KALAHARI KANVAS CO., WAS ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 1985 BY JOHN & ELAINE DUGMORE, IN THE HOT, DUSTY AND FAIRLY PRIMITIVE LITTLE VILLAGE KNOWN AS MAUN (THE GATEWAY TO THE OKAVANGO)!

THE BUSINESS BEGAN BY OFFERING A SIMPLE TENT REPAIR SERVICE, IN A LEAN-TO GARAGE. "KK" AS IT QUICKLY BECAME KNOWN, THEN PROGRESSED TO ITS NEW COMPANY "H.Q." NAMELY A SINGLE-DECKER BUS PARKED NEXT TO AN OPEN SIDED CONCRETE SLAB. THE TOTAL STAFF COMPLEMENT AT THAT TIME WAS TWO!

A GENUINE NEED FOR A TENT REPAIR SERVICE IN THE MARKET PARTICULARLY IN THE SAFARI INDUSTRY PROVIDED AN IDEAL STIMULUS FOR THE GROWTH OF "K.K." WITH TIME, BUSINESS CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND TOWARDS THE END OF 1987 ITS OPERATIONS HAD EXTENDED TO PROVIDING A CAMPING HIRE EQUIPMENT SERVICE. IN 1989 KALAHARI KANVAS FILLED A GAP IN THE UPHOLSTERY MARKET WHEN IT OPENED AN UPHOLSTERY SECTION. THIS PROVED TO BE VERY POPULAR WITH BOTH SAFARI COMPANIES AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ALIKE. THE EVERGROWING BUSINESS THAT "K.K." WAS HANDLING LED TO THE OPENING OF A SMALL RETAIL OUTLET.

THE COMPANY GREW RAPIDLY AND MOVED INTO ITS OWN PREMISES IN JUNE OF 1990. THE MAJOR STEP FORWARD WAS TO VENTURE INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF TENTS AND SAFARI EQUIPMENT IN A BIG WAY. THIS NOW FORMS THE MAJOR PART OF THE "K.K." BUSINESS.

MAUN IS NOW A BUSTLING TOWN, BOASTING MOST OF THE NORMAL CITY CHAIN STORES AND AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER GOOD AND BAD THINGS THAT ACCOMPANY "PROGRESS".

  

 

 
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