ZANELE PRECIOUS SIFUNDZA

What does your company do?

Serenity Deluxe Designs is a household furniture manufacturing business that specializes in custom-made, high-quality furniture pieces. We focus on combining modern design with traditional craftsmanship to produce durable and aesthetically appealing products for homes, offices, restaurants and hospitality spaces. Beyond just furniture production, our company is built on a strong social impact mission to empower local communities through job creation, skills development and youth training. We provide hands-on training in carpentry and furniture design, targeting unemployed youth and women in townships and rural areas. Our upcoming partnership initiatives aim to formalize this through accredited training programs, mentorship, and enterprise development support. Our flagship project, “Impumelelo Yelikhono,” is a skills development and enterprise creation initiative aimed at equipping unemployed youth and women with practical carpentry and furniture manufacturing skills. This project is designed not only to transfer technical skills but to support participants in starting their own small furniture enterprises or joining established workshops. The training program includes: - Hands on carpentry and furniture making training - Business and entrepreneurship modules (e.g.costing, pricing, branding, customer service) - Mentorship and access to tools and machinery - Enterprise incubation support and market linkages The first rollout of this project is planned for the Komati community, a former mining and power station town affected by job losses. In partnership with a local NPO & Furntech we aim to build a training hub that creates skilled artisans, contributes to local economic development and supports the just energy transition by offering green-focused enterprise options. Through “Impumelo Yelikhono,” Serenity Deluxe Designs is positioning itself as both a premium furniture brand and a changemaker in the manufacturing sector. At Serenity Deluxe Designs, we believe that furniture can be more than just functional it can be a vehicle for transformation, dignity and opportunity.

What is your biggest success?

My biggest success has been establishing Serenity Deluxe Designs as a thriving business and a catalyst for community empowerment. A key milestone was opening our first showroom, which allowed us to showcase our handcrafted, custom-made furniture and offer a physical space for clients to experience our work. Giving them the customer experience of the Feel, Touch & Fall in Love experience. This move not only elevated the brand but also helped us expand our customer base and attract new partnerships. Beyond this, our flagship training program, launching in Komati represents another major success. In collaboration with Furntech and a local NPO, we will provide carpentry training, business skills, and job creation for youth and women in the community. These achievements reflect my commitment to blending business success with social impact creating jobs, upskilling individuals and contributing to local economies. Seeing the showroom bustling with customers and the training program launching is a testament to our mission in action.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

One of my biggest hurdles has been navigating financial challenges while scaling Serenity Deluxe Designs. As a small, local furniture business, accessing capital for growth and expansion particularly for new equipment, a showroom and materials has been an ongoing struggle. The lack of formal financial support for businesses in township and rural areas makes it difficult to scale at the pace I envision. Additionally, finding local skilled artisans to join the team and ensuring they have access to continuous training has posed a challenge, especially given the limited educational opportunities in carpentry. However, these hurdles have driven me to think creatively—seeking partnerships with organizations like Furntech for training, investing in financial literacy and focusing on community-based solutions. Overcoming these challenges has deepened my resilience and commitment to creating sustainable jobs and skills development opportunities, even in the face of adversity.