ESTATE MANAGER
Gert van Rooyen
Happy Homewood years: 3
What do you love about Homewood?: That they are a solid wood furniture manufacturer.
What do you love about your job?: Always been busy fixing and cleaning things that are a mess.
Favourite wood: Blackwood
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: The Duzu Barstool
Umhlanga Sales Manager
Vita Pugh-Jones
Happy Homewood years: 7
What do you love about Homewood?: I love that Homewood always strives for improvement, not only with the design of our products, but also with our impact on the environment. We are always looking for ways to make a difference.
What do you love about your job?: I love our team, who are like my second family. I also love the creative side of my job, when I get a chance to sit down with customers and look at designs, colors, and textures. I love helping them bring their visions to life.
Favourite wood: Blackwood
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: The Paindane Couch
Administration Manager
Christine van Rooyen
Happy Homewood years: 10
What do you love about Homewood?: The ability to offer customers custom-designed, bespoke, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces. The young, energetic “vibe” of our MD who is always evolving and pushing boundaries.
What do you love about your job?: Providing a solid support foundation in a growing company by adapting and adjusting to change. Being part of the development of emerging leaders in my field of expertise.
Favourite wood: Unfortunately, Kiaat, which we no longer offer due to our commitment to the environment. But Blackwood is a suitable replacement that is environmentally friendly.
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: I own and have owned many Homewood bespoke pieces and I love all of them because I understand the passion and appreciate the humble environment where, and by whom, it was made. But the one piece that comes to mind now is my small Oak wine cabinet.
Accounts Clerk
Shinga Nyabeze
Happy Homewood years: 7
What do you love about Homewood?: I love that Homewood does not discriminate against people. Homewood hires all races and, qualified or not, you can get a job if you can work hard on your position and are willing to grow.
What do you love about your job?: On the accounts side, I love working with people and building trust. I also love helping other employees understand the HR system.
Favourite wood: Blackwood
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: The Imbiza bed in Blackwood, with an oil finish.
Dispatch Manager
Nicolette Luthuli
Happy Homewood years: 12
What do you love about Homewood?: I love that everyone one is respected. With our different cultures, we are all treated the same. No one’s job is more important than the other.
What do you love about your job?:I love the planning of deliveries and loading the truck with every customer’s dream item. The part I love the most is when all deliveries are on schedule and the customers are happy with the order delivered.
Favourite wood: Sugar Gum
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: Nkwana sleeper couch
Production Manager
Wes Harrison
Happy Homewood years: 11
What do you love about Homewood?: Our flexibility and ability to respond. I mean this with regards to new designs, improving existing designs, improving manufacturing processes and techniques, and introducing new timbers and new finishes. We’re constantly evolving. I don’t think I would have lasted my 9 years thus far if it weren’t for this ever-present sense of momentum and purpose.
What do you love about your job?: Watching ideas and lines on paper turn into amazing pieces of furniture!
Favourite wood: From our current offering, Blackwood. Kiaat still holds a special place in my heart, it’s just a pity it has fallen victim to unsustainable harvesting.
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: The Imbiza Lounger. My first original design to make it to the pages of Visi magazine!
Kramerville SHOWROOM Manager
Ilandi Langlands
Happy Homewood years: Early days
What do you love about Homewood?: I love the fact that HOMEWOOD assists our waterway ecosystems by cutting off alien invasive hardwood, creating beautiful furniture pieces, and putting water back into our local environment by doing so. “Eco Furniture that leaves a legacy without leaving a mark.”
What do you love about your job?: I love working with clients, creating beautiful homes, and making a difference in people’s lives.
Favourite wood: Obviously, Cottonwood!
Favourite Homewood furniture piece: Kisondo server.