late as midnight. As long as I am not done with a customer's product I work until I finish the work given to me. I also work on Sundays sometimes but it is mostly just to clean my stall.”
Hei's stall is located in the Single Quarters stalls on Shanghai Street in central Katutura. For all your tailoring needs, Hei can be contacted on 081 465 9208.
In 2007, he decided it was time to become involved in the business because he always loved working with his hands, something the 18-year old's mother noticed at the time.
“I have been involved in the business since 2007. It is actually my mother's business. It all started when my mother found me playing with her sewing machine. She encouraged me to practise on a box until I could sew in a straight line,” Hei recalls.
According to Hei, he does not have the patience to wait for month-end and enjoys earning his income by the day. “I like being self-employed. I am independent and I don't wait for month-end. I enjoy the business because it helps me put food on the table. I've been working in the business since 2006 when I would always come for school holidays.”
He admits that it has not always been smooth sailing and sometimes he must try everything to keep the business afloat.
“Business is not really consistent at times. At the moment it is only myself, my mother and my brother involved in the business. We also upholster car seats from home, where we have a machine. We can also work from here but we use this space really just to fix things,” says Hei.
He says other attempts have also been made to diversify the business.
“We also sell leather products like caps, handbags, belts and we have even made traditional Otjiherero dresses out of leather. We also have some bags for sale at the Craft Café in the CBD. A lady we know is selling for us from there.”
Sharing his experience of participating in expos, he says people often just look and don't buy anything.
“I participated in the Katutura Expo in 2015. The outcome was okay. People just looked and asked. The Zimbabwean trade fair in Harare was nice but we did not really sell anything. The people in Zimbabwe were friendly and there were also other upholsterers there. We just went to Zimbabwe to showcase.”
Hei says his working hours are flexible and he works till late if necessary.
“My business operates every Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00, even sometimes as late as midnight. As long as I am not done with a customer's product I work until I finish the work given to me. I also work on Sundays sometimes but it is mostly just to clean my stall.”
Hei's stall is located in the Single Quarters stalls on Shanghai Street in central Katutura. For all your tailoring needs, Hei can be contacted on 081 465 9208.
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