Welcome home

MESSAGE Family FROM THE 42 YEARS ON, THE HIRSCH’S ARE STILL GOING STRONG AND BUILDING A CLEAR VISION FOR THE FUTURE

 ALLAN At the beginning of 2020 we had a clear vision. Or so we thought. We had great plans for the year and it was going to be an exciting time for Hirsch’s – changing from operating as a Trust to a PTY Ltd. Hirsch’s was 41 years old, we were growing up and planning for a future with our new management team and new directors, and then wham, we were hit with a hammer in the form of Covid-19.

The amazing thing was, once we had picked ourselves up off the floor, we started planning and preparing and were very fortunate. People were staying at home and wanted the products we were selling. 2020 turned out to be a booming year for us, and I am so grateful to our team members who worked with us. We had members of staff working from home to keep safe, customers supported us, and the new management team at Hirsch’s showed us that even through times of great difficulty we could make a plan, implement it and grow.  MARGARET Over the years my passion has always been empowering women and entrepreneurs to be the best they can be. I help them to start their businesses, upscale, and take them to new heights. With the advent of Covid-19 in 2020 all this had to go online because we couldn’t get together.

Zoom and networking virtually presented us with a whole new world. We could network with people from around the country, and even internationally. It was just amazing. This year we have upscaled our virtual meetings with over 100 people attending on a regular basis. Women in business and entrepreneurs still need to do business and communicate with each other, and most importantly, we all love to discuss things and need someone to listen to us.

At all our meetings we are committed to having the best possible speakers, and it is my wish that all the businesswomen and entrepreneurs in this country can get together as one cohesive force to take their businesses and this country to new heights.

I have regular coffee chats and online goal-setting workshops as well as the usual women in business and cooking demonstrations. I have had wonderful feedback from people who had virtually given up during the pandemic. They have been encouraged to turn the corner and step into the light – it is always there just waiting to be found.

If you are a woman in business, or an entrepreneur, please feel free to contact me any time – just email margaret@ hirschs.co.za – and I will come back to you as soon as I get a gap. Just know it will all be fine in the end, and if it’s not fine, it’s not the end yet!

 LUCI We have all seen that meme, “When asked where you saw yourself in five years’ time, bet none of you thought this. Thanks 2020!” While this might be true, 2020 was anything but predictable. Most of our lives went from 180 miles an hour to a grinding halt, only to start up again in the slow lane. But we all have to admit, it did bring some good with the bad.

If you compare certain aspects of your life with your day-to-day living in April 2020 and then fast forward to your average day in April 2021, there really has been some massive growth. Online shopping, for instance, whether it be for appliances, food, clothes or basic office essentials, has grown tremendously.

Many South Africans were previously unsure about shopping online, but given the pandemic that faced us, we had to get clicking! Our clicks were met by retailers who went above and beyond to deliver, and user friendly apps which allow easy product selection and driver tracking, make online shopping a breeze. So no real reason to go back to trolley pushing and packet carrying.

Appliances have always been a necessary part of all homes, but lockdown placed a greater value on them as more time has been spent with families enjoying the home and all it has to offer. Many families decided to upgrade their kitchens, extend lounges and finally create that “man cave” they had been dreaming of. Technology allows us to share product information in many forms – online videos, 3D pictures and virtual tours are possible. All this made the online selection of products a breeze. Now if we could just find a way to virtually get our bodies to the gym!

 RICHARD We celebrate 42 years in business in 2021, and it’s great to look back to see how far we have come, and to thank all our wonderful clients for their support over the years. When my Dad started the business in 1979, we only did appliance repairs, but over time have evolved to carrying an enormous range of appliances, lounge suites, bar stools, TVs and TV stands, which are on display in our stores around the country.

We have been evolving to keep up with what our clients have asked us for, and one such product is good quality, well-made furniture. We support local manufacturers with 90% of our lounge suites being manufactured in our hometown of Durban. When next you pop into any Hirsch’s shop, please try out our super comfortable locally made lounge suites. Whether it is full leather or fabric, we have a large range of wellpriced furniture, with most of it available for quick delivery from our warehouses.

Another category that goes hand in hand with the beautiful appliances we sell is our bakeware and cookware. Look out for our Jamie Oliver pot sets, Zwilling knives, Mason Cash mixing bowls, Progressive lemon squeezers or Oxo spatulas. And if you’re looking for that perfect gadget or unique wedding gift – look no further than Hirsch’s.

When Hirsch’s first started out we were called Hirsch’s Electrical Repairs which then evolved to Hirsch’s Appliance Specialists. In 2001 we evolved once again to Hirsch’s Home Stores – so much more than just an appliance shop. H