KwaPEP September 2019

September 2019 / ISSUE # 89

ED’S LETTER

We celebrate making a real difference Gala dinner for strategic partners PAGE 7

Fashion and home trends for spring PAGE 20-23

Chain of strength [ SENIOR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ]

Dynamos awarded with prestigious prizes for exceptional performance

PEP ACADEMY GETS A THUMBS UP! PEP Academy

alumni tell us why they believe in the power of this initiative.

SEPTEMBER 2019

1

VOTED BEST CLOTHING STORE IN SOUTH AFRICA

BY CUSTOMERS

PEP has just been voted as the most popular clothing store amongst customers in South Africa.

G AMAZIN! NEWS

The South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SA-csi) revealed that PEP is rated as the top clothing store in South Africa. This means that when it comes to the overall value and quality we provide, South Africans think we are the best.

Some of the highlights for us include: • PEP customers feel they receive the best value for money • PEP has a higher perceived quality score which means we are exceeding our customers’ expectations • PEP customers reported the lowest number of complaints with the best resolution rate “Thank you to all Dynamos for making a difference in the lives of our customers – and helping them and their families to look and feel good. Every moment with our customers matter and that should remain our focus.” – Sikhula KunYe, Jaap

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SEPTEMBER 2019

ED’S LETTER

Hi 5 Dynamos!

You are the pilot of your own craft Share store photographs & letters with us.

VIA INTERNAL MAIL: KwaPEP, Central Office, PO Box 6376, Parow East 7501 Email: suzannec@ pepstores.com PLEASE INCLUDE 1) your store number and name, 2) description of event 3) Dynamos’ names PLEASE NOTE: Only Jpegs allowed, no scanned photos or collages will be used.

So, get going and send us your magic.

You might just win a prize too!

In his book, Brian Tracy explains that life is like an airplane journey. From the time you take off (like on all airplanes), you will be off the course 99% of the time... The role of the pilot is to continually bring the plane back on course so that it arrives on schedule at its destination.

In life, you are the pilot of your own craft. To reach your destination of health, happiness, prosperity and a good life, you must do as a pilot does. You must, first of all, determine your destination. This requires clear, specific goals, written down, with plans on how to accomplish them for each day.

you will experience the same in the pursuit of any worthwhile goal.

The key to success is for you to keep your mind fixed clearly on the goal, but to be flexible about the way of achievement. Be open to new inputs and ideas. Learn from every experience. Look for the good in every setback or difficulty.

Most of all, you must decide in advance that you will never give up. Your ability to persist in the face of all adversity in the direction of your goal is what will ultimately guarantee your success.

Secondly, you must take off towards your destination with no guarantee of success. You must be willing to move out of your comfort zone and take risks continually, even though you know that most of them will not succeed, at least at the beginning.

You make your own luck through your own hard work and determination. Decide upon your destination, take off, and be open to the necessity of making continual course corrections until you reach your destination.

The third part, and the real secret of success is that you must be prepared to make frequent course corrections. Just as an aircraft faces headwinds, storms, winds, lightning and unexpected turbulence,

KwaPEP will be here to tell your story!

Sikhula KunYe!

Marik

i

Sikhula KunYe!

Suzanne Coetzee

KwaPEP is PEP’s newspaper published quarterly by the Communication Department.

PO Box 6376, Parow east 7501 Editor: Mariki Schwiebus Tel:(021) 937 2562 Email: marikis@pepstores.com Design: GAPdesign Printing: Formeset

Marik SEPTEMBER 2019

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BERTIE’S LETTER

Keep on improving

Blow the whistle It’s your responsibility to report any dishonest behaviour of customers or fellow Dynamos (including management) regarding the misuse of company assets.

Nobody will know that you reported the incident.

We know that the past two years have been very challenging for us and our remarkable customers. The whole retail environment is growing much slower and therefore everyone is focussing on gaining market share and keeping costs under control. The good news is that we have been doing both over the past few years even though we are not hitting our sales targets. In tough times, your true character comes out and that is why we keep on focussing on making it possible for everyone to look and feel good.

You do not have to give your name and nobody can trace your call.

We can increase our profit if we sell more or spend less.

Follow-up on your lead is guaranteed.

Therefore, remember to compare your actual expenses monthly with budgets and identify those bad costs!

Toll Free Number: 0800 006 285 Email: information@ whistleblowing.co.za Toll Free Fax: 0800 212 689 Postal: FREEPOST KZN665, MUSGRAVE, 4062 SMS:33490 Online: www. whistleblowing. co.za

We are now almost at the end of our financial year and you would probably agree that it might go down as one of the toughest years retailers in South Africa have had to deal with. Although the year started very slow, we have seen good sales growth in April and June 2019. In fact, CFH had double digit sales growth in both of these months! Cellular is improving their sales performance almost monthly and has turned a corner. FMCG sales growth has been excellent and grown at more than double the rate of any other department in PEP. PEPmoney transactions is growing at a phenomenal rate, insuring that we keep gaining more customers in our stores.

