Tradefurn at 95 Main Road in Strand has changed hands, with the premises now becoming Strand Furniture Market/Meubelmark as Gerrie Bouwer expands his furniture operation into Strand.
There is a new name coming to 95 Main Road in Strand.
The premises that were previously home to Tradefurn are now becoming Strand Furniture Market/Meubelmark, following a takeover by the Bouwer family, which also operates Gordon’s Bay Furniture Market.
I spoke to new owner Gerrie Bouwer about the takeover, his plans for the large premises and how the Strand operation fits into his wider furniture business.
Tradefurn becomes Strand Furniture Market
In a Facebook post dated 28 August 2026, Gerrie announced Petra Newton’s retirement and introduced the new name, Strand Furniture Market/Meubelmark, while thanking Newton for her years at the business.
There is an important distinction, however. Gerrie explained that he did not buy the Tradefurn business itself. He bought the stock from Newton and is renting the premises from her.
Newton had been at the property for many years and has now retired. The intention is to continue the business from the same premises while giving it a new identity that connects it to the established Gordon’s Bay Furniture Market.
The furniture business stays the same
The core business is not changing.
The Strand operation will continue buying and selling furniture, with the same terms and conditions used at Gordon’s Bay Furniture Market.
Customers can make use of a monthly lay-by, with a 50% deposit and the balance payable by the end of the month.
The range is also expected to grow as the Strand operation develops. Gerrie showed me the large warehouse at the back of the premises, where there is space for more leather lounge suites, office furniture and other pieces.
When I walked through the premises with Gerrie, the size of the warehouse was one of the first things that stood out. From the street it looks relatively modest, but inside it opens into a surprisingly large space with considerable room for stock.
Opening up the warehouse
That warehouse is also where some of the bigger changes are planned.
The idea is to make the space more open and easier to walk through, with furniture positioned so that customers can sit on the lounge suites and experience the pieces rather than simply looking at them.
Gerrie wants to bring some of the feel of the Gordon’s Bay operation into Strand, while making better use of the space available here.
There are also plans for a small coffee bar in the corner, giving people somewhere to sit and relax while they browse.
The plans are still being developed, but the size of the premises gives the business room to do considerably more than the shopfront suggests from Main Road.
From supplying furniture to selling it directly
The Strand operation also represents a shift in how Gerrie’s business reaches customers.
Traditionally, the business has supplied inventory to other outlets, alongside its own retail operations. The Strand premises now give Gerrie the space to bring more of that furniture directly to customers, while also creating room to expand the range and rethink how the warehouse is used.
Gerrie has been involved in the Helderberg for 32 years and sees this section of Main Road as one of the area’s established furniture trading areas.
“I want this part of Main Road to become known for furniture, like Voortrekker Street is known for cars,” he said.
His ambition is to build something similar around furniture in this part of Strand.
A second Strand location for the family business
The move also follows another expansion by the Bouwer family.
Auction House Gordon’s Bay, which is run by Gerrie’s son, relocated to 75 Main Road in Strand earlier this year, moving from the Gordon’s Bay Furniture Market to its own premises.
The auction house and the new Strand Furniture Market are therefore now operating within the same stretch of Main Road, while the Gordon’s Bay Furniture Market continues operating from Gordon’s Bay.
For Gerrie, the longer-term idea is to build the broader furniture operation across the Helderberg rather than confining it to one location.
