Local vendor helps grow Midrand Circles Market
GLEN AUSTIN — The vendor had previously visited the market and found the stallholders to be friendly and helpful, which prompted him to join them.
Besides showcasing his handmade wooden products at Midrand Circles Market, Henk Dippenaar is also the artist who creates the products sold by The Wood Merlin.
Having recently returned to South Africa from the Isle of Man, he needed to increase his income and was able to do so through the orders he received at the market.
Dippenaar, who is a resident of President Park, had previously visited the market and found the stallholders to be friendly and helpful, which prompted him to join them. “Even though I might not make sales at the market, I receive orders and referrals as a result of being there,” he said.
Having had a difficult time getting orders, he decided to utilise the market to promote his versatility at making products.
“I sell wooden cutting cheese, bread, and display boards that are often made out of raw wood with special finishes. In the New Year, I began making doggy feed stations, which have proved to be very popular.
“I consider myself an expert in my field because I have been perfecting my skills for over 40 years and I am always learning and also obsessed with the quality of the work I produce.”
Being a local, he believes in spending his money locally and trusting others to do the same. Dippenaar aspires to make his woodworking business more profitable. “I am currently working on a few new items that will set me apart from other woodworkers.”
His goal is to create such a high level of interest in his products that potential buyers will travel from far to purchase them, helping Midrand Circles Market grow and benefitting the other traders.
Thanks to promoting the market and The Wood Merlin extensively on Facebook, he now has new clients from Randburg, Roodepoort, and other parts of Gauteng.
Dippenaar enjoys purchasing fruit and vegetables from Farm Boyz, pancakes from Carla, and coffee from the Coffee Shop on market days. “The extra income I get from attending the market means that I can continue to employ my housekeeper and gardener.”
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/300497/market-becomes-a-home/
