THE WINNER IS ...

Hirsch's
Hirsch's has built a solid reputation by being associated with big brands, giving good service and carrying a wide range of products for the home, as well as supporting the communities the stores operate in.

A Solid Reputation

Allan and Margaret Hirsch started their family run appliance business in a tiny showroom in Umhlanga Rocks Drive, Durban in 1979.  Today Hirsch's has grown into a chain of mega appliance and home furnishing stores in KwaZuluNatal, the Cape and Gauteng. Their strength, they believe, is in their well trained staff, and customer service.

The Hirsch's started off small, building a strong base of customers over the years, first with repairs and second-hand repaired appliances and then into a fully fledged appliance retailer. Hirsch's is very much a family run business with all four members of the Hirsch family involved in day to day operations.

In KZN in 2000, they started their Home Store concept, where almost everything for the home can be purchased under one roof. This proved to be a great success and two years later, in 2002, they took the concept to Gauteng. In April 2012 they opened their first branch in Cape Town (Milnerton) and their goal is to expand the brand further into South Africa, the rest of Africa - and overseas.

Over the past 37 years their entrepreneurial spirit has also helped drive the growth of the business. Margaret said, "I always say to people "If you knew that you were going to succeed, will you try it?" and they always say 'Yes'. Don't let anything hold you back from trying new things in your life."

Margaret is integrally involved with all aspects of Hirsch's operations and visits each store regularly. Every week she spends two nights in KwaZulu-Natal, two in Gauteng, and two in Cape Town. Her hands-on approach is apparent in that Margaret does not have an office in any of the branches. She sits at a desk on the shop floor and helps deal with everything from staff recruitment to customer complaints and queries on a daily basis.

As a family, the Hirsch's form a formidable force supported by their management team who have a strong commitment to the same goals. They are backed by 800 permanent employees who are as dedicated to the company as the Hirsch's and their management team are. The Hirsch family does not take anything for granted and are regularly involved in various charities and sponsorships.  Their giving nature ensures that they constantly support the less fortunate and they are always willing to help those in need.  Allan, for instance, is a patron of the Phoenix Child Welfare society and Richard is a patron of the Claire-Ellis School. Margaret is involved with the School for the Blind in Gauteng.