Hospitality starts with a good table and chair
Chair Crazy is the premier supplier of contract furniture to the South African hospitality industry. Our chairs, stools and tables can be seen in more restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, eateries and corporate canteens than you can shake a stick at. You’ll also find us at wedding and conference venues and at sports and recreational clubs across the breadth and depth of South Africa. And in the largest hotels down to the smallest guest houses. Think about it. Perhaps the most hospitable thing you can hear is “pull up a chair and grab a coffee”. Because this is where all hospitality really starts.
What’s the patient’s temperature?
The SA hospitality industry has been through the school of hard knocks over the past three years. Covid and Lockdown resulted in the wanton and wholesale destruction of a large part on the industry, as hospitality businesses across South Africa shut up shop, many of them for good. It was utterly heartbreaking to see, and hopefully it’s now in the past, where it belongs. It was pretty tough for our segment of the industry too as the market was flooded with second hand furniture, and owners tightened their collective belts for the duration.
Recovery is on the horizon
Restaurant/eatery furniture sales are often seen as a good thermometer with which to test the temperature of the overall hospitality industry, and we are starting to see some signs of recovery. The national elections are now over, and a new road lies ahead for South Africa. And hopefully this new road rises up to meet one of the most important industries in terms of contribution to the SA economy and in job creation.
What exactly is the hospitality industry?
According to Wikipedia, the hospitality industry encompasses a category of businesses that fall within the broader services industry. These include lodging, food and beverage services, event planning, theme parks, travel agencies, tourism, hotels, restaurants and bars.
However, all business entities in the hospitality industry are characterised by one single purpose – that of creating enjoyable experiences for their customers. Which is actually a much more hospitable way of looking at it! So, if that’s what your company does, then it (and you) is part of the South African hospitality industry.
How big is it?
According to Fedhasa (which describes itself as South Africa’s trusted association for the hospitality industry) the industry is a significant contributor to the economy, creating thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly. By 2032, the hospitality industry is projected to contribute more than R550 billion to South Africa’s gross domestic product, making up a massive 7.4% of the country’s economy. It is also expected to create more than 800 000 jobs in the next 10 years, reaching close on two million by 2034.
The opportunity awaits
South Africa perhaps more so than any other country has the wherewithal to position itself as one of the premier tourist destinations in the world. And our people are very hospitable. We’ve been through a lot and we have come out of it stronger and more committed to making a success of our country. The hospitality industry needs now to get up, dust itself off and get out there. We need to turn South Africa into the world’s most hospitable country. The Finns are currently the world’s happiest people and coincidentally drink the most cups of coffee per capita per day. We need to position South Africa as the world’s most hospitable country and then go out every day and deliver on that brand promise. And we at at Chair Crazy need to play our part too. Because, as we well know, true hospitality starts with a good table and chair!
