Since 1966
ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S LONGEST-RUNNING FAMILY owned furniture BUSINEsSES
Our story
De Villiers Furnishers opened their family furniture business on 3 October 1966.
Dave de Villiers Senior (1920 - 1998) and his eldest son, Dave (1939 - ), together with Gladys, Dave Senior's wife, and a saleslady, Mimie van der Merwe, began trading at 156 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg.
Both Dave Senior and Dave Junior had many years of experience in the furniture industry and this came to the fore from day one as customers were given 5-star service. Dave Senior often used to say "the customer is king, treat him or her like royalty."
The business grew rapidly and took on extra staff. Dave Senior's two younger sons, Andy and Peter, having finished their military service, joined the, by now, very busy De Villiers Furnishers.
After ten years, they needed to expand their already excellent stock selection, and purchased the building (comprising three stories and a lift) at 138 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg, where the biggest range in KZN of everything for the home was on display.
And so, the business, based on good service, a huge selection of merchandise and a strong Christian ethic, thrived. Most family businesses tend to fail after 20 years. People retire, young people have other aims and ideals, but De Villiers Furnishers just grew stronger and more successful. They are arguably the oldest surviving family furniture business in South Africa.
Tragically, Dave Senior passed away in 1998 after 32 years as CEO of de Villiers Furnishers, and then Peter, the middle son, also passed away in 2004. Dave and Andy continued to run the business, which by this time had opened a branch in Durban, run by Andy.
As time and events passed, it was decided to "cut the baby in half." Andy took over the Durban market under his own name of De Villiers Home Seating and Dave continued to steer the mother ship on its course in Pietermaritzburg.
Eventually, in 2008, Dave, nearly 70 years old, decided to close the big store in Pietermaritzburg. He chose to focus on a personalised, and accessible level of service, as he opened a boutique showroom in Scottsville. He also extended de Villiers Furnishers’ existing range of lounge chairs and recliners, to cater for both the special needs of the retired senior market, as well as the contemporary market, with great success.
LOOKING FORWARD
Dave is continuing to offer his clients a very personal, and based on over 65 years of experience, the best of service to satisfy every need.
De Villiers Furnishers have successfully supplied the needs of hotels, B & Bs, retirement homes, nursing homes and, of course, private clients. They will modify any of their designs with regard to size, height, width, etc to suit every individual need. Every chair design is available as a two, a two-and-a-half, and a three or four-seater sofa to make up a tailor made lounge suite.