Plumblink 100years

contents

table of Publisher details PUBLISHER PRINT: Rory Macnamara | rory@interactmedia.co.za PUBLISHER ONLINE: Gary Macnamara | gary@interactmedia.co.za EDITOR: Leandi Cameron | editorial@interactmedia.co.za SUB EDITOR: Gary Potgieter | garyp@interactmedia.co.za OPERATIONS Creative Manager: Marike Groot | marike@interactmedia.co.za ADVERTISING SALES: sales@interactmedia.co.za Director: Dale Macnamara Sales Manager: Chantelle Marshall | chantelle@interactmedia.co.za HEAD OFFICE 13 A Riley Road, Bedfordview, 2008, South Africa Box 695, Edenvale, 1610, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 11 579 4940 | Fax: 00 27 0861 112 478 International: 00 27 (0)11 579 4940 E-mail: admin@interactmedia.co.za ACCOUNTS Financial Manager: RenĂŠ Oliver | rene@interactmedia.co.za Lynn Macnamara | lynn@interactmedia.co.za MANAGING DIRECTOR: Sean Macnamara, CA (SA) Plumbing Africa would like to acknowledge the contribution of Gareth Vermaak, Sales and marketing manager of Plumblink for his contribution and patience in compiling this commemorative issue.

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foreword: Seaweed McFarlane history: 1906 - 1956 history: 1957 - today

remembering the past: part 1 remembering the past: part 2 remembering the past: part 3 remembering the past: part 4 historical news clips historical adverts company listings Plumblink branches

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1

100 year anniversary

foreword

Seaweed McFarlane

Plumblink CEO

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8

compelling reasons why Plumblink is about to FLY

For the past 100 years, undergoing many changes and a variety of company names, Plumblink has finally come to maturity. The company has seen a substantial growth that has been unequalled by any other company. On our way forward, there are eight compelling measures that Plumblink will strive to stand by: Shareholders The support that Ethos showed

Plumblink during the tough period we went through following the walk-out, and the continued guidance and support we receive from Rod, our Chairperson and the Ethos team is in measurable. We know that through strong collaboration we will thrive turning our words into actions that count.

Exco team Any company would be proud to have a

team as strong and as dedicated as this. We, as a team, have been together for five years now. We still have huge debates about issues, but are all passionate about the company.

Structure and our people The company culture

has changed over the past few years. We endeavour to treat everyone fairly and with dignity – we pride ourselves on extending these values towards our suppliers.

100 year anniversary

Systems The introduction of K8 has brought a new

dimension to the business and has allowed us far better control of all aspects in the business. We have had the IT system for three years now, and we will continue with improvements to its applications.

Expansion of our footprint The express store

concept has been a revolution to this industry, but the understanding of this concept and the management thereof is the secret behind its success. We have opened eight such stores in the past two years with another four to be opened by December 2011 and another 12 before December 2012. This is a challenge for management, but that is what we thrive on.

Gaining customer confidence As was the case with our suppliers, the question on our customer’s lips three years ago, was “when will this company close”.

Well, things have changed, and we are seeing more and more old Plumblink customers visiting our stores. There is no doubt about it - they have regained confidence in us.

Stock The one issue that I am more and more ada-

mant about is that all stores will have 100 percent stock of all our P, A & B items every day. We aim to keep our total stock at no more than 30 days.

Measurement Plumblink now has a culture of

measuring each and every Key Performance indicator on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Any new initiative is closely monitored to measure its performance. In a nutshell, we are certain that with the help of our suppliers we will thrive in the future and go on to become bigger and better in order to fulfil every customer’s needs. The first 100 years is just a steppingstone towards an extraordinary future for Plumblink.

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100 year anniversary

4

100 year anniversary

history

1906 - 1956

30

years

The origins of Plumblink can be

traced back to 1906 when the family business H Incledon & Co was founded. It stood through two world wars and South Africa’s first democratic elections, to become a leading engineering supplies specialist. Early deliveries, made by bicycle through horse-drawn traffic on sweltering dusty roads in the bustling mining camp city of Johannesburg, bear testimony to the impressive level of personal service, which has become the cornerstone of the company’s success through the years.

Incledon’s story begins in England in 1906 with Mr. Herbert Incledon who saw a potential market for the

“Early deliveries, made by bicycle through horse-drawn traffic on sweltering dusty roads in the bustling mining camp city of Johannesburg, bear testimony to the impressive level of personal service, which has become 5 the cornerstone of the company’s success through the years.” supply of pipes, fittings and valves to the growing mining industry of the Witwatersrand.

After convincing his three older brothers to invest in his venture, Herbert bought as many consignments of pipe as he could afford, shipped them to Johannesburg and started trading as H Incledon & Co. By the end of the first year the fledgling company had shown a small profit and the mines soon began to depend on the quality of workmanship from Incledon. To meet the increased demand for steel pipe, the company acquired Lamberts of Walsall, UK, and soon began exporting steel pipes and fittings to South Africa.

Waud and Blackman, which later became a part of the Boumat group was established in 1911.

The Durban Branch of Incledon the business was opened in 1930 at 17 Hunter Street where it stayed for over half a century only moving to the present Plumblink premises in Riverside Road in 1985. During the Great Depression years, Gerald Incledon, Herbert’s son, took control of the newly established stock-point

in Durban, and surrounding himself with a team of enthusiasts, soon began expanding the branch.

