Spiro’s Mega Mica celebrates 100 years

Spiro’s Mega Mica (pronounced ‘spy-rows’) celebrates 100 years of business this year, a milestone to be applauded and rare achievement in the South African retail sector. 

DIY and Industrial Trade News recently spoke to Spiro’s Mega Mica to find out the secret to its success. As with most stories, it is important to go back to the very beginning to understand the resilience behind this achievement.

Harry Spiro opened a general dealership in May 1922. His sons, Norman, Monty and Theo grew up in the house next to the store, and when Harry died at the age of 49, the boys were still very young, and their mother Jessie took the business over until Monty joined the family business in 1947. 

Theo Spiro joined the store when he was 18 years old having worked at another family business from the age of 17 (a garage and car dealership in Bellville). With the untimely death of Monty Spiro in 1962, Theo took over the running of the store and when one of their major suppliers, William Spilhaus, was sold to Sanlam, Theo had the foresight to change the general dealership into one of the first DIY self-service stores focusing on household needs.

In 1983, Theo’s son, Kevin, joined him in the business and it was in the same year that Spiro’s joined the Mica family as one of its founding members and remain loyal members to this day, some 39 years later.

// We don’t just sell hardware, we understand it //

In 2006 Spiro’s underwent a major rebuild and the Spiro’s that current consumers know, and love was opened. Since then, Spiro’s Corner has undergone changes to stay relevant to the ever-changing environment. The most recent change has been the Solar Parking Project, which provides undercover parking to customers, while at the same time harnessing the power of the sun to provide energy to the centre. 

Unfortunately, the family continued to be beset by tragedy and Kevin died of a brain tumour three years later at the age of 46. This is when Steven Sollinger, Theo’s son-in-law, took over the business and is still at the helm over a decade later. In 2019, Kevin’s son, Jess, joined the business full-time, so a fourth-generation family member is now involved. 

It was late in 2019 when Spiro’s Mica Paint and Hardware rebranded to Spiro’s Mega Mica, offering a wider choice to the local community.

When asked what the continued success of Spiro’s could be attributed to, Sollinger said it was its ability to adapt to changing times and to stay relevant in this fast-moving world.