Women in the manufacturing industry: Marina Veiga

To celebrate National Women’s month this August, we are profiling some phenomenal women who work at PG Bison and others who run businesses in the furniture manufacturing industry. In this feature we’re profiling Marina Veiga, owner of Sariga Designer Kitchens.

South African born Marina Viega is of Italian descent and was raised in the East Rand in Gauteng. She later moved to Johannesburg, where she studied accounting at Wits University.

Although she didn’t particularly enjoy accounting, she decided not to study her true interest – medicine – as she wanted to prioritise having a family and raising children. She completed her accounting qualification, did her articles at Deloitte, spent time at a smaller firm and then worked in Nedbank, in internal audit, for a year.

“Life changed when my husband Alfredo and I were awarded an incredible opportunity to become expats in Maputo, Mozambique, with KPMG turning an 18-month contract into an 11-year journey rich with incredible social and emotional experiences,” she says “When our first daughter was born, I chose to be at home with her, while my husband went on to join the Coca Cola group. Two and a half years later we had a second daughter, and after another two and a half years came our son. During that time, I found a creative outlet in starting a premium silk flower arranging business for corporate clients, as fresh flowers were not ideal in the hot humid environment. I was led to my next venture by my children attending the Canadian Montessori Academy in Maputo. The exceptional educational system inspired me to obtain a Montessori teaching diploma.”

A year later, the family decided to return to South Africa. “I continued with home-schooling the children until the following year when my husband and I decided to join the kitchen industry in which we could excel with our accounting skills and which would allow me to tap into my creative flair. When we renovated our small home, it was apparent that this was a thriving industry as all the suppliers we approached had too many clients and too little time to manage them all,” says Marina. “We started a small family-owned business as part of a franchise, in which we initially took on the roles of designer, bookkeeper, driver, cleaner, tea lady, and every other imaginable task to keep the overheads low. Sadly, the franchise which taught us all the ins-and-outs of the industry collapsed, but we knew we had a good recipe and an understanding of the industry, so we decided to continue with the business we had been cultivating and rebranded.”

Alfredo has since moved onto another venture, and Marina has been solely running the company, now known as Sariga Designer Kitchens, for the last 13 years. “I have educated myself in all aspects of my field and have continued to do so throughout the years. I am confident in myself and the success of Sariga Designer Kitchens, earning me respect from all parties involved. Sariga Designer Kitchens has been a proud KSA member since inception. Marina has had the honour of serving as the current chairperson, and the first woman to hold the position.

After 17 years in the industry, I have learned that the journey of the client is a very emotional one, as they invest significant time and savings into their dream project. If I can make the experience a positive one by listening to my client and pleasing them with efficient and effective service delivery, we can be proud of the happiness our work can create,” says Marina.

She has had the privilege of working closely with her daughter who completed her degree in Fine Arts in 2020 and continues the family legacy of Sariga Designer Kitchens. The name is derived from the combination of Marina’s children’s names, Sabrina, Riccardo and Gabriela. She is proud her industry experience combined with her daughter’s artistic eye allows for them to work together and design beautiful spaces for their clients. “The happiness and excitement we can bring to our clients is nothing short of magical as we convert the clients’ visions into reality,” says Marina.

“Having gone through various economic seasons in South Africa over the last 17 years we have had to design smartly with local products. I have successfully shown my clients that a quality design is not about the price-tag on a product, but rather creativity and what you can do with a product. I also stress that the local boards are not only more economical, but the PG Bison range is extensive without compromising on the standard and quality of the products,” says Marina.

Her advice to other women? “Never underestimate yourself! I like to look and feel feminine and elegant, but it doesn’t stop me from tucking into just about any problem and finding a solution. I believe I am not compromised as a woman in the kitchen and design industry as I have proven to be successful and look good doing it.”

Finally, Marina advises others pursuing a career in kitchen manufacturing to “listen, listen, listen, under-promise and over- deliver! It’s never too late to live your dream and take a leap of faith into the industry of your choice. At the age of 40 I entered the kitchen industry as an accountant and teacher by profession and I have built up a successful business and reputation that I am immeasurably proud of.” The kitchen industry is a vast spectrum of opportunity, available to anyone with a dream like Marina’s.