Half a century for delivery company
They are currently in Beaumont Street, Booysens, since in 1984.
CONSISTENCY has kept Glenvista family business Speedy Delivery Services (Pty) Ltd going strong for the past 50 years.
It all started in two parking bays in downtown in Marshall Street in September 1969, where Chris Swanepoel and his brother operated their spares delivery business.
They then moved to Marshall Street when their building was demolished and they were forced to move to Anderson Street where they stayed until there was a sale of a stand. They are currently in Beaumont Street, Booysens, since in 1984.
They deliver almost everything but livestock and furniture.
The company has clients who have been loyal to them for more than 40 years.
“That is what you get when you are the best in the business. Recently, I had one client who reminded me of yesteryear deliveries from 256 Anderson Street. He could still remember going there with his grandfather,” said Chris.
They currently employ 26 staff members and management consists of Chris, his wife Karin, their twins Melissa and Dewild and Augustus Gumede. Augustus has worked with them for 16 years; he started as a driver and now he owns shares in the company.
“I was brought here a long time ago by my neighbour, Frans. I have been a driver since then.
“The family eventually gave me an operational manager position and since last year I have become a shareholder. I am a part of this family and I will like to thank them for their generosity to even buy me a car,” explained Augustus.
The family has in the past and moving forward understood the dexterity of humanity. The working environment where respect and understanding one another has helped them thus far.
Some of the employees’ fathers used to work at this company. The open-door policy has helped everyone to be on par with one another.
Like any other business, Speedy Delivery Services (Pty) Ltd was once going through a difficult patch, where about 11 trucks were hijacked in a particular time; however, with their resilience and power to go on they have overcome that dark period.
Going forward, Dewild, who will be taking the reigns from his father when he retires, said he wants to expand the company and maybe go into franchise.
“Growing the business is always a good thing, but I won’t go overboard, like delivering all over South Africa. I want a controlled environment that we can handle. Our relationships with our clients are very close and we would like to keep it that way,” he said.
Fond memories of the company
Chris: “Employing my family, it was a pinnacle of my life. I have that attachment with them.”
Karin: “Working here until the twins were born and being able to be a mom and a businesswoman and also be there for them.”
Dewild: “I remember when I came back from school, we had a small ritual where we will go to London Pie with my father and buy pies. He will take a break and we will sit and eat them together.”
Melissa: “Coming back from school we would never notice the extra hours we would spend at the company with our parents. I remember running down the warehouse on rollerblades.”
Augustus: Waking up in the morning and coming here always satisfied me. I am who I am with my family because of this company. I enjoy working here because of the respect we show one another.”
