By Helvy Shaanika
ONGWEDIVA – Surviving an industry with already well-established businesses and now being flooded by more competitors can be tough.
However, two brothers Gideon Shigwedha and David Kampelo are determined to make it in the field of aluminium window frame manufacturing and building materials supplies by taking their businesses DWT and D.I.Y. Depot to greater heights.
Shigwedha an electrician by profession joined his elder brother Kampelo who founded the business 10 years ago. At that time only DWT existed. DWT is the acronym for Davis Windows Tending.
At the time DWT only had a branch in Windhoek and specialised in manufacturing car windscreens, window tinting and aluminium window frames.
When Shigwedha joined Kampelo, the brothers opened the D.I.Y. Depot in Oshakati that sells and supplies building materials. This however did not see the end of DWT, but rather made the mother company stronger.
With the raw materials imported from South Africa, DWT cuts and assembles aluminium window frames and doors.
Today the company has opened a branch in Oshakati, in addition to that in Windhoek. It employs 37 permanent employees of whom 16 are with D.I.Y. Depot while the majority are with the DWT unit.
“Our team consists of drivers, cashiers and aluminium cutters who are heads of division. We also have managers for other departments,” explained Shigwedha.
The business environment however does not come without challenges, as more and more upcoming business people are venturing into this specialised market. It is even more challenging because well established businesses have now stretched their arms into the aluminium window frame manufacturing sector.
“But these are challenges that one can overcome. We are going to supply our customers with volumes at highly competitive prices. Currently we have a large stock of glass coming in and we are going to supply our fellow aluminium window frame manufacturers at a good price. We are planning to go big with aluminium in 2015,” enthused Shigwedha .
He appealed to fellow competitors to work together for the good of the industry.
He said contactors in the building industry have supported him by buying materials and using the services of both DWT and D.I.Y. Depot.
“It is good to work together and support each other. We as business people, we need to make use of the little we have and make the best out of it. I always like to say that the best business is to mind our own business,” he stated.