Coastal firm adds a new string to its bow

Driven by a passion to succeed, Ivan Marshall says that he knows that he requires a degree to make a success of his businesses. “A degree of determination,” adds Marshall with a smile. Retrenched after working for nine years for an international conglomerate mining uranium in the Namib Desert, Marshall vowed never to work for someone else again. Using the proceeds from his retrenchment package, supplemented by a loan from a local commercial bank, Marshall bought a small upholstery business in Namibia’s premier port of Walvis Bay from a relative who decided to retire.

The firm Eagle Upholstery and Atlantic Blinds provides upholstery and related services. Diversification as a growth strategy resulted in the adding in 2005 of Eagle Sign Company which provides an array of printing services. Marshall believes that the secret of getting ahead is to just get started and the indefatigable entrepreneur has now added a new dimension to his business, Eagle Builders. The new string to Marshall’s business bow, Eagle Builders, has secured a contract with the Municipality of Walvis Bay to build 15 housing units (three 2 bedroom- and 12 one bedroom unit) at the Kuisebmund Compound. The firm, which forms part of a consortium of four building contractors, was chosen from 16 contractors who tendered for the low-cost housing job valued at more than N$4 million. Securing this contract not only providing jobs for 30 workers who are now permanently employed by Eagle Builders but also secures temporary employment for 35 workers who assisted with the demolishing of the “old” compound.

During a recent tour of the site by Claudine Mouton and Danny Meyer of local consultancy firm SMEs Compete, they observed workers scurrying around to get things done. Marshall says that with the annual builder’s holidays over the festive season fast approaching, he is determined to get the job done on time. “I never take on a commitment that I cannot honour,” Marshall told the SME Compete consultants.
The wheel has turned and Marshall confidently says: “Today I am no longer aggrieved by the loss of secured employment with the uranium mine. It was a blessing in disguise.” Marshall says that retrenchment provided an opportunity to put his entrepreneurial flair to work – a winning recipe, it seems in his case.

Always committed to expanding his business, Marshall continuously explores ways to hone his own- and the skills of his ever increasing work force. In this connection his group of enterprises regularly participates in various capacity building activities of SMEs Compete, a firm that supports growth and employment creation in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. SMEs Compete works closely with government economic ministries and business support service organizations like NCCI and JCC in support of enterprise and entrepreneurial development.