Overall we do expect PEP to grow faster than the retail industry in this financial year.

What is also very pleasing is that we have managed our stock well – stockturn overall is improving, the value of markdowns that we need has reduced and stock loss is down on last year. In addition, we have managed to maintain our Best Price Leadership in the market. We still have more than 97% of our products at the same price or cheaper than our competitors. Our Dynamos are turning out to be great cost busters – fighting to reduce bad costs such as stock losses and cash shortages. In addition, we continue to invest in the right areas. This year, for the first time ever, we will be spending more than half a billion rand in opening new stores, upgrading our warehouses, and new systems to help our Dynamos to deliver an even better service to our customers.

Nonetheless, our challenge will still be to manage our total costs in such a way that it aligns with the lower sales growth and therefore grows our profit. Since resourcefulness is one of our PEP values, we must continue to find new and innovative ways to spend our money smartly. A good example is our renewed focus on scheduling more store Dynamos during the month-end peaks to make sure we are ready when there is money in the market.

Times are

tough, fight the bad costs!

All the best for the last stretch of our financial year!

Sikhula KunYe!

Bertie van Sittert Finance director

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SEPTEMBER 2019

JAAP’S LETTER

Do we really know our remarkable customers?

DID YOU KNOW?

64%

of the SA population is PEP’s target market with a household income of or less

R7000

25-34 YEARS

49%

SINGLE

80%

BLACK

MALE

FEMALE

40%

Congratulations on receiving the highest score in the South African Customer Satisfaction Index! May this inspire us to get to know and delight our remarkable customers even more!

Lots of exciting things have happened since we last spoke. We had our senior leadership conference, where we launched the latest version of our growth plan.

We are really excited that we have the right focus areas and plans to keep on creating a PEP that future generations will be proud of.

This month our theme is Know your Customer. Going forward, we will continue to ensure that every Dynamo has an in-depth understanding of the demands and needs of our customers since these change constantly. We will be conducting more focus groups, store visits, surveys and data analytics to assist us in having the latest information about our customers.

PEP customers 60%

Hi 5 Dynamos!

We had the privilege to host and honour our top suppliers recently (see page 7). They play a vital role in PEP’s success and making sure that we delight our customers.

Dynamos, I hope you enjoyed all the excitement during Women’s Month. This month the excitement continues with Character. In October we celebrate Colour. And then it’s time for Black Friday before the December edition!

MOST LOVED ACTIVITIES ARE

relaxing at home, belonging to a church group, funeral society or stokvel, and selling items for extra cash

A big shout out to PAXI, which recently sent out its onemillionth parcel! That’s one million delighted customers!

Thank you for all your hard work and good luck with the last bit of this financial year! Focus on our customer, GSTY and make them come back for more and more!

Sikhula KunYe!

50%

of sales happen between the 25th and the 5th of every month

Jaap Hamman

Managing Director

SEPTEMBER 2019

3

Senior Leadership Conference

There was great excitement when the senior leaders of PEP gathered at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West in May for the “Chain of Strength – e-volve” Senior Management Conference.

The conference kicked off with a talk by Bruce Whitfield – the well-known Money Show host on Radio 702 and CapeTalk. He distilled complex business issues to their bare essentials to make them interesting and understandable.

Pepkor CEO, Leon Lourens, updated the leaders on the group’s activities. The directors then

MD Award winners

Sikhula KunYe Award Georgy Molokomme

Angela Beukes

Gabriël Pansegrouw

CFH Prize

PEPhome won the prize for being 14.5% over budget in 2018.

From left, Heinrich Boomker, Michelle Sampson and Helene van der Merwe received the prize on behalf of their team.

John Edwards

Marius Hough 4

SEPTEMBER 2019

Liezl van Eck

Nico Dippenaar

SENIOR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

revealed PEP’s new growth- and a three-year plan. Marlon Parker rounded off the afternoon with his inspirational talk on why hope is contagious. That evening the most prestigious prizes of PEP were presented to Dynamos for exceptional performances. Comedian Dr. Riaad Moosa made the audience laugh and Suzanne Coetzee from the Communication department entertained the leaders with her band Suzy Refined.

Day two was devoted to a “Thriving in Tough Times” leadership workshop by Ricky Robinson and LRMG. The conference was wrapped up by Stafford Masie’s talk on Artificial Intelligence and Humanity’s Re-imagining. The leaders left the 2019 Senior Leadership Conference motivated to continue creating a chain of strength and e-volving.

Cross-Functional Team Award Home won the first cross-functional team award on creating a customer solution for the customer in Home Standalone Stores.

