ANSWERS TO SOME OF OUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT WE MANUFACTURE

Our core business is the manufacture of lampshades. We have over time realised that we need to diversify our product offering and have since added product catagores to our range such as wire tables, scatter cushions, lamp bases, ottomans, placemats, table runners etc

WHO WE SELL TO

We unfortunately do NOT sell directly to the public. We supply a large portion of blue chip retailers in SA and therefore may not. We do however have an onsite factory shop which the public is welcome to shop from. These items comprise of over runs, discontinued stock and much more. Stock therefore changes daily and cannot be guaranteed.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

We are very cognoscente of the increasing demand for raw materials worldwide required in the manufacture of decor related product and have thus taken the stance to implement an environmental policy available for viewing here.

A famous question which we get asked daily. However, it is the same as going to a car dealership and asking to buy a red car. There are many specifications that need to be stated at the time of requesting a quote. We require the following info:

  • Size of the shade: top x bottom x vertical height
  • Type / shape of shade
  • Recess
  • SA or E27 shade ring
  • Fabrication of the shade (outer covering)

Yes we do have a showroom at our factory. Our entire Fundi product is available here for viewing only and not to purchase off the shelves. The showroom is open during normal factory working hours and is not open on the weekend.

No we unfortunately do not. The process to strip the fabric off the existing lampshade, strip the powder coating in an acid bath, re-coat the frame actually is more expensive than just to manufacture a new frame.

We don’t carry stock of any finished goods. Everything is made to order.

We only sell finished goods to clients.

Yes we deliver nationally. Please advise your sales representative that you would like delivery so that it can be included in the quote as we usually quote without delivery allowing our clients the option to collect their lampshades.

Our factory is situated in Stikland, Cape Town. We charge R125.00 ex vat for deliveries in the neighbouring surrounds and to Cape Town CBD. Outlying areas are R175.00 ex vat. All upcountry deliveries must be quoted separately.

All lampshades are covered in plastic wrap to prevent any dirt or dust settling during transit. Our bases are all covered in bubble wrap. Should you require your order to be boxed, please advice your sales representative at the time of quoting so that we can include boxes on your quote and to ensure that they will be ready in time for dispatch.

We don’t keep stock of any boxes as they are individually sized for each order and therefore are made to order.

Yes we are approved by the NRCS and have a valid wiring license. Feel free to send us your imported bases to be wired up according to SA standards.

Wire World guarantees its manufactured products free of defective workmanship and defective materials, for a period of 6 months calculated from date of delivery.

We offer one of the 3 options:
A 50% deposit will be required before we will commence with manufacturing, and the balance must be paid before the order will be dispatched.
30 day account for clients that have a purchase history with us and have filled out a valid credit application form that has been approved by our finance department
We have a credit card facility on site. Feel free to pay for your order upon collection

We accept payment via Credit Cards, Debit Cards, EFT and Cash. We do not accept cheques.

We start manufacturing upon receipt of deposit / acceptance of quote. We usually quote a 2 to 3 week lead time depending on the nature of the job. This lead time excludes delivery transit time.

We unfortunately do not. We only manufacture and don’t have any electricians under our employ. Please therefore co-ordinate our delivery dates with your desired electrician as not to delay your installation on site.

We believe in sustaining the skills and talent of our local industry and therefore all our products are manufactured locally right here in our factory. Approximately 5% of our raw components are however imported due to non-availability in South Africa

We are audited annually by FSSI, Woolworths external auditing company, and are passed for their continued supply

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

BIAS

A separate trim sewn onto the top and bottom of a lampshade. Often used on more classic styled lampshades

CANDLE CLIP

See “Fitting Types”

CSF

Customer Supply Fabric will be stated on quotes when the client wishes to send their own fabric

CABTYRE
Electrical PVC cable used for wiring pendants. Standard colours are black and white.
E27
See “Lampholder Types”
HORIZONTAL WEAVE
The weave pattern forming horizontal strips of fibre. This method of weaving is quite labour intensive and requires more material and is therefore more expensive than random weave.

LAMPHOLDER

See “Lampholder Types”
MOQ
Minimum Order Quantity
PVC LINING
PVC is used on the inside of lampshade to keep the shape rigid. We stock clear or white in two thicknesses. 350micron is used on smaller lampshades and 500micron is used on larger lampshades. Clear PVC is commonly used for more atmospheric lighting and allows more light to shine through the fabric. White PVC diffuses the light up and down of the shade and is often therefore used for more functional lighting.
PONGEE LINING
A fabric lining used on the inside of pleated shades where PVC cant be used
PENDANT
A hanging light
PLEATS
Folds in the fabric used to cover the lampshade. See “Pleated Shade Types”
RANDOM WEAVE
A more commonly used style of weave that follows no specific pattern. The more affordable alternative
RGD FRAME
A rigid frame (RGD) comprises of a lampshade that has vertical struts connecting the ring and fitting. It replaces the function of the PVC as is generally used for pleated or woven shades where the framework needs to have a support structure
RECESS
Recess refers to the space in mm between the base of the shade and the shade ring. This measurement is important as it is used to conceal the lampholder
SOUTACH
A braid / detailed trim glued onto the lampshade after manufacture to add detail
SA / BAYONETTE
See “Lampholder Types”
SHADE RING
See “Washer Types”
SELF FOLD
Refers to the same fabric used on the lampshade folded back over the top and bottom of the shade to form a trim. Used commonly on pleated shades to give a finished look
TUCK
The lampshade fabric is wrapped over the top and bottom of the shade and tucked around the wire