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KZN - SMILES DESPITE A VERY TOUGH YEAR
Not sure if it is the fresh air blowing in from the ocean or just pure resilience – but a group of industry members we met in Durban are all in a positive mind set.
SHOP-SA COO, Hanlie Delport, visited KZN recently and met up with some of the previous regional committee members. Apart from reminiscing about years gone by, they also shared stories of how the floods, riots and COVID-19 impacted on their businesses. It is evident that recovery is still in progress, but great strides have been made in this regard.
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The group also indicated that they were keen to get the regional committee of SHOP-SA back on its feet and want to start hosting events again for the industry in 2023. The purpose of these events will be to socialise and network, also to exchange information, to mentor smaller businesses on their journeys and to strengthen the bond between the stationers and suppliers.
The general feeling is that training is needed, and SHOP-SA is committed to set up opportunities for training in 2023. A trade show, where everyone can meet up and see the latest products that suppliers have to offer, is a great concept – but we need to be cognisant that many businesses in this industry are retailers and they want to connect with the enduser.
It was truly amazing to see that the old committee registers were all still intact –indeed an important part of the history of this Association.
We hope that SHOP-SA will be able to be present again in February when the KZN crowd get together for what they do best: having fun while talking about this industry we all are so passionate about! �
From left to right: Terence Govender (National Sales: Interstat Stationery), Kevin Stanley (Owner: Stanley’s Stationers), Anthony Moodley (Owner: UniCopy), Lana Klein (Branch Manager: Kolok Durban), Hanlie Delport (SHOP-SA), Lynne Acklom (Branch Manager: Rexel Durban), Richard Naidoo (Owner: Eagle Office National), Pinky Moodley (GM: Performance Office Supplies) and Baron Combrinck (GM; Interstat Stationery).
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