From left are: Michelle Sampson, Heinrich Boomker, Tara Swanson-Pauw, Helene van der Merwe, Louis Lourens, Pieter Nieuwoudt and Margaretha Steyn.

Alice van Rooyen trophy Helene van der Merwe

BOTTOM: Comedian Dr. Riaad Moosa

Entertainment PEP’s very own Suzanne Coetzee with her band called Suzy Refined.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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COMPANY NEWS

School departement reaps rewards GET R20 O S C H O OL CLOTFF from R20 HING off deal Sizes 2 Sizes 6 –– 5 169.99 10 199.99

The School department achieved a great return on their deal of R20 off school clothing when you buy any leather school shoes during the June/ July Back-to-School period. The departments showed a 16% sales growth for June and July combined.

149

PRESCH OOL KIDS’ LEA TH SHOES ER

Sizes 8 – 1

Sizes 2 –

99 PER PAIR

239

PRESCH OOL BOYS’ LEA SHOESTHER

8 159.99

Boys’ size s

Sizes 2 Sizes 6 –– 5 259.99 10 269.99

WHE LEATHEN YOU BUY ANY R SCHO OL SHO ES

There was also a big growth of 14.8% in the number of baskets. 42 000 customers accepted the deal and most of them bought socks with the spare R20.

T’S & C’S

99

9–1

APPLY.

“It was a great last-minute cross-functional initiative, with Marketing sending last-minute posters and Sales increasing space in the store for BTS over this period,” said Essentials Planning Manager, Nicholaas du Plessis.

PEP is gaining market share

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SEPTEMBER 2019

6 months moving CFH Sales Growths: PEP vs SA Retail 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1%

6 months moving CFH Sales Growths: PEP

May’19

Apr’19

Mar’19

Feb’19

Jan’19

Dec’18

Nov’18

Oct’18

Sep’18

Aug’18

Jul’18

Jun’18

May’18

Apr’18

Mar’18

Feb’18

0% Jan’18

The good news, Dynamos, is that even though it has been a really tough trading period over the last six months, PEP continues to gain market share in clothing, footwear and household items. This means that more and more customers choose to shop with us!

6 months moving CFH Sales Growths: PEP vs SA Retail

COMPANY NEWS

Strategic business partners honoured in Cape Town PEP honoured its strategic business partners at a gala dinner held at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town on 25 July.

International and local suppliers received trophies for making a real difference by delighting our remarkable customers every day with on-time deliveries of the right products at the right quality and price.

During the day the annual local supplier information session was also held, during which the Merchandise Buying managers gave feedback on the successes and areas of improvement for the various divisions.

Managing Director, Jaap Hamman, said during his speech that, for him, strategic partnerships start with meaningful relationships where the outcome and the end result is more than the single parts added together.

“The relationship between PEP and our suppliers is a true partnership. And it’s often a very long partnership that has lasted many years. It’s even more special if you look at what we were able to achieve as a result of our partnership. Thank you for holding our hands,

working with us, helping us, being our strategic partners, and for enabling PEP to achieve its purpose – to make it possible for everyone to look and feel good,” Jaap concluded.

Congratulations

PARCELS

TOP: PEP’s remarkable suppliers (business partners) at the supplier awards.

Over 1 million parcels sent since it launched in 2018!

SEPTEMBER 2019

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COMPANY NEWS

Dynamos on the move

Vanya & Ian

on International Leadership Development Programme The Wholesale and Retail SETA established the International Leadership Development Programme (ILDP) to increase the talent pipeline of highly promotable, historically disadvantaged leaders within the Wholesale and Retail Sector.

1

2 1. Thys Potgieter has been appointed as Logistics Manager for the Northern Division.

2. Cavelle Govender has been promoted from Divisional People Support Manager for the Northern Division to National People Support Manager for Sales.

The 2019 group, which includes National DC Manager, Vanya Jansen, and PEPcell Divisional Manager, Ian Reynolds, has been enrolled with Regenesys Business School in Gauteng. Students that attend this school walk away with not only great leadership and best practices exposure but also with a business degree. It started on 13 May this year and their final presentation is set for January 2020.

The programme consists of three block periods covering two modules each. The group will also visit Ghana in July 2019 for a work-study week and will also visit either the USA and India or Russia and China as part of an international exposure trip.

3. Vanya Jansen.

4. Ian Reynolds.

3

Great news from W&RSETA

4

PEP received R31 million for learnerships, bursaries as well as workplace experience and exposure for unemployed graduates from the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) which was established in 2000 in terms of the Skills Development Act. Good news for stores is that 320 new Dynamos will be employed shortly in stores. Another 106 graduates and interns will also be employed shortly.

This is a great achievement for the Skills Development team, which was only established in October last year under the leadership of Simone Pedro.

