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Elvey celebrates 60 years

In African culture, ′Injobo Enhle Ethungelwa Ebandla′ means that a beautiful outfit is one made in the presence of others.

This was the theme that permeated through Elvey Security Technologies' 60th anniversary functions, which took place at various venues around the country.

CEO, Jack Edery, highlighted some of the company's major achievements in his welcoming speech. Founded by Charles Elvey in 1946, Elvey Security Technologies grew steadily to the point where, 30 years later, Elliot Wainstein joined the company, purchasing a 50% share and bringing new dedication and direction to it in the process. In 1981, Elvey started its security distribution division after being asked by a leading USA security product manufacturer to represent it in South Africa.

Another red letter year for Elvey was 1999, when it successfully listed as Elvey Security Technologies on the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Then in 2001, the JSE listed company Hudaco Industries, acquired Elvey, which has since become an integral part of the Hudaco Group.

Attributing the company's success to three core areas, Edery said that since profit was indisputably the reward for taking care of customers and creating a motivating environment for employees, Elvey had trained its focus on not just one but three bottom lines. These included being the 'provider of choice', 'the employer of choice' and 'the investment of choice'.

"Maintaining the position of provider of choice is becoming increasingly challenging in the face of fierce competition and ever-more demanding customers. They expect to get what they want, when they want it, and they want to have it customised to suit their needs. The world has changed in such a way that today the buyer, not the seller, is sitting in the driver's seat. These days, nobody has to convince anybody that the customer reigns supreme. People realise that their organisations will go nowhere without the loyalty and commitment of their customers. Companies are discovering the new rule, namely if they do not take care of their customers, somebody else will," said Edery.

He reaffirmed the company's commitment to sharing information within an open communication forum, embracing its vision, sharing power and high level involvement and helping unleash the power and potential of people and this organisation for the greater good. "We understand that vision without action is a daydream, and that action without vision is a nightmare," he said, concluding, "Xandla famba xandla vuya - in order to receive, the hand must stretch and give."

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