CENTRAL RESERVATIONS SA Ltd also trading as CENRES IMPORTS Ltd |
| HERE IS WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE CAME FROM....................... ...a dynamic & diverse Closed Corporation Company, established in Pretoria, South Africa in June 1996 by INGRID WITTMANN as an expansion to her successful Guesthouse business the "ALT DUESSELDORF INN"
in the rural areas outside of Pretoria and in Kwazulu-Natal
branched out from South Africa to establish a Ltd Corporation in the USA in June 2003 with the main objective of DESIGNING, DELIVERING and PROVIDING OUTSTANDING SERVICES & PRODUCTS SUCH AS "the DESIGNER COMB" and many other individually hand manufactured 'south african elegance' to our valued AMERICAN CLIENTS. OUR MAIN BUSINESS TODAY IN the USA and now also in Europe is:
INGRID HANDPICKS EVERY ITEM IN SOUTH AFRICA WHILE ASSURING THAT "FAIR TRADE" IS APPLIED. OUR OTHER BUSINESS:
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THE PRODUCT:
every one of our individually and COMPLETELY handcrafted
DESIGNER COMBS is a piece of ART.
The comb's skeleton is made from one continuous piece of electroplated
wire, BEND BY A SKILLFUL HAND guiding a pair of pliers.
every one of our individually and COMPLETELY handcrafted
DESIGNER COMBS is a piece of ART.
The comb's skeleton is made from one continuous piece of electroplated
wire, BEND BY A SKILLFUL HAND guiding a pair of pliers.
WHAT INSPIRES ME.......
THE STORY :
WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE CAME FROM………….
CENTRAL RESERVATIONS SA Ltd, t/a CENRES IMPORTS Ltd, is a dynamic & diverse
Closed Corporation Company, established in Pretoria, South Africa in June 1996 by
INGRID WITTMANN as an addition to her successful Lodging/Guesthouse business
the “ALT DUESSELDORF INN” established in Pretoria Jan. 1990.
Central Reservations SA cc, South Africa, was originally as a Booking/Travel Agent,
Tour Guide Service, and Guesthouse with Art & Craft exhibits on sale – wanting to
empower women and help the disadvantaged in South Africa by purchasing art
directly from the craftsmen/women in the rural areas outside of Pretoria and in
Kwazulu-Natal. It was also a Consultancy for the Hospitality Industry.
On June 12th 2003 a branch of Central Reservations SA cc was established and
incorporated in the U.S.A
Under the name of “CENTRAL RESERVATIONS SA LLC” – t/a CENRES IMPORTS
LTD, with the main objective of DESIGNING, DELIVERING and PROVIDING
OUTSTANDING SERVICES & PRODUCTS SUCH AS “the DESIGNER
COMB ™ ” and many other individually hand manufactured 'South African elegance'
& innovations to our valued AMERICAN CLIENTS.
Before establishing this company in 2003, a thorough investigation and feasibility
study on conducting this type of business in the USA was performed, beginning in
September 2002 when the South African government asked “Central Reservations
SA cc” and Ingrid Wittmann, to represent SOUTH AFRICA at the
1st CCA meeting/exhibition/conference in Atlantic City, NJ, “AFRICA 2000” 30.Sept
to 03.Oct. 2002. This conference was organized by the CCA= Corporate Council on
Africa.
It was established at this conference, that there was a great interest and demand
within the USA in South African handcrafted products, and also a great
humanitarian interest by the American people to help eliminate poverty in South
Africa and around the world, which is a basic principle of our company.
I personally conducted more research and found the USA a favourablefavorable
market to import handcrafted items from South Africa. American people loved the
handcraft and art that we imported, such as original hand-woven Zulu container
baskets, traditional Zulu bead jewellery, hand-woven wool rugs, mask, batiks and
similar items. We opened a branch of my South African company and duly
registered/incorporated this branch of CENTRAL RESERVATIONS SA cc in the US =
(LLC)Ltd on 12th June 2003 in South Carolina, USA.
The corporation’s 1st tax year/fiscal year closed after 18 days of sales, on 30th
June 2003 with an income of just $409, increasing substantially and steadily year
after year thereafter.
I travel to South Africa 2 to 3 times per year to handpick every item for import
into the USA. The items were usually purchased at the (retail) price the artists
asked for. Our large quantity purchases for USA imports provided the individual
artists with much needed, and above minimum wage income. However, due to
economic forces the demand for south African handcrafted art items shrank.
For this reason we had to adapt, and found a more useful and innovative product
which would also help create income for people in the USA! By January 2005 we
began importing a new 100% handcrafted and very useful, high quality item from
South Africa into the USA, “the DESIGNER COMB ™ ” .