LEFT: The skills team consists of Simone Pedro, Jodie Bosch, Magbooba Jacobs, Chandre Beukes and Zahra Hanslo.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

COMPANY NEWS

Making a

Difference 1

1 - 3. Central Office Dynamos gave 67 minutes on Mandela Day by making 11 647 sandwiches for children in need in the Khayelitsha and Crossroads areas

2

4. Children from Crossroads and Khayelitsha receive their sandwiches.

5. Managing Director, Jaap Hamman, visited PEP’s future customers at Groenheuwel Primary and Van Wyksvlei Primary School in Paarl. The children were very excited to Hi5 Jaap.

5

3

6. PEP recently donated vouchers to 50 happy children of Shilo Community who have done all their shopping at their number one school shop, PEP Cape Gate store.

4

7. PEP assisted the Ama JukuJuku Women Empowerment organisation with blankets and personal care packs for the Durban flood victims. They were all grateful for the wonderful donations. Pictured here are Dynamos from the Eastern Division and recipients from the organisation.

8. PEP’s Central Office Adopted School Committee has adopted Webner Street Primary School for the year of 2019. The team held a successful career day exhibition with various speakers from the Cape Flats, sharing their stories with the grade se­ven group to prepare them for future career choices.

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7 8 SEPTEMBER 2019

9

Learners who were in a PEP Academy a few years ago had fun remembering what they liked – and what they didn’t like – about the PEP Academy.

Alumni give

PEP Academy the thumbs up!

PEP Academy first opened its doors to Grade 4 learners in 2008. The nine-year-olds who were in the first group are now 20-year-old adults that have left school and are making their way into the world. Some of our alumni have left school and others are now in higher grades at school. This year, we contacted some of them.

We asked, “All these years later, what impact has PEP Academy had on your life? Was it a worthwhile experience?” The alumni we spoke to felt proud to be associated with the PEP brand and asked that the PEP Academy continues, so that other children can also benefit as they move onto their high school years.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

In summary, the themes that came out of the survey echo those that emerged from the 2013 Khulisa evaluation.

Alumni remember PEP Academy fondly and said that it: • built their confidence • encouraged them to be more independent in their learning • helped them develop a positive attitude to learning • encouraged them to take on values that still serve them today • helped with their academic transition from Foundation Phase to Intermediate Phase • helped them develop confidence with speaking, reading and writing in English (the language of tuition from Grade 4 onwards)

COMAPNY NEWS

Telephonic interviews and group discussions were done with alumni – this is a taste of what they shared:

Ebuhleni celebrates 10 years of PEP Academy

Lauren Johnson, 19, Tygersig PEP Academy 2009, explained how her experience at PEP Academy helped her later in her school journey. “Sometimes I felt I wasn’t going to make it. The PEP teacher taught us never to be negative, because negative thoughts lead to negative results.”

ABOVE: This year, Ebuhleni Primary in Soweto celebrated 10 years of being a PEP Academy school. The principal and deputy principal of the school handed an award of appreciation to the PEP Dynamos that attended the celebratory function. Ebuhleni was one of five PEP Academies at the time, and today it is a flagship among the 23 Academies.

Nontsikelelo Nonkeleha, 19, Ebuhleni PEP Academy 2009: “I am now at university and have a much better selfunderstanding and can speak English better than before the Academy.”

Management Conference 2019

Quade Stevens, 19, Tygersig PEP Academy 2009. Quade works at a call centre. “It gave me that boost of energy and confidence that I always needed. I am not so boxed in when being interviewed for a job. I don’t doubt myself at all.”

“PEP Academy is all about having fun, but at the same time learning.”

“PEP Academy taught us a lot of things that our teachers didn’t teach us. Something like doing art, drama and all those things.

They taught us how to behave in front of audiences.”

Weaving together the threads of SA’s future

The PEP Academy team continued to weave the threads that bring confidence, independence and a positive attitude to learning to the more than 4000 learners registered at schools around the country this year.

They looked at how we continue to weave together even stronger academic content for the learners. And with all that weaving, they still found time for a night out, where they worked in teams to cook their own dinner.

ABOVE: PEP People Support Director, Anita Carollisen, and Academy Manager of Inxiweni (Tembisa, Gauteng) had very different views about how to prepare their dish, but nevertheless weaved together strands of cooperation and goodwill to contribute a passable dish to the buffet table!

SEPTEMBER 2019

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celebrations and e-volving at PEP PEP successfully switched over from Microsoft Office to G Suite and launched the Hi5 intranet. PEP is always e-volving – payslips and leave applications are now also available electronically via Sage. Dynamos dressed up in Google gear and celebrated the transformation.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

GOOGLE CELEBRATIONS

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Magic Moments These Dynamos demonstrate our values of honesty, passion and resourcefulness!

1

4

3

2

6 5

9 7

8 14

SEPTEMBER 2019

MAGIC MOMENTS

10 11

1. The cutest and tiniest customer with Dynamo Olga at 422 Clocolan.

12

2. 370 Villiers celebrates markdown madness promotions.