The Durban branch is one of two Plumblinks, the other being Parow in the Cape, which are direct descendents of the original H Incledon & Co. This expansion fever reached the Johannesburg operation and was further fuelled by the news that Robert Blakeborough, the Yorkshire valve manufacturer, had entrusted Incledon with sole agency for his products in South Africa.

In 1937 the company became a member of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, of which it is still one of the longer serving members. World War ll, however, soon put a five-year halt on Incledon’s expansion drive with the majority of personnel joining up for active service and the workshops and factories being converted for munitions manufacture and war supplies.

After the war ended, people went back to regular work and life slowly returned to normal.

100 year anniversary

history

1906 - 1956

6

The origins of Plumblink can be traced back to 1906 ... It stood through two world wars and South Africa’s first democratic elections, to become a leading engineering supplies specialist.

100 year anniversary

In 1947

a Blakeborough-Incledon plant was established to manufacture valves and Incledon & Lamberts was formed as a holding company.

40

years

history

1906 - 1956

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“To our old friends and customers we extend our thanks for their support which has made this publication possible, and we trust that this will be a further bond in our business relationship” – Extract from the Foreword of W.R. Boustred catalogue.

100 year anniversary

history

1906 - 1956

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100 year anniversary

50

years

In 1951

the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange. At the same time, it was decided to put the company in the hands of a South African board of directors and a new company was formed - H Incledon & Co (South Africa). By the mid 1950s the company had become well established as a supplier to the engineering and building industries as well as public authorities.

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100 year anniversary

history

1957 - today

60

years

According to historical figures, the construction industry had a very strong boom phase in the early 1960’s, again in the late 60’s and early 1970’s.

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H Incledon & Co

was still involved in the engineering industry during this time. However, other things were happening in the plumbing industry that could not be ignored. According to historical figures, the construction industry had a very strong boom phase in the early 1960s, again in the late 60s and early 1970s. During this time, the international company Jacuzzi was established and the first whirlpool bathtubs and sanitary ware was created. The company advertised, “They are Jacuzzi, and everyone else’s are just hot tubs.”

The Jacuzzi brothers were prolific inventor, starting with aviation inventions, the Jacuzzi brothers moved into hydraulics, making great strides with the agricultural pump. In 1956 they invented a hydrotherapy pump for personal use. This pump, the J-300, was then sold to hospitals and schools.

In 1968, Roy Jacuzzi created the first whirlpool spa, which he called the Roman. The Roman was based on the hydrotherapeutic pumps of Roy’s parents and grandparents, integrating them seamlessly into a standalone unit.

The term ‘Hot Tub’ became popular in the late 1960s.

100 year anniversary

history

1957 - today

“Today, in its showrooms, W.R. Boustred Ltd. offer a vast and varied range of materials to satisfy the needs of the Building Industry ... the firm is in constant touch with modern trends in the building and allied trades, and is thereby enabled to make available to the Public the most up to date merchandise”

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– Extract from the Foreword of W.R. Boustred catalogue.

years

H Incledon & Co The Sanitary City team (now Plumblink in Midrand) in an earlier year

100 year anniversary

was acquired by Boumat Limited.

Gerhard Swanepoel started his career with the Boumat group subsidiary Conbild in 1978, where he was based in Strydom Park, Randburg. Graham Bennett also started his career with Boutmat Limited subsidiary, Plumbware Gauteng. He then joined another Boumat Limited subsidiary, Sanitas in George as financial manager.

He then moved to H Incledon & Co to serve as managing director.

history

1957 - today

“1986 saw Engineering News recognise H Incledon & Co as ‘Company of the Year’ on its 80th birthday”

80

13

years

In 1981

Colin Anderson started to work for Boumat Limited when it bought his hardware store in Vryheid. Andy Rayment started to work for Boumat Limited subsidiary, Blaikie Rand in 1983. Rayment left Blaikie Rand and worked for another Boumat Limited subsidiary, Lamika Plumbing. 1986 saw Engineering News recognise H Incledon & Co as ‘Company of the Year’ on its 80th birthday. During the 80s, Tony Thomas joined H Incledon & Co where he became the managing director. Anderson was tasked to manage a variety of smaller stores for Boumat Limited. He changed the names of all the stores to Builders Market.

He then became CEO of Builders Market where he served until 1999. During the 80s Grant Berold served with H Incledon & Co. During this time, Swanepoel also started Boumat Limited subsidiary Conbild West division in Krugersdorp. Conbild was able to service the Rustenburg mining area that was growing at a substantial rate. Swanepoel later moved to work for another Boumat Limited subsidiary, Britton and Boustred, where he was part of a team that worked on the sanitary and plumbing material supply for Sun City.

100 year anniversary

history

1957 - today

“The 1990’s was a difficult period for the building and construction industry”

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The 1990s was a difficult period for the

building and construction industry. Swanepoel started working as managing director for Boumat Limited’s plumbing holding company Plumbware Gauteng. In 1990, Swanepoel decided to change the name of Plumbware Gauteng to Plumblink, and for the first time, the market could see the true size of the company. In 1991, Johan van der Nest started his career with Boumat Limited and served as managing director for multiple of its subsidiaries, including H Incledon & Co, Samcor and then relocated to Durban Coastal Hardware where he served as managing director.

100 year anniversary

history

1957 - today

“European manufacturers re-entered the South African market and many of them supplied to the market through Plumblink. All of this, meant a lot of work for Plumblink ...”

