Best of Pretoria | ‘Humanity in business’ – local entrepreneurs speak on striving during challenging times
Rekord puts a spotlight on some of the winners of the Best of Pretoria Readers’ Choice Awards 2022 as voted for by its readers.
Rekord has asked its readers to vote for Pretoria’s best of the best, and they have done so.
Thus, the winners of 2022’s Readers’ Choice Awards were awarded at a glitzy function on Tuesday, November 1.
Some of this year’s winners have operated in the Capital City for many years, some for more than 30 years.
Many winners believed that the “personal touch” and “taking care of customers” made all the difference.
Anton Els, who has been the manager of the Lots of Pots nursery for the past 14 years, said he believed in customer service.
“We put a lot of emphasis on service and try to give the best service to all our customers,” he said.
To achieve this, they had to create a healthy business environment.
“We have a culture of friendliness. The management and the sales team – none are above the other. We are all on the same and working together for a common goal.”
Els’ shop won Best Nursery in Pretoria – to his surprise.
“We never expected it! We feel privileged to think that Rekord’s readers voted for us. There are plenty of beautiful nurseries in this town. Pretoria is known for its nice nurseries and we feel proud to have been voted the best.”
Els said it was important for entrepreneurs to be able to adapt, “things are not always smooth running”.
Hirsch’s won the award for the Best Appliances store.
“As a family business, this award means to us that the community truly appreciates us,” said Hirsch’s sales and operations director Norman Brassell.
Brassell said the appliance store was planning on opening a new branch in Montana, adding to their existing stores in Silver Lakes and Centurion.
“Our business was very blessed to get through the pandemic,” he said of the challenging economic times following the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Everybody spent their time at home and saw they still needed new irons and other things. We were blessed to be in the right business at such a time.”
For the third time in a row, Die Wilgers private hospital received the award for the Best Hospital in Pretoria.
Virginia Mokebise, the nurse manager for the hospital, ascribed their most recent win to offering “best quality care” to people who at times need it the most in their most vulnerable state.
“What is important for our nursing team is to listen and to be there for patients when they need them.”
Mokebise said surviving Covid-19 was tough on the hospital.
“During an influx of patients at one stage, we did not have enough beds for our Covid patients. But as a team, we managed to pull through and I think that is what makes us the best hospital.”
The hospital’s marketing manager, Sorita van Tonder, said they strived to not only offer care to the sick but to keep their families informed about the condition of their loved ones.
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