3. 152 Oudtshoorn.

4. 4880 PEPcell Vaalgate turns three.

5. 4979 Heidelberg celebrates the store’s first birthday.

6. 4911 PEPcell Lenasia.

13

7. 6763 Shoprite Kempton Park celebrate the store’s first birthday.

8. 6665 iNanda celebrate Youth Day. 9. Celebrating Heritage Day at 8673 Valhalla.

10. 4857 PEPcell Gillwell Mall, East London.

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11. 6488 Burgersfort.

12. 5648 Willowbrooke Delmas store opening.

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13. 5755 iLanga Mall store opening.

14. 6332 Maake Plaza dress up.

15. 5670 PEPhome Standerton celebrates the store’s third birthday.

16. 5757 Centurion Lifestyle store opening.

17. 4467 PEPcell Siyabuswa celebrates Easter.

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17 SEPTEMBER 2019

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Father’s & Mother’s Day

1

2

3

4

MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S DAY

5 6

8

7

1.

4258 Phalaborwa.

2.

5646 PEPhome Kriel.

3.

6125 Signet Terrace.

4.

5588 Jubilee.

5.

5604 Mall at Reds.

6.

5722 Gezina.

7.

4978 Balfour North.

8.

4791 PEPcell Cosmo City.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Sikhula KunYe Fridays

1

2

1. 4909 PEPcell Polokwane.

2. 6169 Palm Springs.

3. 4771 PEPcell Mkhado Game Centre.

4. 4556 PEPcell Tembisa Megamart.

5. 4880 PEPcell Vaalgate.

6. 6417 Goldfields Mall Welkom.

7. 4991 PEPcell Southgate.

8. 4883 PEPcell Northam.

9. Dynamos Dibuseng and Mpho.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

13 3

4

SIKHULA KUNYE ED’SFRIDAYS LETTER

5 6

7

9 8

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Spring Fashion Trends Spring is all about print, colour and denim...

1

3 4

2 1. Baby Girls Newborn to 18 Months Fashion bodyvest R49.99

20

SEPTEMBER 2019

2.Baby girls 0-24 Months, Character T-shirt R32.99 Denim fashion short R69.99, Peak R34.99 Character jelly sandal R44.99

3. Baby boys 0-24 months Character T-shirt R32.99 Character knit short R44.99, Character sandal R34.99 (Size 3-8)

4. Pre-girls Fashion vest R39.99 Skinny jeans R59.99 One colour flip flop R18.99

SPRING ED’STRENDS LETTER

6

5

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5. Pre-boys Denim shirt R89.99 Twill fashion short R59.99 Sandal R64.99

6. Boys Pocket T-shirt R49.99 Basic denim short R94.99 Sandal R59.99

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7. Girls Woven dress R99.99 Basic backstrap sandal R 49.99

8. Mens Printed vest R49.99 Swim shorts R79.99 Flip flop R22.99

9. Ladies Straw hat R44.99 Bangles R34.99 Top R59.99/ R69.99 Bottom R99.99 / R109.99 Sandal R69.99

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Home

September is a fun season with pastel colours, ice creams and rainbows. Look forward to baking with trendy, colourful items.

1 2 4

3 1.

Ombre bottles R14.99

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SEPTEMBER 2019

2.

Canisters R29.99

3.

Blessings set Dinner plate R19.99 Side plate R12.99 Bowl R12.99

4.

Ice cream glasses R10.99

HOME ED’STRENDS LETTER

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5

7 8 5.

Basting brush R16.99 Spatula R16.99 Salad serve set R24.99

6.

Mason jar R12.99

7.

Rainbow Set Dinner plate R15.99 Bowl R9.99 Mugs R7.49

8.

Mugs R11.99

SEPTEMBER 2019

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’ s l r i G & ’ s y Bo

s m o o r d e b

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Feelgood FM station manager

Neo visits stores

Neo recently hit the road from Cape Town to Kimberley on a Feelgood FM Reach Out trip. She spent a couple of days visiting stores in Kimberley, Barkly West, Daniëlskuil, Kathu, Kuruman, Postmasburg and Douglas. The Reach Out campaign gives the Dynamos an opportunity to be a part of FGFM. Listen out for Dynamo greetings from the Northern Cape area, welcoming the PEP customers and telling the world, “This is MY company, COUNT ME IN!”

1 2

3

1. Neo at the Big Ho le in Kimberl e 2. 489 Bark y ly 3. 469 Dan West iëlskuil 4. 4812 P EPcell Kuru man 5. 5682 P EPhome D ouglas

5 4

Pictured here are DJs Nthutuko, Monique, Lady Litsa, and programme manager, Benito.

Guess who visited FGFM recently?

