In 1971 Hope Coleman came back from a trip to the Free State, where she had seen a thriving Home Industries co-operative business. Farmers at the time were suffering financially, and to help ease their burden she hoped to start one in Grahamstown.
She approached a number of farmers' wives in the Carlisle Bridge area and they responded enthusiastically. So she and Dolly Bowker set about arranging meetings with interested parties and obtained a constitution from the Central Board in Johannesburg. This stipulated that a minimum of 25 members were required – but because only 15 women were initially enrolled, husbands were added to make up the deficit.
Grahamstown Home Industries' first premises were in Hill Street (where Sparrow Pools is today), with Yolande Hoole as chairwoman and Ting Gradwell as secretary.
In 1971 Hope Coleman came back from a trip to the Free State, where she had seen a thriving Home Industries co-operative business. Farmers at the time were suffering financially, and to help ease their burden she hoped to start one in Grahamstown.
She approached a number of farmers' wives in the Carlisle Bridge area and they responded enthusiastically. So she and Dolly Bowker set about arranging meetings with interested parties and obtained a constitution from the Central Board in Johannesburg. This stipulated that a minimum of 25 members were required – but because only 15 women were initially enrolled, husbands were added to make up the deficit.
Grahamstown Home Industries' first premises were in Hill Street (where Sparrow Pools is today), with Yolande Hoole as chairwoman and Ting Gradwell as secretary.
One of the first pieces of furniture in the shop was a very beautiful antique counter from the Observatory Museum, which was used for many years. The museum eventually asked for it back, so it was replaced it with a pine counter – which of course was not nearly as elegant.
In those years there was no baking yet, so the women busied themselves with home crafts and the Bowkers offered wonderful fresh vegetables, which they brought in every Friday and which were much sought after.
A huge table and vegetable rack were installed in the shop and great fun was had, setting them up to display the goods for sale.
Amid great excitement, the first day’s takings amounted to R25 (remember this was 1971).
The first big problem arose in trying to get a bakers' licence, which took around seven years. Because there were so few members, each had to do a full day's duty behind the counter.
At first it was quiet and so it was quite easy, but as business picked up, duties were changed to half-days.
In 2000 the big decision was taken to move from Hill Street to the new premises in Pepper Grove Mall, and Home Industries has gone from strength to strength ever since.
It has succeeded in its original intention to help the farming members in their financial difficulties and today the member list includes many Grahamstown residents. The people behind Home Industries have produced a wide variety of goods and continue to be a great asset to the city. It even boasts still having two of its original members – Carol White and Wiesie Lister.
The Home Industries shop is open for business from 8am to 5.30pm on weekdays, as well as on Saturday and Sunday mornings and most public holidays. In addition to an impressive range of sweet and savoury baked goods, the shop also stocks frozen meat and pre-cooked meals, bottled goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and plants. Handcrafts at the shop include knitted and sewn clothing, toys, woodwork, leather goods, hand-made jewellery and stationery.