90

15

years

His services was then required at another Boumat Limited subsidiary, Saffer, in the Western Cape. Finally, he moved to Plumblink. Lamika Plumbing also became a part of Plumblink. Waud and Blackman also formed part of Plumblink. At that time, Clarrie Middleton was the managing director of Waud and Blackman. The Waud and Blackman branch of Plumblink was involved in supplying plumbing and sanitary ware material to the Canal Walk shopping mall and the surrounding areas, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and Cape Town International Convention Centre.

In 1996, the Imperial group bought Boumat Limited.

The head office for Plumblink moved from Woodmead

and was also established in Midrand, Johannesburg. During the 90s, a new computer system was also established to link all the different branches.

The plumbing industry was experiencing a boom period after the Apartheid reigime was dissolved and new legislation passed meant new casino’s.

The banking industry also moved to Sandton.

European manufacturers re-entered the South African market and many of them supplied to the market through Plumblink. All of this, meant a lot of work for Plumblink, however, Anderson was retrenched during this time, and Builders Market was sold to Corpgro.

100 year anniversary

history

1957 - today

“The Plumblink brand is coming of age now.

It is not just a sticker; it is the thinking, ethics and procedures of the business�

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100

years

ANDERSON was asked to come back to head up Plumblink under the auspices of Louw Alberts. Boumat Limited was unbundling, and Anderson was asked to dissipate Plumblink. Many staff members were retrenched during this time and Anderson decided to buy Plumblink with the help of Investec, instead of closing it down. Anderson made a success out of Plumblink and served as CEO for six years. In 2006, Seaweed McFarlane took over the reigns as CEO of Plumblink. McFarlane started to open up a series of Plumblink express stores.

100 year anniversary

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100 year anniversary

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100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 1

Gerhard Swanepoel

Gerhard Swanepoel

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1978 – 1998

His beginning

I started my career with the Boumat group back in 1978 when I worked for Konbild in Strydom Park, Randburg. I was then appointed as a sales representative for two years. Thereafter I was promoted to sanitary ware manager. At that time, there was a lot of growth taking place in the company and we were in the middle of an acquisition by Boumat. The company wasn’t just involved in plumbing and sanitary ware, but Incledon was also a part of it, focusing on engineering.

His tasks I was responsible for making purchases, inventory control and sales. I priced every invoice that went through the books physically, as computers were not available back then. Every invoice had to be

made out six times – there was a copy for the customer, one for the warehouse, a delivery note and three more copies that were kept on the books to establish how the invoices were priced.

The start of ... During those times it was the start of the importation of wall and floor tiles, which came mainly from countries like Spain and Italy. Sanitary ware was committed differently in those days – we didn’t import anything, everything was locally produced at the manufacturers here in South Africa.

Things are done very differently today. The tiles were imported because local production of tiles was not up to par. There was insufficient technology available in the country to produce quality tiles.

“Sanitary ware was committed differently in those days – we didn’t import anything, everything was locally produced at the manufacturers here in South Africa”

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 1

Gerhard Swanepoel

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“The company was large and focused on contracts such as Lost City (Sun City) where we provided all the plumbing material for the project” Changing spaces After four years of working with the Konbild in Randburg, I left to start the Konbild West division in Krugersdorp. I managed the division under the supervision of Boumat. For the first time we were located in a geographical location where we were able to service the West Rand and the Rustenburg area that was beginning to grow. We were in easy range of the area. We did a lot of work in the Rustenburg area and were one of the main suppliers for the surrounding mining areas.

After another four years, I left Konbild and started working at Brittan and Boustred (1988). The company was large and focused on contracts such as Lost City (Sun City) where we provided all the plumbing material for the project.

The company was on the map

and we worked for two years completing the Lost City project.

100 year anniversary

Lost City challenges We faced a couple of challenges when we were working on the Lost City project. The amount of material and the speed at which we had to supply it, was quite a challenge. We didn’t have manufacturers that were able to supply the material in a quick and efficient manner.

It was a new kind of ‘job’ for everyone and it threw us for a loop when we realised the amount of supplies that were needed. It was one of the biggest projects of its time. The terrain changed quickly and supplies were needed faster than we normally would have needed them.

On return I left Brittan Boustred and started to work for the opposition, where I stayed for three years.

However, I returned to the group and became a managing director of Plumbware Gauteng. At that stage there were ten companies that were managed under the

remembering

the past

part 1

Gerhard Swanepoel

“In 1994 the Apartheid era came to an end. With a new President at the wheel, the country was very focused on political change”

wing of Plumbware in Johannesburg. Plumbware was the holding company of Boumat’s plumbing division.

Making changes

The biggest challenge we fac ed back then was that the companies that worked under one roof were competing against each other. We did not go about running the business very smartly. While I was at Plumbware, I decided to make a change to the company’s name and named it Plumblink in 1990.

For the first time the market could see the actual size of the group. We saved a lot of money, because our advertising could be simplified. This worked to our advantage as we were able to use one delivery fleet and we were also able to manage our supplies better because we were working together.

Success You could feel the success in the air. However, the underlying resistance towards name changes

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and teamwork remained a challenge to be met. It took a couple of months for everyone to realise that the changes worked in our favour and that they were positive.

Start of an era

In 1994 the Apartheid era came to an end. With a new President at the wheel, the country was very focused on political change. There were high expectations when it came to producing lowcost housing and questions were being asked regarding material supplies and the overwhelming need for large amounts of them. We prepared for a building boom that never happened. Manufacturers expanded their capacity and the market saw many new plumbers and imports filling the market space. It was actually very confused in terms of the products we had to have ready for supply, and suddenly the market was flooded.