Lady Litsa popped into FGFM studio with a brand new pop single titled “Take Me Back”. This is hot off the back of her previous Vodacom charttopping single “You Are The One”.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Why we PEP #I #I

“Sikhula KunYe is like a relay in athletics. It’s passed on to others who improve it and make a huge difference in the lives of Dynamos and our remarkable customers. Our directors interact with us, give Hi5s and show interest in our well-being. They teach us that you should practise what you preach.

Our training builds our characters, improves our skills, allows us to do introspection and lets us focus on the serious things that need to be addressed. I love my company because she cares about us. I call my company a she because she does what a mother would do for her children. My company always goes the extra mile for me. With PEP, I don’t just feel at home – I am at home. I embrace the values of my company because they are the three robust pillars that keep us still and unshakable.” ~ NONDUMISO OF PEP 4445

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SEPTEMBER 2019

PEP SIKHULAKUNYE

“I like PEP because I ha ve found a second home.

I don’t feel like I’m working, beca use PEP truly creates a fam ily environment where everyo ne is there for each other.

No t much is expected of me – just wa king up, putting a smile on my face, making my customers fee l appreciated and thanking them is enough to make PEP’s vis ion a reality.

From being a P27, coming to work three days a week , I got free training and became a permanent employee. I got further training and development and became a store mana ger. I am now training my team to be mighty trees. I love my cu lture and it’s my responsibility to ke ep it alive. The best thing about my job is that we get recognis ed for doing our jobs we ll, not by our leaders only, but also by our remarkable custome rs. This is my company, count me in! ” ~ ANTOINETTE MPH AKANE

P make PE o t s a e re id ed to sha w o ll Dynamos a s ll e a t e a r c a u d e “W Pe pply grow. PE en can a s r e d il lv h e c s r r u u s, o and o P rogramme P a is rough PE h n t U h k g c u a o r b th ive and we g t is full of s a h ie t r a P s r E u waP e for b rs us. Th njoy the K e e I w o . p s m ie e m rd ining Acade EP’s tra e standa h P t d d n n a a n lass informatio work for is world-c u ll o e y s n e e w h ise ly. W nt merchand constant s e v o developme r s p s im e in s e s u r o ns, b of the st lic relatio b hula u p in e r a once. Sik u o t y a , ll P a E t P men el develop n n o s r e p us!” and nd builds a s r e w o mp ESOTHO KunYe e UTHERN L NAGER: SO A LI, AREA M ~ NEO KOA

DYNAMOS WHO INSPIRE US

Interview with Kago “A week after resuming my role as GM, I came to my first Regional Convention,” said Kago.

“I was in shock about just how crazy people at PEP can be!

The singing, the dancing, the presentations – all of it was just amazing. The award ceremony, which resonates well with my perception of a caring company, was the most valuable activity of the day. The culture became real to me from then on.

His colleagues say that Kago treats everybody with dignity and respect and is respected by both Dynamos and the community at large. “Being a Dynamo is the easiest thing for Kago, as this is who he is and what he believes in,” says Divisional Manager Carina du Toit. “In his calm and collected way, he inspires the Dynamos he works with to make a difference and this is evident in the performance of Botswana and the team that reports to him.”

Kago Regoeng joined PEP in February 2017 and started off as Project Manager.

He became General Manager of PEP Botswana in October 2017.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Molepolole, Botswana. I moved to the city, Gaborone, to pursue my studies at the University of Botswana for seven years. Afterwards, I started working in various Government Ministries before I joined PEP. How do you define happiness?

The ability to love and to embrace being loved as well as to appreciate the journey that is life.

Who or what can’t you stand?

Negativity.

spaces that close me in – I too will bloom.” (Dikabo) Who is the love of your life?

Sarah, my lovely beautiful wife. We got blessed with three children: two girls and a boy (Betsho, Gae and Tema). We look forward to celebrating 10 years of marriage and love in May 2020.

Why is PEP special to you?

It brought newness to my life and taught me many things that I have not imagined.

I found a rich and resilient culture that seeks dignity and respect for everyone.

Who would you like to invite the most to a meal?

Three words to describe yourself

Family and close friends.

What is your biggest dream?

What would you serve them?

To see people around me (family, friends and colleagues) reach their peak potential.

A simple traditional Setswana dish.

What is your biggest indulgence?

Vanilla ice cream.

What is your favourite quote?

“I used to long and pray for open fields where I could grow uninhibited, where my roots could spread untamed until I saw flowers blooming in confined spaces and I knew even here; right here in

Happy, loyal and passionate.

The best advice you ever got My Uncle said to me “study hard!”

How do you manage stress?

Making music with my friends, playing around with creative musical ideas.

What are your biggest passions?

To be the best version of myself, making a difference in everything I do. I also enjoy singing and creating memorable music moments.

Where have you visited that you would like to return to?

