Page 33 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

I think we all have similar challenges, but our self-esteem

and our sense of self-worth separate the winners from the losers.

businesses will thrive. Putting it simply she says, “You time, but in the end, it was the best thing that could
Chief Operations Executive, have happened. They learnt the business from when
of Hirsch’s can work for a boss and make a living – or you can
work for yourself and earn a fortune, but you have to they were tiny and today they are both extremely

ARGARET HIRSCH has become a be passionate about what you do.” successful in their own right.”
leading example to businesswomen in Hands on service Margaret has helped to publicise the plight of young
Msouthern Africa. Although from a humble Customer loyalty is what has made Hirsch’s a house- girls throughout South Africa who do not attend
background, she has participated in co-founding hold name. What amazes people is that Margaret school in the months they are menstruating, with the
and running the multi million-rand appliance and Girls with Dignity Project. She regularly visits schoolgirls
electronic retail organisation, Hirsch’s. does not have an office in any of the branches. to tell them about the project, initiated by Sue Barnes
She sits at a desk on the floor and helps deal with in KZN. She tells them that in life they will always have
Margaret started work washing hair in a salon at the customer complaints and queries. Margaret explains. a choice, they can choose to stay at home or choose
age of twelve. She started her first formal job working “Keeping our customers happy and providing them
for an attorney on the day she left school and has with a unique, hands on service has helped our to go to school and eventually be successful in life.
Margaret hands out panty packs to the girls; each pack
worked ever since. business grow and we are continuously finding contains one panty and three reusable sanitary pads
Margaret met Allan Hirsch, a fridge mechanic, in 1971. ways to improve on our service to them. Without which will last them their entire high school career.
They married in 1972, while she was working as a customers, we would not have a company. I have “The average school attendance has now increased
secretary with JBS and she then worked for a shipping been looking after our customers, their children and from 40% to 80%, and their marks have improved
company in Durban. When she fell pregnant with now their grandchildren.” dramatically including the – better attendance, better
Richard in 1976, she was fired from her job. Their In addition, the company prides itself on being self-esteem, better marks,” Margaret said.
daughter, Luci, was born in 1978. In 1979, the transparent. “Our staff knows exactly what is going on Empowering women
Hirsch’s opened their first shop in Umhlanga Rocks all the time, which makes them feel comfortable with
Drive, Durban North. us and makes them feel part of the family. The values Margaret has received many awards, including

An inspiration to others of honesty, loyalty and integrity form the basis of all two Lifetime Achievement Awards in business and
our interactions,” explains Margaret. All Hirsch’s staff entrepreneurship to acknowledge her contribution
Today, as chief operations executive of Hirsch’s, members are encouraged to better themselves and to the business world in South Africa. She established
Margaret has been integrally involved with all aspects are taught that by uplifting themselves they will the Margaret Hirsch Women in Business Achiever of
of the business. This includes selling, invoicing, ultimately uplift those around them. the Year Award competition after she saw how well
demonstrating, being a delivery person on the trucks, her business did and how winning awards gave her an
installing and demonstrating in customers’ homes. A child of the universe edge over her competitors.
Over the last 40 years, the Hirsch’s have opened In reflecting on the challenges that she has faced as She also works closely with other women’s groups
twelve Hirsch Homestore branches throughout a woman in business, Margaret says, “I don’t really including the Lionesses of Africa, which empowers
KZN, Gauteng and Cape Town and five concept think of myself as a woman, but more a child of the 850 000 women entrepreneurs across the continent.
stores (Samsung and Sony stores in KZN and Gauteng universe, I think we all have similar challenges, but our “It’s an honour to help these women to grow their
and a bedroom boutique and lighting shop in Cape self-esteem and our sense of self-worth separate the businesses from start-up to sustainable business
Town). “We have built Hirsch’s from a tiny store to winners from the losers.” venture. There’s a growing number of women helping
a billion-rand company and I hope that I will be an She believes that women can balance work-life women, which this organisation embodies – ‘our
inspiration to others and help them believe that they demands but it’s not easy. “When my children were motto is empowered women empower women’.
can live their dreams as well,” she says. small, I worked from home. Later, when they went to The advice that she would give others is to “Know that

She points out that it is only through hard work and school, they would come and spend the afternoons you are enough. You are perfect as you are. And your
a love for what the individual is involved in, that in the shop, which I wasn’t sure was good at the job is to make the best of your life.”

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