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Erica Elk, Executive Director, CCDI, Mike Harper, MD Retail Affluent, Old Mutual South Africa and Premier Ebrahim Rasool cut a soda-can ribbon to the new premises of the GIFT corporate gift warehouse in 75 Harrington Street
see speech
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Creative craft & design hothouse revs up local corporate gift market
A new initiative in the Cape Town CBD's East City precinct will provide a link between South Africa's formal and informal economies, giving corporate gift buyers access to local handmade products and providing the country's many talented crafters with an entrée to this major niche market.
GIFT, an initiative of the Cape Craft & Design Institute and the Old Mutual Foundation,
will bring the makers and this market together by bridging communication and interaction,
facilitating design, managing economies of scale and ensuring the timely and efficient fulfilment of orders.
GIFT will not only direct the significant revenue from corporate gifting to the mostly informal and
under-resourced micro-businesses, but also aims to also replace the dominant mass-produced, imported corporate gifts
with locally hand-crafted ones.
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Importantly, GIFT underscores an increasing conviction in the private and public sectors that the creative industries -
design, craft, film, music and so on - can make a valuable contribution to income generation, job creation and sustainable
economic development.
Rose Reddy, GM of GIFT, says communication between corporate buyers and craft producers has until now been a major obstacle to
trade, and has often led to buyers sourcing elsewhere.
"Craft producers, often based in townships or remote rural areas, have limited logistical
know-how and support and corporate gift buyers are understandably concerned about their orders being fulfilled.
This creates an impasse, where local crafters are unable to get access to a lucrative market and buyers can't access
this wealth of BBBEE compliant suppliers. Buyers recognise the value of
locally produced crafts, but they lack the time and resources to ensure
fulfilment."
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| GIFT will break this logjam by providing crafters with logistical support and access
to product development and training while offering buyers an efficient, reliable point of contact through
which bespoke gifting solutions can be developed, ordered and delivered on time and to specification. In addition,
the GIFT showroom will provide a last minute solution with ready-made gift items off-the-shelf.
As a market access programme of the Cape Craft & Design
Institute, GIFT will be able to draw on the other programmes of the
Institute to ensure this service. The CCDI's Product Development Clinic
and AMTS Fabrication Laboratory is on tap to support product development
and bespoke solutions; while its Enterprise Development programme -
incorporating skills development and a business mentoring service - is
available to support the development of craft entrepreneurs.
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Premier Rasool and Erica Elk, Executive Director, CCDI
admire a ceramic piece from craft artist Majolandile Dyalvane |
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Erica Elk, CCDI's Executive Director. see speech |
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Erica Elk, CCDI's Executive Director, notes
that the research behind the establishment of GIFT indicated huge
potential for craft items as a corporate gifting solution, particularly
in the conference industry and the government sector: "There is a window
of opportunity in South Africa - and probably globally too - where
public and private sector companies are increasingly seeking sustainable
ways to 'give back' to communities. GIFT provides companies with a
socially responsible gifting solution that will help them meet CSI and
BBBEE targets while at the same time supporting the development of
indigenous design and the creative and social capital of South Africa.
And its not charity - the products are beautiful and hold their own in
the marketplace." |
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Crafter Joe Maphuno, Old Mutual's Mike Harper, Premier Rasool and Winston Rangwane, founder member of Streetwires share the satisfaction of a plan coming together - the opening of the GIFT corporate gift warehouse.
see speech |
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The project is being funded by the Old Mutual Foundation. OMF head Kate Miszewski says:
"This project will help provide a sustainable living for people in the most economically depressed
and marginalised communities in our country. The GIFT project is exciting for so many reasons - it is
important from a creative perspective, but even more so from the point of making a tangible difference to
the lives of South Africans who need it the most."
One of a handful of 'design labs' worldwide, FabLab was developed by the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and is sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology
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Stakeholder Information
The CCDI was launched in 2001 as a joint initiative of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Its mandate is to support the sustainabilty of the craft sector in Western Cape, which it does through collaboration, communication, training, product development & market access.
The collaboration between the OMF and the CCDI began with a Master Crafter
training programme, funded and developed by the Old Mutual Foundation, with a core group of 18 SA master crafters,
the results of which were exhibited at Spier Wine Estate in the "Afro Deco: Living in our Global World" exhibition
(Nov - Feb 2007). Some of the work is part of a permanent Spier Art Room Project installation.
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Premier Rasool admires the fine craftsmanship of Daan Samuels, who fashions birds from driftwood. |
The CCDI has a database of 850 craft enterprises, 360 retail outlets,
200 service providers and 800 other stakeholders around South Africa. Its website and exhibitions showcase a
variety of locally produced products and host monthly forums for crafters. Alerts are issued by email, fax or SMS.
The website has already enabled local crafters to initiate business locally and in Australia, Canada, the US and the UK.
For more information:
Rose Reddy
GM GIFT Warehouse
(+27) 021 4608374
083 2555109
f (+27) 021 4659834
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www.giftwarehouse.org.za
Marjorie Naidoo
Manager Communications
Cape Craft & Design Institute
(+27) 021 460 4245
0828 741 747
f (+27) 021 461 5101
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www.capecraftanddesign.org.za
Issued by:
William Smook
Meropa Communications
+27 21 683-6464
+27 83-357-2837
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www.meropa.co.za
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| OPENING OF GIFT WAREHOUSE - for socially responsible gifting |
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 On 7 May 2007, the GIFT corporate gift
warehouse will be officially opened. Developed in partnership with the Old Mutual Foundation, GIFT is a trading initiative
of the Cape Craft and Design Institute. It will provide an essential link between craft producers and corporate gift buyers
and agents, facilitating the exchange between maker and market. |
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GIFT will negotiate and facilitate orders on behalf of producers to provide gifting and promotional
solutions to corporate buyers. GIFT will also provide manageable and appropriate opportunities for craft producers,
community groups and income-generating projects.
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| Through GIFT, corporate businesses will be able to fulfill CSI and BEE objectives by
economically empowering craft producers and providing access to these niche market opportunities.
Reliability, flexibility,
innovation and customer service will be its watchwords, and it will adhere to the principles of transparency and fair trade.
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GIFT: 75 Harrington Street, 3rd Floor, East City
Precinct, Cape Town | 021 460 3982 | f 021 461 5101 |
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
| www.giftwarehouse.org.za |
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Rosemary Reddy (Rose) has been appointed as Manager of the GIFT corporate gift warehouse.
She is highly motivated, has a clear vision for GIFT, and is determined to see all parties benefit. |
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WEDNESDAY SELECTION - by appointment
All craft producers are invited to bring their craft products for selection for the GIFT warehouse,
every Wednesday. The selection criteria will be explained, and the selection process will be open and transparent.
Products must be of high quality and appropriate for corporate gifting solutions. Contact Rose | 021 460 3944 |
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