Tbilisi, Georgia (former Soviet Republic).

The country has an interesting history and transformational plans.

The last word – teach us something!

Do not regret helping someone even if they let you down somehow. They are yet to discover themselves.

SEPTEMBER 2019

27

Awards

Long Service

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019 45 YEARS SERVICE

30 YEARS SERVICE

25 YEARS SERVICE Francois Venter

Southern Division

Elizabeth Sefuthi

Finance

Jeane Hayward

North West

Balokile Malele

Langeberg

Jessie Morajane

Springs

Sipho Shandu

Greytown

Ellen van Rooi

Ventersburg

Jane Masilela

North West

Mercy Phiri

Palapye

Jessie Mazibuko

Merchandise

Christina Sothoane Vereeniging

Princes Xolo

Izingolweni

Molta Sekatane

Emfuleni

Jairai Ramchuran Durban DC

Elizabeth Simataa Katima

Josephine Iiyambo

Southern Cross

Piet van Zyl

Belinah Mokalake Virginia

Natalie Paulse

Finance

Chrismar George

Atlantis

Masekoko Rammoko Marketing

Jackie Lombard

Merchandise

Sara Boonzaaier

Durban DC

Linus Thabethe

Isipingo

Louis Renier

Langeberg

Charles Arendse

Kuilsriver DC

40 YEARS SERVICE Southern Cross

35 YEARS SERVICE Alida Swanepoel

Southern Cross

Helen Mphaki

Bochum

Wynand Moller

Sales

Pardeep Kawlasir Durban DC

Kate Mwale

Emfuleni

Ndiafhi Dombo

Thohoyandou

Piet Taljaard

Marketing

Maria Shipena

Windhoek

Winstone Dickens

Port Shepstone

Idah Madise

Kasane

Poula Masilo

Welkom

Lebogang Machogo

Bloemfontein

Dolly Moodley

Durban

Ria Sekwati

Pretoria

Virginia Molatlhegi

Molepolole

25 YEARS

Tielman Nel Southern Division

20 YEARS

Jerry Ellappen Central Office

20 YEARS SERVICE John Edwards

Commercial

Christopher Bajiti

Indlovu

Polite Duha

Mahalapye

Wadikgafela Mohubidu Kanye

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Paul Buthelezi

Nongoma

Coley Mokome

Lynnwood

Nobungcwele Matshabane

Idutywa

Eunice Mwelase

Greytown

Mani Malindi

Vosloorus

Mpho Mphuthi

Phuthaditjhaba

Sbongile Ngwenya

Krugersdorp

Maria de Wee

Klawer

Regina Sekgala

Pretoria

Jabu Modjadji

Centurion

Maria Motaung

Frankfort

Lebogang Machogo

Bloemfontein

RETIREMENTS & IN MEMORIAM RETIREMENTS & INED’S MEMORIAM LETTER

[ IN MEMORIUM ]

We say goodbye to

Alice van Rooyen Alice van Rooyen, one of the founding members of PEP, passed away on 7 July at the age of 86. She was the wife of Renier van Rooyen, the pioneer who started PEP in 1965. Every year, a Dynamo receives the Alice van Rooyen trophy at the Senior Leadership Conference for exceptional performance. The trophy is regarded as the highest honour to be bestowed on a Dynamo.

She once said: “PEP is a part of me.

I worked in those first PEP stores, washing the floors and unpacking the boxes. Our family sacrificed a lot to make PEP successful. When I see what a difference PEP makes in the lives of thousands of people today, I feel proud.”

Managing director, Jaap Hamman, said, “Alice van Rooyen was a remarkable woman who had been an example to all the Dynamos who followed in her footsteps and still work as hard as she did in our stores to delight our customers.”

[ RETIREMENT ]

DANTÉ RETIRES AFTER 37 YEARS

Danté Rossouw Risk manager Danté Rossouw is retiring at the end of the month after a long and lustrous career at PEP. His journey with PEP started when he was left jobless after a retrenchment. His wife, Diekie, was pregnant with their third child when Danté received another rejection letter to an application for a position at PEP. He used his last R10 for petrol to come and see Danie Thiart and ask him why he was unsuccessful. Danie said it was because he thought that Danté would resign after he received his training.

Danté wrote on the back of an envelope that he promised he wouldn’t resign in his first five years – he started the following day and remained with PEP until now.

In his first 11 years, he travelled more than one million kilometres as area manager and stock controller. He moved 21 times in his first 23 years of marriage. Danté says he loves how PEP gives ordinary people the chance to be extraordinary. His advice to the Dynamos that he leaves behind is: “Make time for your family as well as for your career, and appreciate the Dynamos you work with – because they are the ones who make you look and feel good.”

Alice van Rooyen working in a PEP store.

