By Miriam Mzunga Chirwa
Describe your business:
Panda Borcelle Modern Furniture makes sofa sets, dining sets, TV stands, Ottomans, and beds. We currently sell our furniture to Auction Houses in Limbe and other customers who come through referrals from my regular customers. lf given a grant we will be privileged to buy a table saw machine ($400) Mk680, a sewing machine ($400) Mk 680, and fabrics ($200). Having these machines will guarantee quality work and it will make it easier for us to complete large projects in a short period of time. This will mean more work and more income for the company
Describe the problem
Most people in our country buy furniture from China because most furniture companies in Malawi offer expensive products and it has been a setback for many people in our country to afford to buy furniture.
Solution
When we started making furniture, we made it a priority to deliver the best product at a reasonable price, we knew that we would be able to grow and with the best products we managed to maintain trust with our customers and that has really helped us to grow
Mission statement
Our mission is to create value for our customers through reliability and flexibility. We want our customers to experience warmth and comfort through respect and trust.
How long have you been in the business?
We have been in the business for over 3 years and we have managed to make a name in the furniture industry
Net income
If given a grant for every $800.00 revenue the business spends $384.00 in expenses which leaves $416.00 in net income (52% profit margin) after every expense even self-salary.
Services Deliverable
Sofa set
Dining set
Ottoman
Bed
Tv Stand
Sofa frame: This involves bottoming and cutting the sofa legs, bonding and nailing
fabrication and bottoming of sofa frame:
Sofa filler:
Coat cutting and sewing: The sewing process is very important and it is related to the appearance of a sofa
Adding accessories: covering the sewn sofa using gun nails according to proper positioning of the sofa. The firmness of every furniture structure and the rationality of the design angle will affect the quality and function of furniture made so we make sure to deliver the best starting from the beginning of contracting a frame.
Describe best customers
The furniture auction house located in Limbe is one of the best customers that we have. They place orders every two months and we manage to make two sets for them. They have been a strong support system in our business since the beginning, sometimes it’s even harder for us to deliver some of the orders due to lack of money
Why do customers do business with you rather than competitors (how are you different or better)
With the designs that we make our customers are people who love to furnish their homes with new and elegant furniture and our target market is couples in their 30s and above
Our priority is to build trust, we connect with our customers, share feedback, show empathy and understanding, that is how we have managed to survive for the past two years in the industry.
Prices to customers (Mk to $)
Sofa set ($400)
Dining set ($350)
Tv Stand ($150)
Painting ($60)
Ottoman ($50)
Bed ($200)
How do your current customers know you exist?
Most of my customers know us through Auction houses and my social media marketing Page. And we have managed to open social media platforms to advertise our products.
Why did you choose this business?
My husband was born a carpenter and a designer and we started as a joke when we made our sofa set in our home a lot of people really admired the design and one of his friends gave as a business and with that one business order, we made new customers and that’s how we started Panda Borcelle Modern furniture
My top ways to find new customers
At the moment we are doing social media ads, we will create social media content and also, we plan to advertise through radio station and Television.
Business activities
Panda Borcelle Furniture
How will you use the money?
If given a grant we will be able to buy a sewing machine ($400) Mk 680.000. we will buy a table saw machine ($400) Mk 680.000 and also, we will be able to buy some fabric ($200)
FABRIC
Table saw
PANDA BORCELLE MORDEN FURNITURE INCOME STATEMENT
CASH FLOW PANDA BOCELLE MORDEN FURNITURE
MY FAMILY
This is my family, my husband Benjamin and our two children, Benson 6 years old and Lehi who is 1 year old.
Together with my husband, Benjamin we run a small but thriving business that serves as our primary source of income. We ae reaching out to you with sponsorship proposal that we believe could be mutually beneficial.
Contact Information:
WhatsApp phone number
+265 882 658 782/ +265 888 485 281
Email Address
benjaminchirwa27@gmail.com
Course facilitator
Chrissy Chimphonda
Email: Chrissyget07@gmail.com