We go behind the scenes and have conversations with our clients and end consumers. We dive into what they do and find out how Lasher Tools contributes to their business and how they support and contribute to the local economy, manufacturing circles and production in South Africa.

 

EPISODE 16

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we speak to Ines Stapel, Internal Sales Manager at Lasher. She is based at our head offices in Germiston.
Ines works closely with the internal sales reps to care for our clients and keep services up to Lasher standards of excellence.

EPISODE 15

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we are talking to Wayne Cryer, Coastal Sales Manager for Lasher Tools.

He operates out of our Durban office and is responsible for overseeing and managing the Lasher business along the coast and is key in ensuring growth and customer satisfaction throughout the region.

EPISODE 14

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we are talking to Senzeni Fakude, she recently moved to our debtor’s department, and is based at our head office in Germiston.

She is responsible for the administrative process of opening and welcoming new client accounts to the Lasher family.

EPISODE 13

Today we have a conversation with Marius Schmit BUCO Regional Operations Manager and Marius Roberts local BUCO Branch Manager.

We get insight from an operational level how the BUCO business and brand has grown and the product offering is selected and grown for their customers.

And we take a look from a branch level how the clients interact with the store and the sectors they supply and how they ensure they offer their customers the best product offerings in terms of range and affordability and how Lasher ties into value chain.

EPISODE 12

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we have a conversation with Rene’ Aucamp, the head buyer for Lasher, she is based and works out of our branch in Wadeville.

Rene’ has been with Lasher for the past 15 years and is the starting point of the where all the manufacturing in Wadeville begins.

She also shares her journey on how she changed direction in her career and how her love and passion grew for what she is doing today.

EPISODE 11

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we have a conversation with Rene Wilkinson, she is the personal assistant to Lasher’s Managing Director – she is based and works out of our head office in Germiston.

She has been the MD’s right hand women for the past 4 years. She takes us behind the scenes and shares not only what it means to be a PA to the MD of one of South Africa largest tool manufacturers, but also what it means to be a mom and wife and how she manages it all in her journey forward.

EPISODE 10

We speak to Ms. Catherine Chamberlain about history of Chamberlains which started over 117 years ago, in 1903, with Mr Frank Fewster Chamberlain (also known as Uncle Frank), opened his first trading store in Riviera, north of Pretoria.

To today where Chamberlains now is a fourth generation of family working in the business and boasts eight stores that service a strong and loyal community base in Gauteng with all their building material, hardware and home improvement needs.

Chamberlains is best known as a family business who are recognized for their personal service from their friendly and knowledgeable staff.

We speak to Ms. Catherine Chamberlain to understand what they have done from start to now to attain and maintain the level of customer care and service that they have become renowned for.

EPISODE 9.1

Lasher is the largest manufacturer of non-mechanical tools in Africa, with home markets firmly established in mining, building and construction, agriculture, forestry and the DIY market

Exports have been an important part of growing the business for the past twenty-five years. Today, some fifteen percent of production goes overseas; UK, Europe, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, Australasia, Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.

The export department is an integral part of the business and today we talk to Rui Charneca an export trader within the department to get an insight into how export operates and how we serve our client across the globe.

EPISODE 9

Located in Thyolo, Planters Tea Agency, was established in 1954 to supply the tea industry in Thyolo and Mulanje, in Malawi, with their engineering requirements.

Planters Tea Agency has expanded the industries they supply to and the engineering solutions they provide, their goal is to provide genuine parts, technical advice, training and, above all, trusted service at a market competitive price.

As part of their service offering to clients, they cater to individual requirements by importing preferred client brands at reasonable prices within a reasonable time limit.

We speak with Hilliard Cathcart Kay, Managing Director of Planters Tea Agency to find out more about the needs of the industry he serves, why he sources the brands he does and why Lasher is part of his offering to clients.

EPISODE 8

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we have a conversation with Warren Thomas, Sales Manager for Lasher. He operates out of our head office in Germiston and he is responsible for overseeing and managing the Lasher brand and ensuring growth with selective customers and throughout the groups.

He not only shares his path of his career that lead him to Lasher, but also his journey and experiences as both a person and father.

EPISODE 7

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

We have a conversation with Glenn Hendry our Product & Training Specialist and Lionell Adams our Merchandise Coordinator. They operate out of our head office in Germiston and together they responsible for in-store merchandising ensuring correct brand representation throughout our stores as well as marketing events.

They share their collective Lasher and life experiences with us which has assisted them on their journey to where they are today.

EPISODE 6

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we speak to Natasha Naidoo, she is one of our sales representatives at our Durban branch, she is responsible for servicing our clients along the coastal region.

She opens up and shares her experiences with us, not only at Lasher bit also a bit about her personal journey.

EPISODE 5

We have a conversation with Bjorn Buyst head of marketing and communications and Patrick Qwabe.

We look at the history of how SABS began and what they have transitioned into today to ensure that we have world class standards and manufacturing and they take us into what they do to maintain these standards.

We also talk about the Lasher Builders Trestle, which is the only SABS approved trestle on the market, and look at the relationship between SABS and Lasher.

EPISODE 4

Meet our metal masters. In this podcast series we take you behind the scenes and into the stories of the people behind our tools.

Today we speak to Zandile Nhlabathi, she is our receptionist at our head office in Germiston, she opens up and share a bit about her story and life journey.

EPISODE 3.3

We speak with Shakil one of the family owners from SI Hardware.

We take a look at how they fit in as a member of EST Africa group, and the value that they are seeking to create and offer as a local independent retailer who supports local products.

EPISODE 3.2

We talk with Arie du Plessis, the Lasher factory manager from Wadeville.

We take a closer, behind the scenes look at the thought, processes and work that goes into creating the range of Lasher products and making products that add value to our clients.

EPISODE 3.1

We speak with Toffie Hartman, the independent retail manager at Lasher Tools.

We look at EST Africa’s role in making the market space accessible for independent retailers, what that has meant for the market place, and how we work to support that need in the market.

EPISODE 3

We speak with Rob Suttle, the Merchandise Director at EST Africa on the importance of supporting local manufactures.

EST (Pty) Ltd was established in 2007 as a co-operative buying group with the goal of empowering small and independent FMCG retailers. This was as a direct result of small businesses being dominated by large chain groups who ruled the market to the virtual exclusion of the smaller players. With the co-operative purchasing between the group and its members it has allowed and assisted smaller chains to operate more competitively within the market.

EPISODE 2

Established in 1946 as a co-op for 23 members in the Umhlali and North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Coastals now represents the consumer voice of more than 1,400 predominantly sugar, banana, and citrus farmers.

Today, this is also supported by an extensive retail arm on the coast of 16 stores, with access to the general public, supplying agriculture, hardware and garden needs.

 

EPISODE 1