40 years of strong foundations and lasting legacies

In celebrating a 40-year journey shaped by vision, resilience and growth, Build it stands proudly as the largest building and hardware merchant in Southern Africa, with 397 stores trading in five countries. 

Brand ambassadors

Through the years, the brand has empowered entrepreneurs to achieve independence, build wealth and create a better future for their families. In return, the Build it retail members have remained loyal ambassadors of the brand, grateful for the invaluable lessons, hands-on experiences and inspirational moments that have helped define their journeys. As we celebrate 40 years of strong foundations and lasting legacies, we pay tribute to two of the many phenomenal Build it retail members who work tirelessly to build the brand, their own brand, and a legacy for their families. 

Build it Potchefstroom

Herman Steyn, proud owner of Build it Potchefstroom, celebrated his store’s 20^th birthday last month. He has walked a long and hard journey with Build it, staring adversity in the face many times. Having endured staff challenges, financial difficulties, tough trading times, customer scarcity, both a house and a truck fire, it all became too much one day, and he decided to throw in the towel. But the universe had plans of its own for this hardworking and brave retailer. On his way home that day, he found himself driving behind a truck with a sign that read, ‘BE A WARRIOR, NOT A WORRIER!’ That was all the motivation he needed to keep his store. Continuing to work hard and fearlessly, today he stands proud in a beautiful store with a 20-year legacy.  

Extremely positive about the future of Build it, Herman speaks with great pride of Build it managing director, Hawie du Preez. “We could not have asked for a better person to lead the brand. Hawie is open-minded, deliberate and planned in his leadership strategy, and he listens. With him steering the ship, the future of Build it is extremely bright.”  

Build it Kokstad

When Ray Herbert and his family were approached by Build it to convert their small hardware store in Kokstad to the Build it model, he very bravely told them that his family didn’t need Build it. They were doing well in their little store, so he didn’t see the need to make any changes. Build it, on the other hand, was quite persistent and eventually, in 2004, convinced Herbert to join the brand. In Herbert’s own words, the move changed their lives! 

Today, 21 years later, Herbert is enjoying retirement and indulging in his love for deep-sea fishing while both his sons, Dylan and Ryan, are carrying the legacy forward. Maintaining the Build it values of family, passion, and entrepreneurship, they proudly own six stores across KwaZulu-Natal, all of which are very successful and profitable. 

“I didn’t think we needed Build it, but joining the brand changed our lives. It’s been about family, community and building something real,” Herbert alludes.  

An award-winning retail member, with award-winning stores, Herbert is extremely proud of Build it and in wishing the brand a very happy 40^th birthday, his advice to all up-and-coming Build it retail members is to never lose focus of the family values on which the brand was built.  

40-year legacy

Build it managing director, Hawie du Preez maintains that Build it’s 40-year legacy has always been and continues to be one for families. He goes on to say that few brands place people at the heart of everything like Build it does, and there-in lies the strength and the success of the brand.  

Like Herbert and Steyn, Build it boasts many retail members across Southern Africa who have worked tirelessly to build the brand and their own legacies, and they continue to do so, every single day. Deeply rooted in the communities they serve, they are in the trenches building the brand, uplifting individuals, giving dignity to lesser-advantaged families, while at the same time building lasting legacies their families can be proud of, for generations to come! 

For more information; visit: www.buildit.co.za ; call: 031 002 6200