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 1

Gerhard Swanepoel “South African’s were allowed to gamble for the first time and this opened up a whole new market for the industry.

It was a very exciting time. We were involved in the plumbing and sanitary ware supplies of Monte Casino and Emperors Palace”

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Photo by: Mica Chemello

100 year anniversary

In order to supply a market that was changing, we used our many years of experience and sent staff members overseas to find products that met the quality and standards required. We also spoke to many local manufacturers regarding locally produced products to ensure that the imports were quality checked.

A new banking industry

The first casino’s In 1995, not only was new low-cost housing on the cards, but the first casinos and large hotels were being built. The demographics changed, the homelands fell away and people moved across country to new areas. South African’s were allowed to gamble for the first time and this opened up a whole new market for the industry. It was a very exciting time. We were involved in the plumbing and sanitary ware supplies of Monte Casino and Emperors Palace. Legislation changed and there were more casinos popping up across the country’s landscape.

Grand West Casino had plenty of extensions made to it.

Business was good, companies expanded and low-cost housing was expanding exponentially.

The end of Boumat

The banking industry was moved to Sandton and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange also moved there from the CBD. New buildings were built all over the Sandton CBD area providing a lot of plumbing work for us. In 1998, I left the company to start my own company.

Boumat was bought out in 1996 by the Imperial group whose focus market was vehicles (Boumat was a part of Saficon). It had no interest in the building industry and they decided to break up the basic companies that fell under the Boumat group into smaller companies. The group went through a dip at this time.

Getting involved

During the time that the business was still independent, it was very involved in getting the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) up-and-running. It was one of our biggest achievements. Each branch had a membership to ensure that IOPSA becomes a well-run ship.

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100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 2

Colin Anderson

“I was a hardware general merchant. In a small town like Vryheid, there was no way to make a descent living with a plumbing-only company, so our agreement was to use the general merchant company to change those smaller companies into profitable companies”

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Colin Anderson 1981 – 2006

He Remembers

I worked with the group for quite some time. I started in 1981. Boumat bought my company at that time - I had a hardware store in Vryheid. When they bought my company, Boumat mainly focused on plumbing companies, however, I was a hardware general merchant. In a small town like Vryheid, there was no way to make a descent living with a plumbing-only company, so our agreement was to use the general merchant company to change those smaller companies into profitable companies.

Making Changes

I managed the hardware store in Vryheid, and the H Incledon & Co in Ladysmith, Klerksdorp and Ermelo, Coastal Hardware in Empangheni, Builders Market in Pietersburg and Brenner and Buchman in Pietersburg all reported to me.

I changed all of those companies’ names to Builders Market. I was the CEO of the company until 1999 and in total; Builders Market consisted out of fourteen businesses spread countrywide.

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 2

Colin Anderson

“From that day on, the company grew again ... and I was very confident in the company and wanted to list it on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange again”

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Coming Back

Builders Market was among the companies in the group that was sold to Corpgro and I was retrenched when Boumat began unbundling. The Boumat group asked me to come back to Plumblink under the leadership of Louw Alberts. When I joined them, they were selling off all non core businesses.

Imperial had bought Boumat and they then got rid of all non core businesses - Kwikot, Incledons, City Metal and Plumblink. Plumblink was the last to be sold.

Uncertain Times When Boumat started to be unbundled, everyone was waiting to be retrenched.

They were waiting to be called up and given their package. It was difficult, but I then took them out to a farm where we sat and chatted. Eventually, I started talking about a way forward and we started to clean the cupboard. We got rid of stock, had to make unfortunate retrenchments and started from scratch.

New Times After eighteen months I decided that I wanted to buy Plumblink. I couldn’t get any bank or financial institution that wanted to help

100 year anniversary

because of our past. Eventually, Johan Fourie, our auditor put me onto Investec. Investec and I decided to give all the management shares within the company to make them change their thinking and work together. From that day on, the company grew again.

We ended up making close to a billion rand turnover within three months. I knew we could do it, and I was very confident in the company and wanted to list it on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange again. I also undertook stopping companies withing the group from competing against each other and changed parts of the company that weren’t working well. We had to be under one umbrella and one vision to make the company work, and we did just that.

In Need of Rest I was on the road from the day I started with the Boumat group in the 80s. I usually left early in the morning and took the first plane out. But I eventually tired of this and I could see that Plumblink was on solid ground and had a good future that would be fine without me holding the reigns. My partners and I then sold Plumblink to Ethos.

remembering

the past

part 2

Colin Anderson

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“My greatest achievement is changing people’s thinking to work together for the company - to become the biggest and best plumbing supplier countrywide; to keep up with the latest trends in the world; and, to be able to serve the plumbing industry with whatever, whenever and wherever�

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 2

Colin Anderson

I was very proud of Plumblink. It, and every person that worked for the company meant the world to me - we worked together to make it a true success.

Fond Times

I was very proud of Plumblink. It, and every person that worked for the company meant the world to me - we worked together to make it a true success. We were a very happy crowd right until the end when I left.

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The Industry

During the years in which I worked with the group, we provided plumbing supplies to every large building from Pietersburg to Cape Town.

We were the biggest, and the company is still the biggest supplier in the country. We worked on contracts such as schools and apartment blocks.

We were the only supplier that knew what to do when it came to big projects. In the building industry, it is a very difficult to supply plumbing to large projects such as hospitals and schools. If you don’t know what you are doing, you are heading for problems.

Even when it comes to supplying for houses; if the plumbing is not done correctly, you will have big problems. Supplying the right material is very important, and it is very important to ensure you are leading the pack by sourcing new products worldwide and finding new technology.

