The difference between Rodney Maduwa’s paint and other paint brands is not just the paint itself, or its the warranty, or even that he is a chemist – it is that he has certified painters who apply the paint that he makes himself. According to Maduwa, the paint manufactured by Maduwa Paint World is of such a high quality, that it requires people who he trains to do the job.
Maduwa, who obtained a BSc in Chemistry, an Honours in Polymer Chemistry and is currently working towards his Master’s in Paint Chemistry, told Vutivi News that when he started his paint business in 2013, it was not his intention. He had wanted to use his knowledge in chemistry for the field of medicine. His second option was forensic science.
“I applied for a Nissan SA graduate post and the following year I worked as a paint technician, and that’s when my love for paint awoke. I learned a lot about paint and my passion developed the need to start my own paint manufacturing company,” he said. “I started the company while working for Nissan in 2013 when Nissan offered me a permanent position before my graduate programme finished. I immediately went to the bank, got a loan and bought machines and raw materials needed to start the business.”
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Maduwa, whose business is in Rosslyn, Tshwane, said that people needed to be very careful when they chose to paint for their homes. “The most important thing people need to understand is the place where their house is built, what type of soil is used and if there is water underground,” he explained. “They also need to understand how their house is plastered and which type of paint is suitable. One can buy expensive paint, but if the house is not suitable for the paint, then it would be a waste.
“It is important that when a person paints their house, they must get a specialist to give them a quote and advise them as to what kind of paint is suitable for their house,” he said. And Maduwa’s company, which has 13 permanent employees and 32 temporary staff members, does just that.
“We don’t just sell our paint but we also provide certified and trained applicators so they can come to paint your house,” he said. They then issued customers with a warranty that lasted between 10 and 15 years, depending on the paint they purchased. And every project had a project leader to ensure that the right material was bought.
Maduwa told Vutivi News that he took all his jobs seriously. “The one thing I tell the team is that whenever we are given an opportunity we must excel and give it our best,” he said. “I always say that one job is equivalent to 10 jobs and if we don’t do one job properly and the customer is not happy, we have the potential of losing 10 clients.” Maduwa Paint World has another store in Limpopo, which provides services to residential and business properties. And over the next couple of years, the businessman plans on opening branches across the country.
