DIY Trade News November 2013
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FEATURE
COMPANY
PROFILE
REPORT
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take as long as two years to get a result. Due to this, one tends to settle
out of court and due to the nature of the crime, there is normally a nondisclosure agreement attached to the settlement. I believe we should have a
‘Name and Shame’ campaign whereby the guilty parties are exposed in
011 471 0800 www.fortknoxlocks.co.za
the media. We have decided to pursue the current case and not settle due
to the fact that it is pretty open and shut and once the conviction is handed
down, we will be able to go to press with an article and pictures to more
fully expose what is going on in our industry.
DIY: Do you believe other companies are facing the same
challenges as Lasher?
IK: Most definitely. Off- hand I know of companies in the plumbing,
ironmongery and abrasives industry that have had to deal with
counterfeiting.
DIY: Not only is Lasher fighting against the illegal copying of
its own products, but the company is also a leading contributor
to the fight against rhino poaching. Care to tell us a bit about
this fight?
IK: Lasher is a very proudly South African business and our wildlife
is our heritage. The biggest market for rhino horn is in the East and
most of the counterfeit products are coming out of the East so I guess
it all started there; we saw a natural symmetry between the plight of
the rhino and the threats to local manufacturing in South Africa. If
left unchecked we could both become extinct! The Big Five are
synonymous with South Africa; no tourist comes to this country
and leaves without doing a trip to the game parks. I guess the
question one needs to be asking is, “What would South Africa be
without the Big Five?” I don’t think this is a question we ever want
to answer.
DIY: How much money has Lasher donated this year?
IK: To date, Lasher Tools has given R485 352 to the SANParks Honorary
Rangers team, with another cheque handover due at the end of this year.
DIY: As with counterfeiting, do you believe the fight against
rhino poaching is one we can win?
IK: Yes, I believe we can. It is all about awareness and there can be no
doubt that the awareness is growing to mammoth proportions. It is like
anything; if enough people care about an issue, stand up and get
involved, anything is possible, a lesson I believe we as South Africans and
the rest of the world learnt from a very astute man, Nelson Mandela.
DIY: Finally, what’s next for Lasher? Any exciting new products
or new developments?
IK: Absolutely! We have launched the Eco Barrow overseas, which is
a complete Poly wheelbarrow (frame, pan and wheel). This is a first of
its kind in the world and we are very proud to say that it has won
numerous international awards for best 100% fully recyclable product,
best d