Greatest Achievement

Plumbing is not the easiest business to be in. My greatest achievement is changing people’s thinking to work together for the

100 year anniversary

company - to become the biggest and best plumbing supplier countrywide; to keep up with the latest trends in the world; and, to be able to serve the plumbing industry with whatever, whenever and wherever. We had to know when to stock and destock and we needed to keep in touch with the manufacturers, because they play a big part in the business.

We had to produce a constant ‘on time’ delivery.

Our biggest problem was product knowledge. When clients ordered from us, it was phoned through to a person who, at that time, had no product knowledge and, therefore, it was essential to implement extensive product training.

Products constantly changed, and it was important to keep them up-to-date on the latest products. From a suppliers view, supplying on credit, was, also, a problem. Changes also occur within the sector and, it is was great, as long as it is was managed. To this philosophy, I was CEO of Plumblink for six wonderful years.

Best of Luck

I would like to congratulate Plumblink on reaching a wonderful milestone. Here’s to the next hundred years. I was very pleased that I was part of the structure that finally became Plumblink.

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100 year anniversary

30

100 year anniversary

remembering

Clarrie Middleton

the past

part 3

Clarrie Middleton

1995 - 2005

He recalls I was involved when the company I

worked was still known as Waud and Blackman. I was a part of the team that helped to build the name Plumblink. Waud and Blackman has been around since 1911, so it was quite a task to establish a new name on the market, because everyone knew the old name. To establish the name Plumblink as the new name of the company was quite a challenge.

He said I was managing director at the time when we

had a few branches in the Cape Town area. We consisted of different companies at first, after which they all consolidated.

He remembers I was head of the team that took

care of the consolidation and formed the regional office of Plumblink. All the other branches reported back to me.

A big achievement We supplied all the plumbing and sanitary ware material to the Canal Walk shopping mall, which included the residential complexes around the shopping mall as well. We were involved with the Victoria and Albert Waterfront and the Cape Town International Convention Centre. We also supplied the

sanitary ware and materials to the Sheraton Hotel opposite the convention centre.

Creating success Making Plumblink successful in the Western Cape was my greatest achievement. I found pleasure in seeing the company and the people that worked for it succeed.

Fond memories Plumblink and, even the compa-

nies that existed before it was established, was dedicated to being a ‘people’s company’ – it was part of the reason why we achieved so much in such a short time.

At that time During the time of trying to establish a successful company, we went through a couple of rough patches. We implemented a leadership team and a great managerial team. Being in the building and construction industry as well as managing debtors was most difficult during the 1990’s. However, one of our best achievements was building a top-notch management team.

The industry There was the main plumber, the

plumber that catered for the five to twenty houses, and

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the big plumbing groups that took care of the bigger contracts. The group had been involved in plumbing retail, which was open to the public. During this time, a couple of key players in the industry started the Institute of Plumbing South Africa.

It was gratifying to see that the work the plumbing industry was doing to ensure that plumbers were being accredited. There were many fly-by night companies in the early days.

The best thing At the stage when Middleton was managing director of Waud and Blackman, I had five branch managers, a financial director, operations manager and a warehouse manager reporting to me – then they started the amalgamation of the companies that were operating separately and centralised the management of stock in each of the branches. It was the best thing that could have happened to the company. All computers were linked which made it easier to operate across all the different branches.

Well wishes I wish Plumblink continued success and best wishes to all the management and employees of the company.

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 3

Tony Thomas

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Tony Thomas 1982 – 1998

He says I joined the group in 1982 and was managing director of many different companies in the group of companies. At that time, Incledons, or Plumblink as it is known today, was an opposition company in the group of companies. I retired in 1997 and was asked to come back in 1998 to sort out the problems created locally with the collapse of the national company.

That was the first time I worked in Incledons, now known as Plumblink.

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 3

Graham Bennett

Graham Bennett

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1987 – 2006

Starting point I worked at Plumblink’s George and

Parow branches. then I joined Sanitas, George, as financial manager for George and Plettenberg Bay. After that I was financial manager for Incledon, Cape Town. I then returned to George as managing director, before the restructuring of the group. I was based in George from 1980 to 1986 then Cape Town from 1987 to 1990 and then back to George from 1991 to September 2006.

Greatest achievement My greatest achieve-

ment was returning to George and building, in my opinion, the best team in the group. The company was the dominant force in the plumbing and sanitary ware markets and used its muscle to uphold the standards in the industry.

On my return to George and with a new team, we went from zero to become the best performing branch in the group in a few years and remained a top per-

former for a long period of time; our only opposition then being Lansdowne.

The industry The labour market in the

Southern Cape for technical staff was nonexistent and every competitor was trying to poach my staff that were renowned for their expertise.

The industry was always extremely competitive, opposition was good, almost all products in the market place were SABS or Jaswic approved and most players were fairly ethical. The biggest shift in later years was the dropping of standards with unscrupulous merchants who imported cheap products trying to enter the market with no regard for quality.

“. . . My greatest achievement was returning to George and building, in my opinion, the best team in the group. . .”

Wishes As the market continues to change at a rapid pace, keep ahead of it and the opposition. Be innovative and grow your staff as you grow, never dropping your standards of excellence.

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 3

Grant Berold

34

did European manufacturers re-enter the country and many of them used the Plumblink branches to launch their goods.