This new import item was very welcomed by American women, and sold in
enormous numbers for its high quality, female elegance and great comfort. The
humanitarian aspect of importing the DESIGNER COMB into the USA is also
enormous! We are (CENRES IMPORTS LTD) helping many individuals and families
in South Africa to have a decent income, which translates into 3times higher than
minimum wage (that is…, IF one is at all able to find a job in South Africa with it’s
very high unemployment rate !).
Important sustainability - socially responsible “green” aspect of CENRES IMPORTS
Ltd:
The DESIGNER COMB is 100% handmade in South Africa by 6 groups of people
who all work as independent units:
• Refugees from Zimbabwe are flooding into SA as there are little prospects
for food or jobs in their country duedue to the disastrous economic situation under
the Mugabe regime. These refugees gain legal work status in SA by creating jobs
for southafricans. These refugees, mainly the men are well known for their “wire
art”, and they create the wire frame for our DESIGNER COMB by bending each
tooth on the comb from ONE continuous wire with their skilful hands guiding a pair
of pliers. Every loop through which later on the elastic is guided, is also bent from
one wire by hand/pliers. 2 sizes of pliers are used. By creating these frames for our
comb, these refugees are creating jobs for the South African disabled
and disadvantaged people by selling their frames to them for further
manufacturing steps, therefore creating new jobs for the next step in
manufacturing our Designer Combs.
6 steps to the finished handmade DESIGNER COMB:
• 1.= creation of the frame for “the DESIGNER COMB ™ ”
• 2. South African men now conduct the “softbending” on this frame which
holds it together
• 3. Side-stringing of small beads for sides of frame is done by many disabled,
men and women
• 4. Stringing beads binding around the side of the frame is the 4th step in the
creation of the Designer Combs
• 5. With the finished frames, now the WEAVERS become creative by
combining tthe frames with high
quality, artfully beaded elastic. Our weavers are men, women, school leavers,
disabled people, single mothers, AIDS widows, and other disadvantaged members
of community..
The weaving is the most creative part of the DESIGNER COMB’S COMB’s’s hand
manufacturing process and involves Zulu women, AIDS widows, single mothers,
which are taking care of a familiesy and children by themselves. The weaving can
be done in their home environment giving the individual the opportunity to be with
their children and family!
• 6. People with simple mathematical skills are BOOKING booking each EACH
STAGEstage OF THE COMBof the comb in/out IN/OUT and forward the item to the
next processor
• 7. The administration of raw materials is overseen by refugees, disabled,
and low income earners
Each of the above steps of the Designer CombDESIGNER COMB’s manufacturing
process leads to other job creations in South Africa.
• JOB CREATION (and pride) IN SOUTH AFRICA:
OUR IMPORT AND SALE OF “the DESIGNER COMB” in the USA has made all of the
above involved people very proud and created more jobs and better income for
them! Most earn 3times the minimum wage in that country.
They all give their very best to create a very high quality product for the US
market. My company supports their livelihood by buying and importing many
thousands of combs per year into the USA for sale to an upmarket female clientele.
• JOB CREATION IN THE USA:
CENRES IMPORTS LTD markets “the DESIGNER COMB” mainly through TRADE
SHOWS such as ‘Helen Brett’ jeweleryjewelry and accessory show, New Orleans,
California Gift Show, Los Angeles and San Francisco, West Michigan Women’s Expo,
Florida Conference for Women, other women’s expos. The GREEN FESTIVAL, GO
GREEN EXPO, the GREENLIVING EXPO…., BMSE.net which events recognize the
sustainability/green and ‘healing’ factor of our product have congratulated us on
our effort of helping others.
a) WE HAVE CREATED A NETWORK OF DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS, BROKERS,
RETAILERS in as many as 10 States of the USA which are all buying from Cenres
Imports at wholesale prices, creating income for themselves this way,
b) Brokers or Reps are paid a 20% commission by Cenres Imports Ltd on
soliciting sales of
“the DESIGNER COMB” to HAIRSALONS, DAY SPAS, BOUTIQUES.
c) Cenres Imports Ltd hires regularly contractors to assist at Trade Shows.
The payment is usually $100 for +- 5 hours sales or setup/breakdown assistance.
d) Retailers frequently repeat orders
e) Web sales are increasing due to the marketing at events, and are usually
guided to our distributors and agents in order to increase THEIR income, which in
return makes them purchase from Cenres Imports Ltd.
THE D/C'S QUALITY IS NOW BEING RECOGNIZED BY BY millions OF WOMEN
AROUND THE US, AND SALES OF the DESIGNER COMBS are growing steadily!
The retail price is $38 plus per unit. Some retailers are selling the DESIGNER
COMB for up to $85. We also have a bridal version on the market, beaded with
original SwarovskIy crystals retailing at ~$250.
A SMALL OFFICE/WAREHOUSE SPACE IN SIGNAL HILL, CA WAS ADDED in
October 2007.