Haslop & Mason focus on adaptability and growth in 2023
Managing member, Kevin Dersley, reflects on the year that was 2022 and shares his vision for the company in 2023:
What were some of the highlights of 2022 for Haslop & Mason?
In 2022 Haslop & Mason was successful in winning three awards for sales in our areas from three of our most significant partners: Brady, Fluke by Comtest, and SMC pneumatics. As always, awards are great, but actually, they are an acknowledgement, so that we know we are moving in the right direction. It is most important for us that the manufacturers we are promoting and offering to our customers are market leaders in our industry. It is recognition by our partners of our successful activities in marketing our products in the Eastern Cape.
What did you find were some of the major challenges for the electrical components industry in South Africa last year?
The biggest challenge in the industry for 2022 was the global supply chain issue and, more fundamentally, the shortage of electronic short-circuit components. This problem has continued into 2023 and we don’t see it going away in the near future. However, that said, Haslop & Mason has revised our stock profile in order to keep more stock for a longer period of time, enabling our customers to plan for projects and to avoid critical breakdowns. Already, we have seen huge inroads in our levels of stock in areas that were previously critical and this helps us to support our customers.
Looking to the year ahead, what are the highlights that you and the team are looking forward to?
The Haslop & Mason roadshow is happening. Our website, which has been under construction during 2022, is set to go live soon. We are excited to be able to continue to deliver excellent sales and customer service in the year ahead.
With 2022 being the first full year of “business as usual”, how do you think the industry has changed and how has Haslop & Mason changed?
The industry will always continue to change. At Haslop & Mason, we know that we need to learn from things that have happened in the past and to adapt and build on them as we move forward. That is what will make us stronger and better.
What else are you excited about for the year ahead, from an industry and business perspective?
Highlights for the year ahead: Haslop & Mason is transforming and growing a better sales force. Marius du Plessis has been promoted to the position of Accounts Manager and we are focusing on customers in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro area. Marius has been with us for many years as an internal salesman and this is a promotion in recognition of his efforts and growth in the company.
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of a Technical Account Manager, Nobel Mandaza, who will be focusing on rendering technical support to our customers both locally and in the East London region. We welcome Nobel to our team and are excited to see the support that he will offer our customers.
This forward-thinking, customer-focused team at the helm of a company that has been in existence since 1958, has shown that the answer to the changes that are inevitable in life and in business is the ability to learn and to adapt.