Grant Berold

1989 – 2000

He remembers Plumblink is the amalgamation of

former Boumat companies. The two dominant plumbing supply companies in the Cape in the last two decades were Waud and Blackman and Incledon Sanitary ware, which were based in Parow. I was managing director of Incledon from 1989 to 2000.

Fond memories Plumblink was the first company to advertise showroom ware in full-page adverts and to actively promote the bathroom as a lifestyle extension of the home. The logo, at the time was a pink elephant

100 year anniversary

and this became associated with bathrooms. At one promotion we even had live circus elephants for the kids to feed!

Trending One of the first hotels we supplied was the

old Cape Sun in Strand Street. The bathroom suites were specially made in a brown colour. At that time, colour suites were the trend. With the closed economy to Europe, the ‘Plumblink team’ still visited the shows in Europe to bring back trends. These trends usually took a few years to bring to market. Only in about 1999

New structures Over the years, the group was

loosely structured with all branches named differently and all were run with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

These personalities included Richard Evered, Johan Smuts and Keith Lockett. When I left the leaders were Owen Barron, Sean Webster and Marius Kruger.

The industry The plumbing industry was a

personalised one at that time, and this has been carried on by the Plumblink of today. Service was on a one-to-one basis and both customer and supplier were committed to the quality of the industry. Sadly, this has diminished over the years with cheap imports and rogue plumbers, but Plumblink have always stuck to quality products and supported quality plumbers.

Well wishes I wish Plumblink everything of the best

for the years ahead. I am proud to have been involved at senior-level with the group for over ten years and to have seen it grow rapidly while still sticking to good oldfashioned values.

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100 year anniversary

36

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 4

Andy Rayment

Andy Rayment

37

1983 - 2011

He remembers

I started with one of the subsidiaries Blaikie Rand in 1983 as a stalls assistant. Helped out in the store and assisted with collections until I progressed to manager. However, I decided to become a sales representative, which took me out on the road.

I left Blaikie Rand when Lamika Plumbing was formed, but the Boumat group brought the company back into the stable until we eventually became Plumblink. As a sales representative at Lamika Plumbing, I focused on tendering and contracts.

The start of Plumblink

The company became a part of Plumblink in 1995 when they formed a bigger company where all the different branches (companies) were pulled together into one big organisation. Things changed so fast and suddenly it became a monster of a company concentrated in one big building. However, this lasted a short while, and then the business broke up into different areas in different places. The concept of one centralised depot never

worked. Everyone wanted a shop where they could go in and get what they wanted. They didn’t want to wait.

Service was the most important thing.

way of management who formed opposition companies. We are getting on top of things again. He is a tough, but fair CEO.

Closer to the customer

Appreciating management

Biggest challenge During the last couple of years, reopening the different branches was the biggest change that made a lot of difference to the company.

Otherwise, it was business as usual. We were still winning big contracts, tendering and creating a closer relationship with the customers.

During the last couple of years, after Colin Anderson left the company, we went through a tough time and Seaweed McFarlane pulled us through a major breaka-

Well wishes I hope that Plumblink will succeed for another fantastic 100 years; going from strength to strength. The company has put together a strong team and I wish them well. I am sure they will have only the best in the foreseeable future.

It made sense that we were closer to the customers so they could get their products quicker. I moved back to Benrose under Plumblink. The various company names fell away and we were all run under one umbrella as Plumblink, but with different branches. I stayed there for a year and then I moved to the Midrand Head Office.

Since Seaweed McFarlane took over, the wheels have been turning and everything is centralised onto one system . Now we can track what is going in and out of the supplies. We have new computer systems that make life a lot easier. As procedures are defined more clearly. Before, we never knew what was going on, but now we do. I have had very happy years with the company.

Andy Rayment retired in December 2011.

100 year anniversary

remembering

the past

part 4

Johan van der Nest

38

“What the company has done by creating the express stores is a great step in taking the business to the customers”

My career at Plumblink

I started at the Boumat group in 1991 and stayed there for approximately 12 years. During my time there, I was the managing director for a number of companies within the group.

I began at the golf fields in Welkom as managing director of Incledon and Samcor and played a role in the consolidation of the two entities. I was then relocated to Durban Coastal Hardware where I was the managing director for five years.

My service was then required at Saffer in the Western Cape, where he was the managing director for some time. Finally, I was appointed as managing director of Plumblink Parow and Belville.

Challenges identified

When the company was operating under the Boumat group there were many challenges that the individual entities faced. It was impossible to get suppliers to treat the merchants as a group. As a result, suppliers negotiated different prices with individual merchants within the group. Before sup-

100 year anniversary

Johan van der Nest 1991 - 2003

pliers dictated to merchants, but today, there is a more focused structure making business more profitable.

Biggest achievement The biggest achievement of the company as a whole during my time was the change from independent branches into the single business unit - Plumblink.

This was the time when the company became a real group, transcending into a brand and becoming the dominant merchant in South Africa.

The plumbing industry has always been a challenging industry, but in the past we had more fun. This has changed - today there are so many doors for imports into the country making competition severe.

Influential leaders One of the most influential leaders steering Plumblink’s direction of growth during my time was retired CEO Collin Anderson.

He drove the change to the Plumblink brand. Anderson is somebody you can look up to and admire - an icon and mentor.

Staying on top

Plumblink Express Stores are one of the company’s smartest and most innovative business strategies. What the company has done by creating the express stores is a great step in taking the business to the customers. The company has made it easier for the plumber to obtain the products they need by filling the gaps that the main branches left behind.

