The festive season creates an opportunity for many businesses to shine and this rings true for Mathapelo Ngaka-Mtati the co-founder of Monkey Biz.
The non profit organisation created special beaded ornaments that are on display in the Table Bay as part of their Christmas decorations.
The Monkey Biz display includes reindeer and protea flower-shaped beaded arrangements made out of neutral coloured beads, to match the the hotel’s colour scheme.
Ngaka-Mtati and the team were honoured their that their intricate works were part of the hotel’s Christmas festive decor.
“The artists who created these pieces will now get to have their work on display in a five-star hotel,” she said
“We feel proud that people are getting to see our work and it brings us great joy to see our work out there,” she added.
“This means a lot to me because our art is not always understood and appreciated. People from all over the world will get to see and buy our work.”
The co-founder of the organisation said the inspiration behind the beaded creations was inspired by wanting to always offer something new.
“We attend shows quite often and try to create what we see there, in beaded form so that we can create something new each time.”
The business which was founded in 2000, has since tried its best to ensure that its style evolves with the times while remaining true to itself.
“Bead work has been around forever but we want to keep reviving it and putting it into contemporary art,” she said.
She added: “We want to keep empowering other women to become financially independent and that spurs us on to grow in our craft.”
Ngaka-Mtati said their business was very dependent on the tourism industry.
“In the new year, we want to focus on sharing our work on social media more. We believe that it will help us be more profitable.”
Juanita Erasmus is the founder of Thee Creator, a business that creates custom gifts and decor for events. This festive season, her business offers personalised baubles for your Christmas tree, personalised glasses for a festive lunch and other decor items.
Erasmus started her business three years ago with the help of her husband, Nigel, and said the pandemic had boosted business for her.
“This has been a time for us to shine.”
The Mitchells Plain entrepreneur is self-taught and makes everything herself.
“I have a creative side, and I think that creativity has always been a part of who I am.”
Over the last three years, Erasmus’s business has boomed by word of mouth. This year especially, business has gone extremely well.
“Most of my clients are returning for more or new items and the rest have all been referrals to their family members, friends or colleagues.”
Erasmus said she loved this time of year, even more, because of her business.
“This is always the time that my business grows. I love seeing my creations in people’s homes,” she said.
She added: “I’ve seen clients take my decorations overseas to places I might never see but at least my work gets to go there.”
The 41-year-old said her three daughters, Nushca, Kiyome and Chloe, also assist her and her husband with the day-to-day operations for the business.