Mica Market Trade Show & Supplier Reconnect Days

Reconnect Mica Market Day One

To get the proceedings off to a fun-filled start, the first evening of the Reconnect Mica Market was sponsored by Akzo Nobel Dulux and held at the Zip Zap Circus. It was a circus-themed fancy-dress evening and everyone got into the spirit of things, making it a truly memorable night. 

Steven Sollinger made the opening address and welcomed guests. Sean Penn of Akzo Nobel then spoke for a bit on the company’s interesting history, before a family-style dinner was served as the artists from the circus entertained.

The Mica Market Trade Show

The Mica Market Trade show was held on the second day and featured 90% member turnout and 185 supplier stands. The trade show gave Mica Members the opportunity to reconnect with suppliers and view new products, special offers and catch up with industry news. 

The theme of this year’s Mica Market was Reconnect – and how very apt it was as for the first time in several years, store owners, suppliers and the team from the Mica Support Centre were able to get together face to face at the Cape Town ICC to share ideas for the future.

To encourage Mica Members to visit all stands, a check-in and win competition was in place. Every stand visited gave them an entry into the “Check-In and Win Competition”. They just had to scan the QR code printed on each delegate’s name badges, select their store name from the drop-down menu and then get one entry per stand per store.

The more stands visited the greater the chance of winning a four-night cruise for two people from Durban on the MSC Orchestra valued at R 20 000.

A Mica Market app has also been developed with all relevant information on the three-day event from attendees, to function information, transfer updates and so on. Most importantly, the app allowed Mica Members – once logged in – to purchase products there, add products to their cart and check out immediately. The app gave them access to all the supplier deals including the flash sale deals that needed to be acted on immediately to avoid missing out.

The reconnection continues

The second night of the Mica Market saw a fun evening function sponsored by Ryobi. Held at the Mojo Market in Sea Point, popular South African band Good Luck performed, and it was a great opportunity for retailers and suppliers to mingle and swop stories. John Stevens of Ryobi welcomed delegates and started the party.

The Mica Market Conference

The official conference (sponsored by Academy Brushware) was opened with an address from Mica MD Jaco Hattingh. He spoke of some of the challenges the group had faced over the past few years, but how they had managed to overcome these with tenacity and team support. He mentioned the July riots of 2021, where two Mica stores were completely destroyed, and how they had been rebuilt almost immediately with the assistance of the Mica Support Centre. “We are in this together, we’ll make it together,” he said. 

One of the key factors Mica focused on during the lockdown period was investing in Business Intelligence Systems.

Taking advantage of the upswing in consumer interest in DIY over the Covid period, Mica also took the opportunity to focus on brand investment through outdoor signage, marketing and advertising and sports event TV branding.  

Hattingh also talked about their new corporate store – Millside Mica in Pinelands – a store where systems and concepts are introduced and tested – effectively a tried and tested ideas factory for members.

Hattingh handed over to two guest speakers who gave inspirational and motivational talks. 

Roelof Botha, a political economist who currently consults to Optimum Financial, looked back on some of challenges South Africa faced during the Zupta era, but also said we now have reason to be positive, because the right fundamentals are in place to move the country forward. We’ve entered a super cycle for commodities that normally last upwards of 10 years, 1,5 billion people have moved into the middle class, more sensible policies are in place and there’s been a marked increase in government/private partnerships.

The second speaker, top amateur triathlete, Richard Wright, spoke on the theme “The Future is Now”. He explained how important change is, because without it you can have no future, just a recurring past. He told his inspirational story of how his determination and positive thinking allowed him to survive brain cancer not once but four times and to compete in and complete an Iron Man during these trying times. 

The Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony sponsored by Ingco

The entire event was rounded off with a flashy evening gala event and awards at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. 

Dressed to the nines, guests waiting in anticipation to see who would win the ultimate prizes everyone has worked so hard towards. Nico Panagio, who everyone knows as the host of Survivor South Africa, performed the MC duties. Ingco MD, Angelo Angelos, was introduced and thanked for sponsoring the event. As a special surprise, Zolani Mahola “the one who sings” performed with her new band The Feminine. It was the first time they’d ever performed in front of a live audience, and everyone was mesmerized by her amazing voice.

The Awards

MSC Cruise winner drawn from the trade show entries for members who visited the most stands:

Winner – Dicken Alsop Wellington Spiros – award accepted by Steven Sollinge

Member throughput % growth awards by region: 

KZN, Free State, Swaziland, Lesotho – BBS Mica Ballito

Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape – Steyns Mica Mossel Bay

Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Botswana – Standerton Mica

Gauteng and North West – Three Rivers Mica

Supplier throughput awards:

Akzonobel Dulux, Eureka, Duram, Excelsior, Kansai Plascon, Kwikbuild Cement, Matus, PPC Cement, Skillcraft Agencies, Stevens and Company.

Supplier throughput % growth awards over 2 financial years top 5 suppliers:

Cadac, Lasher, Skillcraft Agencies, STT Sales, Splashworks

MEMBERS CHOICE REGIONAL SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR:

KZN, Free State, Swaziland and Lesotho – Nominees Afrisam, Buildmax Distributors, Duram, Marshal Tools, Vermont Sales – WINNER – DURAM

Western Cape, E Cape and N Cape – nominees Duram, Matus, Skillcraft agencies, Stevens and Company and Vermont Sales – WINNER – SKILLCRAFT AGENCIES

Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Botswana – Nominees – Duram, Eureka, Matus, Skillcraft and Stevens and Company – WINNER – Stevens and Company

Gauteng and North West – Nominees – Duram, Eureka, Skillcraft, Stevens and Company and Vermont Sales – WINNER – Stevens and Company

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Nominees: Bracken Mica, Kendal Mica, Morningside Mica, Riverside Mega Mica and Three Rivers Mica

WINNER: Three Rivers Mica

MICA BRAND AMABASSADOR OF THE YEAR

Nominees: Amper Alles Silverlakes, Durban North Mica, Oranje Mica, Spiros Mica Group, WG Mica 

WINNER: Spiros Mica

NATIONAL SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR – all regional votes added together

WINNER: Duram

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 

(Member for less than 24 months or changed ownership in last 24 months)

Nominees: B-House Mega Mica, Manta Mica, Northriding Mica Paint Centre, Parys Mica, Walmer Mica Paint Centre 

WINNER: Northriding Mica Paint Centre

MICA MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD:

Nominees: Amper Alles Mega Mica Silverlakes, Ermelo Mica, Honolulu Mica, Ladybrand Mica, Lenasia Mica, Oranje Mica, Parys Mica and Three Rivers Mica

WINNER: Three Rivers Mica

SUPERSTAR AWARD PRESENTED BY NAREEN DAYA AND DAWOOD VAWDA

John Stevens