Page 78 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2024/5 - ebook

HIRSCH’S

Bankers: Standard Bank
KEY PERSONNEL
Chairman: Allan Hirsch
Executive Director: Margaret Hirsch
CEO: Richard Hirsch
Brand Manager: Luci Hirsch Jackson
Managing Director: Paul Brown
Financial Director: Scott Power
Merchandise Director: Kumaren Moodley
Hirsch family
Operations and Sales Director: Norman Brassell
Full Name of Company: Hirsch’s CONTACT DETAILS
Industry Sector: Trade - Retail HEAD OFFICE
Services / Products: Merchandise Physical Address: 1211 Umgeni Road, Durban
Date Established: 1979 Tel: +27 (0)31 582 4401
No. of Employees: 850 E-mail: paulb@hirschs.co.za
Auditors: Keller Williams Website: www.hirschs.co.za

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITS products for the home. In KZN in 2000, they started
their Home Store concept, where almost everything
Allan and Margaret Hirsch started their family run for the home can be purchased under one roof. This
appliance business in a tiny showroom in Umhlanga proved to be a great success and two years later,
Rocks Drive, Durban in 1979. Today Hirsch’s has in 2002, they took the concept to Gauteng. In April
grown into a chain of mega appliance and home 2012 they opened their first branch in Cape Town
furnishing stores in KwaZulu-Natal, the Cape and (Milnerton). They also have a strong online presence
Gauteng. Their strength, they believe, is in their well- with customers from around South Africa shopping
trained staff and customer service. from Hirsch’s online site.
The Hirsch’s started off small, building a strong Over the past 45 years their entrepreneurial spirit
base of customers over the years, first with repairs has helped drive the growth of the business. In 1983
and second-hand repaired appliances and then as a Allan bought a couple of microwaves believing that
fully-fledged appliance retailer. Hirsch’s is very much this was one of the new must have products. He
a family run business with all four members of the was disappointed to still have microwaves in stock
Hirsch family involved in the operations. As a family, at the end of the month. The Hirsch’s decided to
have an evening cooking demonstration and sold
the Hirsch’s form a formidable force supported
by their management team who have a strong 11 microwaves on the first evening. However, once
commitment to the same goals. They are backed by people bought the microwaves, they didn’t know
how to use them, so Margaret started a microwave
850 permanent employees who are as dedicated to cookery school.
the company as the Hirsch’s and their management
team are. Margaret said, “I always say to people, “If you knew
that you were going to succeed, would you try it?”
A Solid Reputation
and they always say ‘Yes’. Don’t let anything hold
Over the years the company has continued to build a you back from trying new things in your life.” Despite
solid reputation by being associated with big brands, the downturn in the economy in the last two years,
giving great service and carrying a wide range of Hirsch’s have still managed to open three new
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