Paying tribute to Trevor Smith, a business icon and gentleman

Certain names are synonymous with sporting excellence. The first which come to mind might be in the vein of Tiger Woods, Jean de Villiers, Roger Federer and Doctor Khumalo, yet a local name as deeply rooted in sports, is that of Trevor Smith.

The legendary 85-year-old businessman passed away from heart failure on the morning of July 25.

From family history set heartily in the trading industry, Mr Smith forged a legacy and catapulted himself to local fame as the go-to guy for all things active in Newcastle. Perhaps it was his own interest in sports which buoyed his success.

Born in Park Rynie in 1935, Mr Smith took part in athletics and swimming at a school level, and later expanded his interests to encompass rugby, cricket, hockey, tennis, squash and golf.

“I’m fortunate to be able to still play golf; I began in 1959 and have been busy with the little white ball for 55 years now,” he said in an interview in 2014.

Growing up as one of many generations of a trading family, Mr Smith would follow in the footsteps of parents Lindsay and Dorothy, who ran a general dealership in his home town. At a young age, Mr Smith and family relocated to Underberg.

Studying at Merchiston Primary School and Pietermaritzburg College, Mr Smith learned the ropes from his parents, moving with them to Newcastle in 1950 alongside his four brothers. His education was completed at Newcastle High School in 1953.

By this time, Lindsay and Dorothy Smith were both unwell, which resulted in their son joining the family business, as it progressed to a chain of four general dealerships catering mainly to the rural community. In 1959, the family created something of a sensation.

“We decided to open the first self-service business outside of Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg, in the Newcastle CBD.”

Staying dynamic and relevant served the business well. In 1965, Mr Smith’s parents retired and handed the reigns over to A. Ross & Company, a Durban-based brand which invited Mr Smith to stay on as a managing director, a position he held for three years. This was a time of great change for him.

Within the family business, a specialised sporting department was already established, and Mr Smith had applied for membership with the South African Sports Trader Federation (SASTF). Applying to the federation was a huge step forward. For the next year-and-a-half while his application was considered, Mr Smith had to outsource stock from King Sports (Durban) and dealers in Johannesburg, essentially his main opposition. However, his patience ultimately paid off.

After a thorough inspection by an SASTF employee known as Mr van Druten, the resultant approval from the federation changed the life of Mr Smith for good.

“Membership gave us a license to source products directly from manufacturers, and import through established agents from abroad.”

By this time, however, A. Ross & Company felt the sport and schoolwear divisions did not fit into the general image it sought, inspiring Mr Smith to resign and open a business under his own reputable name. Trevor Smith Sports’ first move was to buy out an existing men’s outfitters.

Mr Smith said venturing into business alone sparked a lifetime of creating strong bonds of partnership and friendship with countless special people, his legacy spanning many decades. Between 1968 and 1977, Trevor Smith Sports grew phenomenally as a men’s outfitter, sports trader and schoolwear dealer, although Mr Smith had to supplement his income through various other means. These included distributing for both CNA and the provincial Citrus Board.

Trevor Smith Sports also reaped the benefits of the expansion of Newcastle itself, with ISCOR (now ArcelorMittal Newcastle Works) creating  thousands of jobs in the then-rural town. Thanks to increased turnover, he decided to relocate. His business, boasting an annual turnover of almost R60 000, went from the corner of Scott and Allen streets (Edgars today) to 55 Allen Street (now Jadwat’s Cycle Store).

In 1977, the outfitting section of Trevor Smith Sports was dissolved. At this junction, the business also made another move to Voortrekker Street (now
a series of stores), with Mr Smith going into partnership with a dentist from the Polokwane area. Rent for his portion of the building was about R1 500 per month.

By 1980, and encountering numerous problems with his landlord, Mr Smith rented space at the Fenway Building, beneath the then-offices of the Newcastle Advertiser. A loan was taken out to support this move. To avoid the accruement of further debt, Mr Smith and his late wife, Jean ran a
skating rink from the Voortrekker Street property. He enjoyed a year as the SASTF acting president and acting chairman of the Natal Sports Trade Federation.

With the worldwide economic downturn of 1982, ISCOR’s Newcastle plant was affected to the point where expansion phases were scrapped, and many thousands of employees were retrenched. This spelled trouble for Trevor Smith Sports. Due to the hundreds of families leaving Newcastle and the subsequent expansion of Secunda as a node, Mr Smith opted to increase market space by launching a wholesale division, focused on industries,
schools and government institutions across NKZN, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.

The business then expanded into the mining sector too. Due to experience and reputation already gained, Mr Smith was approached to tender for a contract to supply Western Platinum at Mooinooi near Rustenberg, which he was successful at.

In 1985, Viren Singh joined the company as an accountant. The following year, Mr Smith’s son-in-law, Kevin Woodings was brought in to handle general administration and sales, both individuals making significant contributions to the continued growth of Trevor Smith Sports. For their loyalty, these men are now directors and shareholders.

Beyond staff, Trevor Smith Sports had attracted many representatives and partners servicing the business across the country, including celebrities like Morne du Plessis, Tony O’Hagan, Herbie Prout and Brian Woodruff. Mr Smith had said it was a roller coaster ride, but he was privilege to meet true icons in the sport and sport trade industry.

Towards the end of the 80s, Trevor Smith Sports opened a branch in Benoni to enhance services for the clientele, in particular the schools in the area.
Further expansions of the business were funded by selling property, which helped carry Trevor Smith Sports forward for the next two decades, during which time the Callas range of products was developed.

Great personal tragedy struck in December 2009, when Mr Smith’s wife and soulmate, Jean passed away.

On April 25, 2018, Trevor Smith Sports celebrated a milestone 50 years in business, and in the same year, Mr Smith pursued another of his dreams – to retire in the Midlands, relocating to the Howick area.

Mr Smith leaves behind his daughters Jennifer and Brenda, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren… and a legacy few could equal.

An exclusive interview with Mr Smith’s brother, Mike, in which he recalls their younger years, is available in the Newcastle Advertiser (July 31).

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Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za

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