BUSINESS - COMPANIES
| 2013-07-30Painting old horse turns 60
IF zebras are described as the painted horses of Africa, then describing Neo Paints as Namibia’s old painting horse would be a fitting description given that the company is celebrating 60 years of existence.
Moreover, zebras and horses roam abundantly in Namibia and are known for their stamina and beauty. Thanks to the strike by taxi drivers last week, traffic was less congested and driving in Windhoek streets was safer and less time consuming, leading me to arrive at the Neo Paint Factory in Windhoek’s Southern Industrial Area way ahead of my appointed time of 8H30.
As I waited for the National Sales Manager, George van Schalkwyk to arrive, I kept myself occupied reading catalogues of Neo Paints products and framed pictures provided by architects and interior designers of houses and office buildings, which have used Neo Paints products leading me to conclude that “watching paint to dry” may not be as boring, as the old expression suggests although I must say though that I was looking at colourful catalogues of paint and not actual wet paint.
Van Schalkwyk turned out to be a very youthful manager, than I had expected. He tells me that I had not been able to get hold of him for two weeks because he had travelled to the north of the country with 2013 Miss Namibia contestants and he excitedly tells me that he and the girls among many things, painted President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s former school. He says he prefers to talk about the future rather than dwell on past achievements of the company.
Van Schalkwyk says, Neo Paint, which has strongly been established on the local market, is focusing on developing the skills of its workers.
“We want to be a company that is run by managers and not owners,” he says. “We are a household name in Namibia and we thank Namibians for that,” he says.
The company’s directors according to its website are Kai Geschke, Managing Director, Heiko Niedermeier, Director, Artur IIImer Director and Wolfgang Keding, Director. Like Van Schalkwky, the website does not offer much information. Being a private company it is not obliged to divulge production figures and income.
Although Neo Paint has the lion’s share of the local paint market, he says South African companies, “want a piece of the cake.”
“We can compete with anyone in SADC (South African Development Community), because Namibians have been loyal to us,” he says.
Neo Paints caters mainly for the local market with small quantities exported to Zimbabwe and Angola, Van Schalkwyk says. Many local companies struggle to compete with the more powerful South African companies and recently the cement, chicken and dairy industries have called for government protection through import restrictions.
Neo Paints biggest market segment has always been selling paint for houses that are being renovated but he says with the construction boom at the moment, the company is getting a lot of orders. Some of the construction projects in Windhoek include the new Ministry of Finance headquarters, the Auditor-General’s Office and the Groove Mall.
Van Schalkwyk says even Chinese firms, which get most of the government building tenders buy paint from his company.
As we tour the factory, he shows me a part of the plant that has been standing for 60 years, preserved for historic purposes. The workers are more than eager to pose for pictures including one who has worked for the company for 30 years.
He says the company thought hard about a celebration befitting a 60th anniversary to include all Namibians and come up with a picture competition whereby any one can enter a picture about any aspect of Namibian life and win a prize.
At the end of the interview, Van Schalkwyk shows the graffiti on the company’s external wall done by Chinese artist known as Dal East that shows various pictures of a cheetah hunting a wildebeest.
“People driving past our company stop and admire the paintings, it’s becoming a major attraction,” he says. More than having an external wall with amazing pieces of art, the hope is that Neo Paints will continue to grow as a truly Namibian rooted company.
Moreover, zebras and horses roam abundantly in Namibia and are known for their stamina and beauty. Thanks to the strike by taxi drivers last week, traffic was less congested and driving in Windhoek streets was safer and less time consuming, leading me to arrive at the Neo Paint Factory in Windhoek’s Southern Industrial Area way ahead of my appointed time of 8H30.
As I waited for the National Sales Manager, George van Schalkwyk to arrive, I kept myself occupied reading catalogues of Neo Paints products and framed pictures provided by architects and interior designers of houses and office buildings, which have used Neo Paints products leading me to conclude that “watching paint to dry” may not be as boring, as the old expression suggests although I must say though that I was looking at colourful catalogues of paint and not actual wet paint.
Van Schalkwyk turned out to be a very youthful manager, than I had expected. He tells me that I had not been able to get hold of him for two weeks because he had travelled to the north of the country with 2013 Miss Namibia contestants and he excitedly tells me that he and the girls among many things, painted President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s former school. He says he prefers to talk about the future rather than dwell on past achievements of the company.
Van Schalkwyk says, Neo Paint, which has strongly been established on the local market, is focusing on developing the skills of its workers.
“We want to be a company that is run by managers and not owners,” he says. “We are a household name in Namibia and we thank Namibians for that,” he says.
The company’s directors according to its website are Kai Geschke, Managing Director, Heiko Niedermeier, Director, Artur IIImer Director and Wolfgang Keding, Director. Like Van Schalkwky, the website does not offer much information. Being a private company it is not obliged to divulge production figures and income.
Although Neo Paint has the lion’s share of the local paint market, he says South African companies, “want a piece of the cake.”
“We can compete with anyone in SADC (South African Development Community), because Namibians have been loyal to us,” he says.
Neo Paints caters mainly for the local market with small quantities exported to Zimbabwe and Angola, Van Schalkwyk says. Many local companies struggle to compete with the more powerful South African companies and recently the cement, chicken and dairy industries have called for government protection through import restrictions.
Neo Paints biggest market segment has always been selling paint for houses that are being renovated but he says with the construction boom at the moment, the company is getting a lot of orders. Some of the construction projects in Windhoek include the new Ministry of Finance headquarters, the Auditor-General’s Office and the Groove Mall.
Van Schalkwyk says even Chinese firms, which get most of the government building tenders buy paint from his company.
As we tour the factory, he shows me a part of the plant that has been standing for 60 years, preserved for historic purposes. The workers are more than eager to pose for pictures including one who has worked for the company for 30 years.
He says the company thought hard about a celebration befitting a 60th anniversary to include all Namibians and come up with a picture competition whereby any one can enter a picture about any aspect of Namibian life and win a prize.
At the end of the interview, Van Schalkwyk shows the graffiti on the company’s external wall done by Chinese artist known as Dal East that shows various pictures of a cheetah hunting a wildebeest.
“People driving past our company stop and admire the paintings, it’s becoming a major attraction,” he says. More than having an external wall with amazing pieces of art, the hope is that Neo Paints will continue to grow as a truly Namibian rooted company.
