A job for life

Local businessman Frank du Toit is retiring this Saturday after nearly 44 years in business. While he is looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren in Australia, he loves his job and said “there has never been a day that I have not wanted to go to work.”
Frank bought Emmetts, a homewares store, on 1 September 1970. Now 79, he has worked there for the best part of his life. He says his formula for success is buying good quality stock and marketing it well. However, the most important aspect of good business for him is providing a personal service.
Frank has travelled from Germany to the Far East as a businessman but says that Stanger will always be his home. He is well known in the area and Stanger is where he met his wife, Judy. He was a councillor for 15 years from the 1980s and after his retirement is planning to spend more time on municipal community work. He would like to see more industry and job opportunities in the local area and more money spent on the community.
Business partner, Saras Naidoo, has worked in Emmetts for 48 years and brought up four children on her salary. She said, “Closing down is the worst. It’s too emotional.” After Emmetts has passed into new hands, she hopes to start up her own business in the same line. She wants to continue working and said, “I don’t feel my age.”