South Africa’s leading cement supplier, PPC Ltd prides itself in offering its clients more than just cement. This has led to a modus operandi the company calls “strength beyond the bag”, as it passionately invests in meaningful initiatives and projects that advances its clients’ and the entire industry’s excellence.
Recently PPC ran a campaign to encourage its customers to share their success stories. PPC has selected eight of these clients who will receive free PR, online and mobile marketing opportunities, and a 3×2 stand to exhibit at the Totally Concrete expo, which includes a full delegate pass to the Totally Concrete Conference.
Sibongile Mooko, General Manager: Marketing Services at PPC says, “This is a fantastic opportunity for our clients to really give their business a boost.
As PPC, we are in a privileged position to elevate our clients at Totally Concrete, and we look forward to being a part of their success stories for years to come.”
Here are some of their stories:
16 E Tona Sand and Bricks
When Lesedi Ledwaba from 16 E Tona Sand and Bricks in Pretoria took over her father’s business, it was not easy for her to break into a male dominated industry, especially with such little experience. But she always kept hope for better days.
“I started contacting different cement factories, trying desperately to get the best products for my clients,” says Ledwaba. “But it felt like I was fighting a losing battle because the factories were giving me hardware selling prices as my cost price. This was going to essentially kick me out the market.”
However, all was not lost for Lesedi. One fateful day in 2013, she decided to visit the Concrete Expo in Sandton and was immediately drawn to the PPC exhibit.
“I always wanted to work with the nationally renowned company, so it was my lucky day when I met PPC Rep January Sethibe. After we exchanged numbers, he was on my site the following Monday. It felt like I had won the lottery,” exclaims Ledwaba.
Not only has PPC helped her sell quality products, but the company even brought a container on site, allowing her to not only store product, but also draw a lot of attention and bring in new business. But it didn’t stop there.
“My customers used to complain about brick breakages, but then PPC gave me training to show me how it is done. They have really changed my life. Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming things you once thought you couldn’t. Thank you PPC,” says Ledwaba.
To her, strength beyond the bag is all in how PPC treats its customers. “I’ve worked with a lot of big companies but I don’t get the same treatment that PPC gives me. They keep checking up on me and when I order I know I am guaranteed cement the next day. They really do care about their customers.”
Revelstone Cape Pty Ltd
From small beginnings in an underground cellar in Muizenburg, using bags of PPC Rapo cement, Revelstone quickly gained a reputation for innovative products and personalised service. With solid growth came the ability to purchase its own factory in 2001, where the company has been thriving ever since.
“With our expansion, we had to move from using bags of PPC cement to ordering bulk,” says Revelstone founder Andrew Cyprianos. “PPC took the increase of business to heart and placed three silos on our premises in order to accommodate for bulk deliveries.
PPC even went as far as to supply and install screw conveyers to help with the increase in production.”
Today, thanks to ongoing investment and innovation, coupled with continuous support from PPC, Revelstone is proud to call itself a world-class cast stone product manufacturer that is truly a viable alternative to real stone.
“PPC has been our cement supplier from day one,” says Cyprianos. “There is definitely an element of trust that has been built over the years, and we believe in their product 110%.
We have always had their backing, from concrete to all our marketing ventures. The support we get in terms of technical support is something we only get from PPC and you won’t just find that anywhere else.”
Gallant Stone
As a company that specialises in decorative concrete flooring, wall plasters and various decorative indoor and outdoor items, it is extremely important to have the correct textile strength and durability. For this to happen, concrete mixtures need to be exact when it comes to ingredients.
It is for this reason that Gallant Stone based in Northriding, Johannesburg relies heavily on the PPC OPC cement. For Gallant Stone, PPC’s products have allowed the business the confidence to produce great quality flooring with no comebacks or repairs needed.
“We use large amounts of the product in all of our ranges and we are yet to be disappointed. The staff are always helpful, friendly and professional with dependable deliveries,” says Natalie Laverman, Office Manager at Gallant Stone.
“We have been using this product in our mixes for many years now and can say with certainty that it only makes for a good recipe for success,” says Laverman. “The service we receive from PPC is outstanding and nothing is too much trouble for them, from the admin, to finance, to sales. We look forward to a bright future with PPC and many more years of this wonderful working relationship.”
The company began its journey with a staff complement of 30, and has now more than doubled that number to 67.
Lefika Concrete Products
Lefika Concrete Products (Pty) Ltd believes that their company is a true reflection of what the PPC “Strength beyond the bag” campaign stands for.
As a company that only began in 2011, they have gone from strength to strength through the use of PPC Surebuild cement, which has improved the quality of their own products dramatically at a very reasonable cost (in comparison to other tried and tested brands).
“Based in Eikenhof, our company uses PPC cement as a primary raw material for the production of kerb stones and paving blocks which helps in the consistent and efficient curing rate in the production process of our products,” said Vincent Manama from Lefika Concrete Products.
What does Strength beyond the bag mean
Over the years, PPC has clearly demonstrated that its commitment to its clients goes well beyond cement, always going out of its way to help its clients’ businesses thrive, no matter the challenge.
As far back as 1948, PPC established a Technical Services and Development department to provide technical support and a range of in-house services in analytical chemistry, chemical engineering, physical and concrete testing, metrology, geological analyses and research and development for the entire PPC group.
These facilities perform invaluable services not only to the group, but also to PPC customers and the cement industry as a whole.
Mooko says, “By bringing innovative, industry-first products, services and solutions to our customers, we help them excel at their jobs. Simply providing a quality product is not enough for us, it is just the starting point.”
More information from Andrea Meyer, Mobile:+27(0)722617588/www.ppc.co.za