SEPTEMBER 2019

29

Living positively

BY TONI ZIMMERMAN 082 926 3368 antoinettezimm@ gmail.com

Posi+ive On 26 October it will be 29 years since I heard about my HIV status. I still use

Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART/ known as ARV) and go for regular six-month checkups.

My Viral Load has been undetectable for 18 years and my CD4 count has been well over 1000 for the past eight years. I never imagined that I would have such a good life with this virus.

So why are the statistics in Southern Africa still bad and why are the numbers of new infections still rising?

An article from the Weekend Argus (19 June 2019) said that AIDS is the leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24 years in Africa. In South Africa, 19% of the global number is living with HIV, 15% are new infections and 11% are AIDS-related deaths.”

In the same article, an 18-year-old single mother said “experimenting” and lack of education led her to fall pregnant at the age of 14.

So how can I then say “Continuously Living with HOPE?” Because I see this as an opportunity for renewed education interventions.

PEPpermint “Know what your customer wants most, and what your company does best.

Focus on where those two meet.”

– KEVIN STIRTZ

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SEPTEMBER 2019

We have become complacent and comfortable with the roll-out of anti-retroviral medication and the media visibility became less. It is now time to stand up and talk openly again about sex and HIV education!

More about the benefits and impacts of ARVs and medications in the next edition of KwaPEP.

19%

of people with AIDS are

SOUTH AFRICAN

15% of these are

NEW INFEC­TIONS

11%

of deaths in SA are

AIDS-RELATED

COMPANY ED’S LETTER NEWS

Dynamos who

live the culture Antoinette Mphakane, Store Manager at 4957 Kaalfontein, PEPcell Imbewu, tells us more about herself.

Tell us about your career at PEP up to now.

I started working at PEPcell in 2015 as a P27 and became a permanent employee in the same year. I got promoted to Store Manager in December 2017.

Your biggest success so far?

Loving my work and having a positive team that I treat with dignity and respect.

I am able to grow in PEP. What is the biggest challenge in your job?

Dealing with robberies and consoling my team after an incident so that we can move on and do what we do best.

What makes you excited about PEP? Our culture and the warmth and love that we get from fellow Dynamos – it just excites and makes me feel at home.

Your role models in life and especially in PEP? My role model in life is my mom. She is always positive in life and is constantly reminding me that I should respect others. My role model in PEP is my Area Manager. She is confident and she sees the best in me, motivates me to never give up and to keep up the good work.

Any words of advice to Dynamos on career planning?

Always follow your dreams and do things that you are passionate about.

Remember to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

“Always follow your dreams and do things that you are passionate about.”

What do you do in your spare time?

I read novels and pursue my degree.

Tell us more about yourself.

I am married and have two children, a son and a daughter. I am a humble, talkative and friendly person who is always smiling.

What is your favourite food and drink?

I like rice and chicken stew and all the soft drinks especially cream soda flavour.

What is your motto in life?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

SEPTEMBER 2019

31

Share Your Magic

Competition

Congratulations to 5728 PEPhome Ermelo, who is celebrating their store’s first birthday. R600 is yours for sharing your magic.

PERFE T F O R YOC U H E R I TA R D AY B R AG E A I!

Mealie bread Makes 1 loaf INGREDIENTS • 1 can (410 g) cream-style sweetcorn • 2 eggs, beaten • 5 ml (1 t) salt • 60 ml (1/4 c) warm milk • 60 g margarine/butter, melted (measured into 2 bowls of 30 g each) • 350 g self-raising flour • 2 ml (½ t) paprika

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 170 °C. Grease a loaf tin and dust with flour. In a large bowl, mix the sweetcorn, eggs, salt, milk and 30 g melted margarine/butter.

2. Mix in the flour and paprika to form a dough.

3. Pour the dough into the prepared loaf tin.

4. Bake for about 45 minutes or until well risen and lightly browned.

5. Brush the top with the rest of the margarine/butter to keep it soft.

Tip: For a savoury loaf, substitute the corn with 125 ml (½ c) diced black olives and 125 ml (½ c) chopped onions.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

PEP Puzzle

Find the words (up, down, sideways, diagonal).

Letters may overlap in words.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

22. Home 23. Soap 24. Nrs 25. Beyourself 26. Costs 27. Shopping

15. FMCG 16. Till 17. Women 18. Markdowns 19. Evolve 20. Basket 21. Hi5

8. Good 9. Feelgoodfm 10. Lowest 11. Fun 12. Smile 13. Shoe 14. Babies

Risk SKU Boy Best Grow x 2 One more Look C

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VOLKANO LUNAR BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

299

99

VOLKANO PHONIC BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

349

99

2499 CONNEX L1470 32GB LAPTOP

GLADIATOR 8�INCH BLUETOOTH TROLLEY SPEAKER

499

99

BROWSE THE LATEST PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ON ORDER & COLLECT AT PEPSTORES.COM

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SEPTEMBER 2019