Monika Amunyela
Windhoek entrepreneur Veronika Haiputa opened her small upholstery in the heart of Okurayangava, where she creates quality furniture and other goods.
Everything here is made here – from seat covers, camping chairs, sofa repairs, office chairs, suitcases, school bags, travelling bags, laptop bags, headboards and more.
Customers can also bring in old camping chairs for repairs and other furniture or travel items. “If the customer brings the camping chair and says, ‘Just put canvas for me,’ I can do it,” she added. Self-employment was never part of her plan but rather a response to a sudden change she has since learned to manage.
“I registered my business in 2017, but I only started operating in 2020 during Covid-19 when I got retrenched,” she recalled.
However, what was supposed to break her instead rejuvenated her zeal to look at life beyond formal employment.
That marked the genesis of Mashao Canvas and Upholstery. Losing her job pushed her to rely on the skills she had acquired years earlier. “I got my training from a vocational training centre. When the Chinese came and opened Ramatex, we got training there for free,” she added. That training laid the foundation for a business that now produces and repairs a wide range of canvas and upholstery products.
Despite the quality and variety of her work, business has not been easy.
“The location is not very good. I don’t get many customers, but somehow, we survive,” Haiputa admitted.
Marketing remains a challenge, especially since she relies mainly on word of mouth. “I only promote through WhatsApp. Sometimes, my kids help me, but now no one is helping me as of now,” she said.
Mashao Canvas and Upholstery also serve as a place of employment and skills transfer.
“I employ two guys, and I also train one lady from Frans Dimbare,” Haiputa said.
Above all, he hopes for more community support. “I would really like more customers to come and support us,” she appealed.
Mashao Canvas and Upholstery is in Okuryangava.
They can be reached at +264 81 292 2626.