Pelican has under gone a huge restructuring process to become pure distributors of products to the trade in KwaZulu Natal.
These are the steps taken and we are very excited about our future operations.
KZN has been strategically covered where branches operate from Pietermaritzburg, Zululand and Northern KZN.
Pelican Systems sold off its Screen division to Ergosystem, our biggest customer in 2007
The balance of the manufacturing division of Pelican Systems was sold to Ifuba Products in March 2008, and many of our valued staff have bought into and moved to Ifuba Products to continue manufacturing a range of specialized products for the trade. Their business is blossoming and we wish them well for their future.
The space vacated by the manufacturing operations has been converted into a warehousing and distribution centre that will service Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Zululand and Northern KZN.
We were unfortunate to lose the Owa Ceiling Tile product range after 26 years of exclusively distributing this mineral fibre tile to KZN, it is a great product but we could not accept their move to Durban and continue to sell the product with integrity and therefore turned down their offer to continue as a stockist.
The good news is that we are now no longer exclusively tied to OWA and have more than one Mineral Fibre Tile on offer. We now stock Masonite and AMF tiles, and can supply OWA if required.
We are especially excited about the AMF tile which is the first mineral fibre tile that is completely bio-degradable, and produced in a certified green factory.
Whilst we strongly support our JV partner Lafarge and their brand of Jumbo products, we can supply almost any product that is specified and if it is not stocked, we will get it for you.
If you are one of those customers who believed we were not servicing your requirements as well as usual, please give us another chance and keep supporting us, we may have been guilty of going backwards in order to go forward.
Our entry into the residential market has been slow, yet we will be in a position by 2009 to be serious players in this market as well, and we are looking forward to this exciting challenge and to supporting the trade in this specialist area.
Due to the uncertainty created with the massive restructuring we have experienced resignations resulting in many staff changes, some for the better and others a great loss. However our current team have experienced training and currently our staff are as good if not better than any other company in the country, and we are ready to serve you.
Pelican has never stood in the path of individual growth and here are some unbelievable statistics of ex Rod Gould Shopfitters and Pelican Systems staff.
Bruce Gardner CEO & Director of Owa SA
Leon van Rooyen Director Owa SA
Gerald Williams Sales Manager Owa SA
Clifford Bowman Manager Owa Natal
Mike Todd CEO & Shareholder Ifuba Products
Shane van der Nest Export Manager Lafarge
Nick Cruickshank District Manager Lafarge Gauteng
Barry Gould Owner CAPCO
As well as all our current customers who are now owners of successful sub-contracting businesses:
Morgan Chetty, Rohan Theunissen, Ted Naiker, Noel McNair, Devan Nair, Mickey Motilall, Trevor Reddy, Greg Henry, Derek Palmer, Chris Lorenzo, Mike Mahomet, Lionel Murphy, Alan Abrahams, Joseph Zondo, Patrick Naidoo, Russell Hampson, Erwin Sewaharran, Winston Diplock, Colin Lester, Ronnie Govender, Joe Naidoo, Dave Meghoo, Ivan Simpson, Bervin Motilall, Mukesh Ash, and Patch Young.
All these ex employees contribute and play important roles in our industry and remain Pelicans friends and customers, and many of them are fantastically loyal to Pelican Systems. We thank you for your support and your contribution to the industry.
Pelicans philosophy to assist our customers, protect the specialist trade and continually improve and contribute to the interior building industry remains our focus and we are all looking forward to ensuring that the strategic changes work in your favour and ours so that all our businesses can improve and grow.
Richard Fenton our new Sales Manager, Denise Gould our General Manager and I head up Pelican Systems. We are sincere in our commitment to make Pelican Systems a great company and ensuring that together with our employees we satisfy and exceed your business needs.
Please feel free to visit us at our North Coast Rd operation, we will be extremely proud to show you our new warehouse and distribution operation.
