HIRSCH'S SILVERLAKES
Hirsch's have opened their new flagship store at Silverlakes, Pretoria on October 24. Their massive 3000 square meter store also boasts a 1500 square meter warehouse.
This family run home appliance, home furnishing, electronics and air conditioning retailer - have watched their company grow from a R900 business in a tiny showroom in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban, to a mega appliance store that turned over R1 billion in 2012. They now have 11 branches, 4 concept stores and a separate air conditioning repair business. Branches are spread throughout Gauteng, Cape Town and KZN and Hirsch's are the biggest independently owned appliance retailer in Southern Africa.

The Hirsch's started their appliance and electronics business in 1979 with Allan Hirsch, the founder of the company, working as an appliance mechanic specialising in air conditioning and fridge repair.

Margaret, his wife, handled the admin and small repairs side of the business and in 1983 she started the first independent microwave cookery school in the country.

The Hirsch's later grew the offering and started selling new products to their loyal client base. The business prides itself on personal and professional service, and believes that this specialised service is what differentiates them from their competitors. Their aim is to offer premium service, which will result in a loyal clientele returning in the future.

In addition to their expansive service capabilities, Margaret, an award winning business woman and very hands on Chief Operations Officer of the company, attributes the business's success to the fact that their offering adds value in the form of salespeople who have extensive product knowledge and they can offer significant discounts on the products. The business's service offering and success resulted in them recently winning the Samsung award for the most improved sales in Africa as well as the People's Choice Appliance, Electronics and Air-conditioning Company over the past few years.

SERVICES AND OUTCOME
An innovative lightweight steel structural system was recommended by Key Projects to bring down the tonnage of steel compared to conventional design, a significant cost saving to our client was achieved. However the costs benefits were undermined by the steel strike that hit South Africa in July & August of 2014 had a major impact on the construction industry and this project.

A further innovation was the intended use of Structural Insulated Panel System, (SIPS) as the external envelope walling. However the procured supplier went into administration that potentially could have been disastrous for the successful outcome of the project. Teamwork ensured that this hiccup was overcome and a traditional walling system implemented at the eleventh hour without delay to the final completion.

A difficult project, however well executed against adversity and a satisfied client. Learning is that it does not matter how many times one has done a similar projects, our industry is complex with many variables that require astute project management to ensure the outcome is successful.

Margaret Hirsch commented 'Our Silverlakes branch is complete and ready for action. It really has been a miracle, but the store is ready and looking great. It literally came out of the ground in a month!

Thanks to George Elphick of Elphick Proome Architects, Dave Williams Jones and Rys Rocke at FWJK quantity surveyors.

Ian and Wayne at Key Projects and the entire team at Bantry Construction for pulling a rabbit out of the hat and getting this branch finished in record time...'