Well Wishes

I want to say well done to Plumblink on 100 years of service to our industry. I believe the company is on the right track with taking its business to the customers. My time at the company was a massive learning curve and a great honour. I am pleased that even in current position as managing director of Saffer Gauteng I find myself with the pleasure of doing business with you. I wish the company all the best and every success in the future.

39

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100 year anniversary

company

listings Apex Valves

012 664 0588 / 012 664 1813 086 672 5194 sales@apexvalves.co.za www.apexvalves.co.za

Cobra Watertech

011 951 5000 011 955 4047 marketing@cobrawatertech.co.za www.cobra.co.za

Dutton Plastics Engineering 011 617 5000 011 864 1585 doug@dutton.co.za www.duttonplastics.com

Fourways Airconditioning Alliance Heat Pumps 0860 726 247 / 011 704 6340 sales@fourwaysaircon.co.za www.allianceair.co.za

Comap Aqua-Touch (Pty) Ltd

Franke Kitchen Systems

Copper Tubing Africa (Pty) Ltd

Geberit Southern Africa

DPI Plastics (Pty) Ltd

Grundfos (Pty) Ltd

011 462 4504 011 462 4009 sales@comap.co.za www.comap-aquatouch.co.za

011 615 7193 011 622 2584 info@cta.co.za www.coppertubing.co.za

011 345 560 011 345 5780 info@dpiplastics.co.za www.dpiplastics.co.za

53

0861 372 653 031 450 6302 enquiry.fsa@franke.com www.franke.co.za

011 444 5070 011 444 5992 sales.za@geberit.com www.geberit.co.za

011 579 4800 086 664 9600 info_za@grundfos.com www.grundfos.com

100 year anniversary

company

listings

Henkel SA (Pty) Ltd

011 617 2400 011 864 7888 Toll free No: 080 013 8181 www.henkel.com

54

011 739 8600 011 739 8697 marketing@marleyps.co.za www.marleypipesystems.co.za

ISM Inter SA t/a Gio Plumbing

Richards & Barlow

Isca (Pty) LTD

Rothenberger Tools SA (Pty) Ltd

011 392 3913 011 392 4631 vince@giobella.com www.giobella.com

011 882 9100 011 882 8321 info@isca.co.za www.isca.co.za

Lecico SA

021 931 4808 021 931 5697 info@lecicosa.co.za www.lecicosa.co.za

Maksal Tubes (Pty) LTD 011 813 1240 011 817 1865 maksaltubes@mweb.co.za www.maksal.com

100 year anniversary

Marley Pipe Systems (Pty) Ltd

011 864 3150 011 864 3153 katya@durowin.com www.comoali.co.za

011 372 9631 011 372 9632 info@rothenberger.co.za www.rothenberger.com

Ruwag (Pty) Ltd

011 498 0800 michaelfellendorf@ruwag.co.za www.ruwag.co.za

Smart Taps (Pty) Ltd 021 931 7593 021 931 0978 mike@smarttaps.co.za www.smarttaps.co.za

company

listings

55 Swan Plastics cc

031 912 1607 031 912 1999 sales 031 912 1821 office swanplastics@dbnmail.co.za

Upfront Agencies (Pty) Ltd 041 453 5411 041 453 7260 rodney@upfrontagencies.co.za www.macneil.co.za

Vaal Sanitaryware

016 360 6000 016 362 1167 vaalsan@dawnltd.co.za www.vaalsan.co.za

Thomson Bros Trading 041 364 0844 041 364 0674 sales@tbtsa.com www.tbtsa.com

Walker Crosweller (Pty) LTD

Speedfit Africa

Wirquin SA

031 569 3073 031 569 3074 info@speedfitafrica.co.za www.speedfitafrica.co.za

011 793 1031 011 793 1092 walcro@iafrica.com www.walcro.co.za

042 243 6000 042 243 0543 adler.teubes@wirquin.co.za www.wirquin.com

100 year anniversary

plumblink branches

PLUMBLINK TELEPHONE LIST - OCTOBER 2011

56

BRANCH

TEL NO

FAX NO

DESIGNATION

NAME

MOBILE

EMAIL ADDRESS

MIDRAND Morkels Close, Allandale Park

011 690 2800 011 315 5920

011 805 7754

REGIONAL MANAGER BRANCH MANAGER

Brendan Reynolds Jarques Bezuidenhout

082 456 0065 082 396 9144

brendanr@plumblink.co.za jbezuidenhout@plumblink.co.za

PRETORIA, GEZINA 563 Voortrekker Street, Pretoria

012 404 0200

012 335 5038

BRANCH MANAGER

Manie Potgieter

082 052 7010

manniep@wplumblink.co.za

PRETORIA, FAERIE GLEN Atterbury Value Mart Shopping Centre, Atterbury Road

012 991 3565

012 991 3422 012 991 8993

BRANCH MANAGER

Jaques Bredenkamp

083 610 1582

jbredenkamp@plumblink.co.za

PRETORIA, CENTURION Simarlo Rainbow Park Cnr Jacaranda & Edwards Str Hennops Park, Centurion

