Stripped Collective – Coronavirus Help Fund

With the help and support of valuable clients and followers, we have grown what started as a garage operation 7 years ago into a bespoke furniture design and manufacturing company that now operates from a warehouse space in Johannesburg.

The nature of the manufacturing business is not easy, and we have put in the graft over the years to continue to exist as a small business in a tough environment. This has been highly challenging, but with the demand from clients for bespoke pieces, we have built something that we are immensely proud of.

As it stands, we face a situation where everything we have built over the years could be lost as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak in South Africa. With the implementation of a 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the virus, companies are being hit incredibly hard with many having to shut their doors and lay off workers.

This is a situation that we are treating as a last resort. We do not want to see our business shut, or employees without jobs to feed their families. Like other small businesses in the country, the lockdown has hurt our business beyond what we had imagined.

The jobs that were previously lined up for the months to come have been put on hold indefinitely. There have been no new requests for quotes. And we are unable to work remotely due to the nature of our hands-on work.

We tapped some resources and managed to ensure that our staff as well as our rent for April are paid but funds are now running low. This leaves a gaping hole of uncertainty as we head into the month of May.

Without a stream of orders coming into the business, we are making a plea to our clients and followers to help us get through this trying time. Our goal is to raise R120 000, which will cover the money we have had to funnel away from materials for jobs and to cover the bare minimum that we have been able to reduce our overheads to. We are appealing to our community to consider a donation of any size towards this goal.

All support received will in no way be used to generate income, but to simply break even and help our staff to put food on the table. If the donations exceed our goal, the money will be distributed between our staff who are in need if the situation improves.

As you know, we are a resilient team who has worked long and hard to get where we are today. We have a dream and it will not be crushed by this pandemic. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the business alive.

From all of us at Stripped Collective, we wish you and your loved one’s good health during the lockdown period. We could not have done this without you, our valued supporters. We have great appreciation for each single one of you and we can’t wait to see you when the crisis passes.

Sawdust covered hugs from Team Stripped.