REAL PEOPLEAPRIL 2017 41Heidi De Villiers, 52, is the
marketing director for Plush
Professional Leather Care
based in Joburg. Her husband,
Steve, is the CEO, and their
long-time family friend,
Vere Elliott, runs the financial
side of the business.
Plush Professional Leather Care
was established in 1964, but
their products were limited to
shoe care and only available
at smaller specialist stores
such as shoe stores and shoe
repair workshops. When Heidi,
Steve, and Vere took over the
management of the business in
2010, they changed the entire
brand by modernising the
products and advertising, and
extending the product range
and categories into household
and home care products too.
Their high-quality products are now sold at large retailers around
the country and have become a household name.
The three of them met years ago when they worked together
at Revlon and then the Designer Group. They became friends
instantly and have maintained a healthy business relationship
since then. ‘Sometimes it’s difficult for us to switch off and put
work to one side when we’re spending time together outside of
the office’, says Heidi. ‘We’re best friends and business partners
at the same time so work tends to always be on our minds.’FEATURE: CANDICE CURTIS PHOTOS: ANDREA CALDWELL AND SUPPLIED
Sharing the same business goals
makes it easier for us to understandwhat the other person is feeling. That’s
something a lot of couples don’t get to
experience, so we’re very luckyHeidi and Steve have four children, two of whom are already
involved in the business. ‘Our son and daughter, Neill and
Dominique, are sales managers in our Cape Town and Joburg
offices,’ says Heidi. ‘So this business really is a whole family thing.
It’s what joins us together to a degree, because our children have
grown up within this business.’
Heidi and Steve have always taken pride in being good role
models for their children, showing them that a good work ethic
and a passion for your job will bring you fulfilment. But runninga business as a family isn’t without its challenges. Heidi explains
that despite what may be going on at home, Plush is a separate
entity, and maintaining a professional attitude at work is crucial.
‘We don’t run the business from our own home, plus we have
clearly defined roles, and we respect and acknowledge them
at all times.’
Even though Heidi reports to Steve, they both enjoy the
shared experiences within the business. ‘We celebrate the
highs and feel the lows together, and because we’re in the same
business and sharing the same goals, it makes it easier for us to
understand what the other person is feeling. That’s something
a lot of couples don’t get to experience, so we’re very lucky in
that regard,’ she explains.
‘There’s a huge difference between running a family business
and running a professional business entity as a family,’ Heidi
explains. ‘Our personal and business finances are kept completely
separate. We don’t mix personal expenses with business
finances. That’s why we all get paid a salary each month and
have to apply for and take leave the same way as anyone at any
other company.’
While two of Heidi and Steve’s children have already joined the
business, there’s no pressure on their other two to do so. ‘We’ve
always told our children that we want them to be valued in their
own right,’ says Heidi. ‘While this business will always be available
to them, we encourage them to gain meaningful work experience
elsewhere before joining us. This gives them a chance to find their
own identity, strengths, and passions outside of “us”. We’ll always
be thrilled to have our children join us in this business, but we’ll
support them no matter what they choose to do.’From left: Heidi and Steve De Villiers,
and Vere Elliott (right).