012 653 0748

012 653 0752

BRANCH MANAGER

Arthur Heyns

072 678 2942

aheyns@plumblink.co.za

JHB, ISANDO 4 Tungsten Road, Isando

011 392 1216

011 974 5925

BRANCH MANAGER

Brian Derrett

082 413 6603

briand@plumblink.co.za

JHB, BOKSBURG 9B Cynthia Road cnr North Rand Road Opp: East Rand Mall

011 823 4151

011 823 4650

STORE MANAGER

Lee-Jay Bracey

083 387 2854

lbracey@plumblink.co.za

JHB, SANDTON 2B Kramer Road, Kramerville

011 444 9150

011 444 9127

BRANCH MANAGER

Attie Henning

082 519 9828

ahenning@plumblink.co.za

JHB, RANDBURG 155 Republic Road, Fontainbleau City Centre

011 793 1017

011 792 7185

BRANCH MANAGER

Trudy Liebenberg

082 571 5793

tliebenberg@plumblink.co.za

JHB, BENROSE 12 Bridget Road, Off Reuven Rd

011 624 1166

011 614 1056

BRANCH MANAGER

Paul Pensalfine

082 821 1322

paulp@plumblink.co.za

POLOKWANE 40 Nikkel Street, Superbia

015 292 1604

015 292 6220

BRANCH MANAGER

Deon Strauss

072 512 3033

dstrauss@plumblink.co.za

RUSTENBURG Shop 3, 1ste Avenue Waterval, Rustenburg

087 941 0005

BRANCH MANAGER

Franco Forte

072 582 7795

fforte@plumblink.co.za

CARNIVAL, BRAKPAN Mall @ Carnival c/o Airport & Heidelberg Road, Dalpark, Brakpan 1541

010 590 3323

BRANCH MANAGER

Brian Derrett

082 413 6603

briand@plumblink.co.za

WIRLO PARK,ROODEPOORT Shop no1, Tommy Martin Centre, cnr CR Swart and Ontdekkers Roads

010 590 3324

BRANCH MANAGER

Mark Bissett

084 526 3113

mbissett@plumblink.co.za

CT, LANSDOWNE 11 Blomvlei Road, Lansdowne

021 799 4400

REGIONAL MANAGER BRANCH MANAGER

Yagan Nair George Wolfaardt

082 561 3529 083 648 7308

ynair@plumblink.co.za gwolfaardt@plumblink.co.za

100 year anniversary

086 658 5099

021 761 3398

CT (MITCHELS PLAIN) Shop C4, Liberty Promenade Mall cnr AZ Berman & Morgenster Road (Next to Supa Quick)

021 376 0112

021 376 0114

BRANCH MANAGER

Joe Abrahams

083 599 2912

jabrahams@plumblink.co.za

CT (EXPRESS STORE) Unit no.3 Quayside Bld Prestwich cnr, Buitengracht, Cape Town

021 425 4930

021 425 1758

BRANCH MANAGER

Colin Hector

083 287 7836

chector@plumblink.co.za

CT (TOKAI EXPRESS) Block 1, Shop 3B, South Palms 333 Main Road, Retreat

0860 758 625

CT (PAROW) Cnr Starck & Socony Streets

021 590 9060

021 591 9190

BRANCH MANAGER

Gerhard Dupreez

072 223 5641

gerhardd@plumblink.co.za

CT (BELLVILLE) 24 Victoria Road

021 948 8844

021 948 8898

BRANCH MANAGER

Pierre Hare

CT (SOMERSET WEST) 5 Noble Road, The Interchange,Somerset West

021 853 7113

021 853 2214

BRANCH MANAGER

Ryan Chandler

082 782 4976

rchandler@plumblink.co.za

CT (MILNERTON) Marconi Centre, Koeberg Road

021 551 3351

021 551 3573

BRANCH MANAGER

Riaan Knoetze

083 412 3772

rknoetze@plumblink.co.za

GEORGE Commercial Close

044 871 1730

044 871 2682

BRANCH MANAGER

Jacques Bruwer

083 381 4901

jbruwer@plumblink.co.za

DURBAN (RIVERSIDE) 590 Riverside Road, Durban North

031 579 9600

031 579 4566

REGIONAL BRANCH MANAGER

Peter Wilson

083 661 4060

peterw@plumblink.co.za

DURBAN (BALLITO) Unit 2, Level 10.Tile Africa Building, Moffat Drive

032 946 1555 032 946 1844

032 946 1995

BRANCH MANAGER

Vis Chetty

DURBAN SOUTH 248 Edwin Swales Drive, Rossburg

031 465 6770

031 465 8864

BRANCH MANAGER

Ram Ramlakan

084 301 5779

rramlakan@plumblink.co.za

HILLCREST 63 Old Main Road

031 765 7286

031 765 6983

BRANCH MANAGER

Alan Pillay

083 655 3140

apillay@plumblink.co.za

TOTI Arbour Crossing, Shop L07 2 Oppenheimer Road, Umbogintwini

031 904 5463

BRANCH MANAGER

Greg Wiblin

EAST LONDON 8A Dyer Street, Arcadia

043 722 2531

043 743 4869

REGIONAL BRANCH MANAGER

Nick Craddock

MTHATHA Vulindlela Heights, Errol Spring Drive

047 532 2175

047 531 1419

BRANCH MANAGER

Lionel Field

lfield@plumblink.co.za

PE (LORRAINE) 9 Willow Rd, Cnr Lily Rd, Willow Industrial Park

041 368 8164

041 368 2784

BRANCH MANAGER

Jennifer Hayes

jhayes@plumblink.co.za

PE (SIDWELL) 28 Haupt Street

041 451 0689

041 451 0522

BRANCH MANAGER

Niall Dekker

BRANCH MANAGER

phare@plumblink.co.za

gwiblin@plumblink.co.za

076 860 7441

082 777 0888

ncraddock@plumblink.co.za

nialld@plumblink.co.za

branches

vchetty@plumblink.co.za

plumblink

PE (WALMER)

BRANCH MANAGER