Hoe als begin het
Dertig jaar gelede het my pa ’n skoenwinkeltjie in Kerkstraat begin. Die idee was om mode- en sportskoene aan die gemeenskap van Wellington te voorsien; lank voor die internet so ’n groot rol begin speel het. Basson Skoene bestaan vandag steeds, te midde van ’n wêreld wat so vinnig verander.
Die veiligheidsgedeelte is uit Basson Skoene gebore toe ‘n plaaslike boer gevra het of ons nie vir hulle vellies kan lewer nie. In daardie tyd het Dee Venter ook aangesluit as verteenwoordiger. Ek was toe nog ’n versekeringsmakelaar en ek en my pa het begin gesels oor die moontlikheid om werksklere en veiligheidsskoene aan boere te verskaf. As ek nou daarop terugkyk, besef ek hoe ontsettend min ek destyds van hierdie komplekse bedryf geweet het. Ek het by hom geld geleen en die geleentheid aangegryp.
In 2007 het ons die perseel agter Shoprite gehuur en vir tannie Lizette aangestel. Later het Patrick en Joseph daar opgedaag en hulle is as pakker en drywer aangestel. Vandag, amper 20 jaar later, is hulle steeds deel van ons span.
Ons onderneming het uitgebrei en in 2008 na ons huidige perseel in Stokeryweg geskuif. Dit was ’n interessante tyd — ons het geleer, gegroei en begin om ’n naam te maak. In 2020 het ons ’n klein fabriek begin om sekere items te vervaardig wat moeilik bekombaar was. Later daardie jaar het ons uitgebrei na die aangrensende perseel om meer ruimte vir ons bedrywighede te skep. In 2021 het ons die fabriek geskuif en dit het onafhanklik voortgegaan.
In 2023 het ’n brand die hele fabriek verwoes. Maar deur die Here se genade, bestuurslede en personeel wat eenvoudig besluit het dat ons hierdie uitdaging sal oorkom, het ons sterker opgestaan. In dié proses het ons verder uitgebrei en ons eie borduurmasjiene aangekoop. Sover my kennis strek, is ons die enigste PPE-verspreider in die Wes-Kaap, met ons eie fabriek én borduurfasiliteite.
Vandag is ons ’n span van 76 toegewyde werknemers. Ons is ongelooflik trots op ons geskiedenis en wat ons tot dusver bereik het, maar nog meer trots op die waardes wat ons gekwee het: integriteit, uitnemendheid en verhoudings wat hou. Ons doen dinge reg. Verder sien ons ons besigheid as ’n middel tot ’n doel: om die goeie nuus van Jesus Christus uit te dra en prakties ’n verskil te maak.
Hierdie (amper 20 jaar) was vir my ’n reuse groeiproses. Ons het baie uitdagings gehad, maar elkeen is oorkom deur harde werk, gebed en die oortuiging dat ons die beste in die bedryf moet wees. Ons het nou ’n topklas bestuurspan, ervare spanleiers en wonderlike personeel wat fokus op die hoogste moontlike standaarde. Vir my is dit belangrik dat ons die leier in die bedryf bly, daarom is my fokus voortdurend op verbetering.
Diens en Verhouding
Ons kliënte vertrou op ons omdat hulle weet:
- Ons kommunikeer eerlik en betyds
- Ons hou by ons woord
- Ons loop die ekstra myl
Soms is daar faktore buite ons beheer, maar dan maak ons ’n plan en kommunikeer dit duidelik. Ons weet dit is ’n kliënt se grootste behoefte.
Innovering
Deur tegnologie, ’n gevorderde bedryfstelsel, duidelike prosesse en ’n sterk logistieke span, verseker ons vinnige, betroubare aflewering.
Vooruitgang en gemeeenskapsontwikkeling
Dit is vir my belangrik dat ons as ’n groep groei. Ons het hande gevat met Elevation Programme NPC en ons stap ook steeds ’n pad met Ma’s vir Wellington. Ons sal hulle altyd ondersteun in die wonderlike opheffingswerk wat hulle in die gemeenskap doen.
Soos die bekende advertensie van ’n matmaatskappy in die 90’s waar die eienaar gesê het:
“I will not put my signature on this carpet if it isn't of the highest quality.”
Net so voel ek oor ons besigheid en hoe belangrik dit vir my is om dinge reg te doen.
Ons sien uit om vir u tot diens te wees.
How it started
Thirty years ago, my father opened a small shoe shop in Church Street. The idea was to provide fashion and sport shoes to the community of Wellington - long before the internet played such a big role. Basson Skoene still exists today, in a world that is changing so quickly.
The safety side of the business was born from Basson Skoene when a local farmer asked whether we could supply them with “vellies”. Around that time, Dee Venter also joined us as a sales representative. I was still working as an insurance broker and my father and I started talking about the possibility of supplying workwear and safety footwear to the farmers. Looking back now, I realise how incredibly little I knew about this complex industry at the time. I borrowed money from him chased the opportunity.
In 2007, we rented the premises behind Shoprite and appointed an admin lady, Lizette. Patrick and Joseph knocked on the door and were appointed as a packer and a driver. Today, almost 20 years later, they are still part of our team.
Our business grew and in 2008 we moved to our current premises in Stokery Road. It was an interesting time — we learned, we grew and we began to build a name for ourselves. In 2020, we started a small factory to manufacture certain items that were difficult to procure. Later that same year, we expanded into the adjoining premises to create more space for our operations. In 2021, we moved the factory out and it continued independently.
In 2023, a fire destroyed the entire factory. But through the grace of the Lord and because of management and staff who simply decided that we would overcome this challenge, we rose up stronger than before. In the process, we expanded further and purchased our own embroidery machines. As far as I know, we are the only PPE distributor in the Western Cape with our own factory and embroidery facilities.
Today we are a team of 76 dedicated employees. We are incredibly proud of our history and what we have achieved so far, but even more proud of the values that have been cultivated: integrity, excellence and relationships that endure. We do things the right way. Furthermore, we see our business as a means to a greater purpose: to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to make a practical difference.
These past (almost 20) years have been a tremendous growth journey for me. We have faced many challenges, but each one was overcome through hard work, prayer and the conviction that we must be the best in our industry. We now have a top-class management team, experienced team leaders and wonderful staff who are focused on maintaining the highest possible standards. To me, it is important that we remain the leader in our industry, and therefore my focus is always on improvement.
Service and Relationships
Our clients trust us because they know:
- We communicate honestly and timeously
- We keep our word
- We go the extra mile
Sometimes there are factors beyond our control, but then we make a plan and communicate it clearly. We know this is a client’s primary need.
Innovation
Through technology, an advanced operating system, clear processes and a strong logistics team, we ensure fast and reliable delivery.
Progress and Community Development
It is important to me that we grow as a group. We have joined hands with Elevation Programme NPC and we continue to walk a path with Ma’s for Wellington. We will always support them in the incredible upliftment work they do in the community.
Like the well-known advertisement of a carpet company in the 90s where the owner said:
“I will not put my signature on this carpet if it isn't of the highest quality.”
That is exactly how I feel about our business and how important it is to me that we do things the right way.
We look forward to being of service to you.