The V&A Waterfront’s new home of African craft and design, the R50million Watershed, opens 0n 30 October.
While many craft and design enterprises, some of whom have been supported by the CCDI over the years, have signed their own leases, the CCDI will also have its very own shop. This will not only sell beautiful handmade products, but also serve as a training platform for emerging businesses.
From October last year, the CCDI ran a pilot project at the former Red Shed in the V&A Waterfront. Small groups of craft producers tested out their products and sales skills in a 20m² space – and it proved to be an ideal platform for those who had taken part in the CCDI’s popular Retail Readiness course, among others. Their joint turnover, from October to May, was worth over R 250 000 alone.
Encouraged by these findings, the CCDI launched an application process for creative entrepreneurs who were keen to showcase their products in the new, light and airy Watershed space. (Formerly the Craft Market and Wellness Centre, this historic warehouse structure has been totally reimagined by Wolff Architects.)
The first four participants are Zikhona Tefu of O’live who makes handmade soap and candles; jeweller Stacy Adriaans of A Ring to It; Greer Valley of Kushn, who makes leather shoes, bags and other accessories; and Bongani Khumalo of Bead & Wire Connection, who produces a variety of décor products. The four will share the space, working as a unit until the end of the year.
The CCDI is furnishing and providing the infrastructure in the leased space, and the cool style will suit the new open-ended building, with its double volume height and a 100m long skylight. “The CCDI will have an edgy shop, using recycled materials such as old pallets, crates and many other recycled elements. It will be beautifully raw and a great pairing of old and new,” says Doreen Hendricks, CCDI Domestic Market Support Coordinator.
She thanked sponsors who have helped with the store design elements which include EBH South Africa, Italcotto and Mercedes Benz.
The four creative entrepreneurs are also receiving excellent training to make the most of this opportunity.
“We have held one-on-one discussions with all four producers and discussed their specific needs,” said Doreen.
“They will be going through a long-term business mentoring process with us – before, during and after their participation. Each one will receive a different training programme as they have various business development needs. We will also do on-site training and have prepped them to use this opportunity to do market research in terms of their products, pricing, etc.”
WHERE: Unit E2, Ground Floor, Watershed, V&A Waterfront.
INFO about the project: Domestic Market Support Coordinator Doreen Hendricks; E doreen.hendricks@ccdi.org.za; T 021 461 1488.
Cover image: Rendering of the new Watershed at the V&A Waterfront