This month (April) marks a year of business success following the triumphant rebranding of a Somerset West hardware and building-supply store that has cemented its place in the community as a trusted industry leader offering the same second-to-none service and top-notch products Helderbergers have become accustomed to over the decades, simply under a new name.
Excitement is building around the first birthday of Timbuild Somerset West, which plans to celebrate the milestone with their loyal and valued customers who can look forward to great in-store deals until Wednesday 10 May. As part of the celebrations a Birthday Bonanza with prizes and giveaways galore is up for grabs and live product demonstrations will be held at the business premises on the corner of Victoria and Reitz Street this Saturday (22 April). Furthermore, the business also presents the launch of its new PG Bison Gallery 4 range, which hopes to afford customers a different type of class for the kitchen cupboard doors and bedroom finishes.
The business success follows after its predecessor’s relaunch as TimBuild Somerset West on Saturday 26 March last year (“Same location, staff and service,” DistrictMail, 24 March 2022). The reliable retailer remained in the same ownership hands as before, with Dirk Viviers at the helm, Stuart Oliver on finance and Liezl le Roux as silent partner.
The partners have owned the enterprise since March 2015 and together they have steered the business to new heights through growing and transforming the service and operations into a one-stop-shop that caters to customers’ every DIY and construction need. The revamped and enhanced store product offerings and service included the establishment of the Paint & Plant addition on the same premises in October 2021. The paint-and-plant specialist’s second anniversary beckons (“Paint, plant specialist a year old,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 19 October 2022).
In a quick trip down memory lane Viviers said a highlight of the past year will definitely be the successful establishment of a business and brand, which continues to flourish, champions the challenge of load shedding and endlessly strives to provide unbeatable offerings despite the ever-increasing prices of stock. The owners, alike, share in the delight of seeing their customers happy and excited about the new-brand and its offerings, and creating new opportunities for their extraordinary staff, promoting business success.
“We are ever-thankful to our old and new customers for supporting us and, of course, our wonderful growing staff complement,” said Viviers, “for the new brand and name have taken off so well, and we are seeing exponential growth in our sales and customer base.
In the retail industry for most of his working life, he has realised a long-held dream of owning a business. The Somerset West resident is originally from the small town of Keimoes in the Northern Cape, where he completed his schooling. He pursued his tertiary studies in Bloemfontein and Paarl before entering the workforce and eventually establishing the retailer as a successful partnership.
Oliver, who matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium and obtained a BComm degree from Stellenbosch University, started his own kitchen-design and -installation business in 1995. After a decade he and his sister, Le Roux, took his father’s retail hardware business in Stellenbosch over in 2005. The siblings and Viviers bought the retailer when it was in liquidation, and have not looked back.
Oliver and Viviers have merged a shared passion and drive, working hard and doing their best to turn everything they champion into a success, complementing each other through teamwork, striving towards a common goal and respect.
Viviers attributed their business success to a diehard passion for what they do, always having a friendly and warm attitude to colleagues and customers, and upholding a family ethos, especially pertaining to staff whose happiness translates into customer satisfaction. “We pride ourselves in always striving to be positive and willing to assist were we can. Hard work and good work ethic is key, as is excellent customer service and happy staff,” he related.
As for business successes, the partners are proud of achievements which include business growth, job opportunities and increased offerings to establish operate a one-stop-shop – which they plan on amping up as part of their short- and long-term goal. “Seeing every customer walk out of our store happy and feeling part of the TimBuild family remains the greatest accolade.”
Their collective business wish is to grow an even greater business with unbreakable values and plough back into the community and welcome more supportive customers through their doors.
Viviers shares the following message: “I would like to thank my staff from the bottom of my heart for every day they are positive, friendly and showing up for work. To the community, thanks for your support. Without the customers we would not have a business.
