Freedom Profiles 2020

THE HISTORY OF FREEDOM STATIONARY_

TIMELINE_ January, 1987 Opened doors in Isithebe January, 1998 Purchased Oyster Plastics (based in Cape Town) July, 2003 Moved Oyster Plastics to Isithebe July, 2003 Opened Midrand branch July, 2003 Purchased ‘Marlin’ brand August, 2003 Purchased file making machinery July, 2004 Purchased South African File Manufacturers August, 2007 Introduced ‘Marlin Kids’ brand November, 2007 Opened East London branch October, 2008 Certified ISO 9001:2008 compliant April, 2012 Opened Prospecton (Durban) branch, and moved sales and warehousing from Head office to Durban July, 2012 Certified as a Level Two B-BBEE contributor December, 2012 Opened its doors to Freedom Printpak, a printing and packaging plant based in Pinetown May, 2013 Opened Bloemfontein branch 2015 Opened Durban warehouse at Mount Edgecombe August 2016 Freedom Prinkpak moved to bigger premises at Mt. Edgecombe 2017 Launched new packaging across Marlin and Marlin Kids ranges August 2018 Acquired Interstat 2018 Certified as a Level One B-BBEE contributor WE BELIEVE IN LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS AND GROWTH

“ Freedom Stationery boasts a wide range of scholastic material and home and office stationery supplies. We are proudly and strategically poised to expand on our current export endevours and will be offering a wider distribution network into the rest of ”Africa and the world. Freedom Stationery is one of South Additionally, the company developed its Africa’s largest and most trusted stationery export market and currently exports to brands that offers a comprehensive, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and other top quality range of school, office and neighbouring countries. household stationery items that are as durable as they are affordable. Interstat is a division that was acquired The brand is always top of mind when in 2018 that has enjoyed a rich and long it comes to children’s back to school history as a stationery and office product needs (and any other time of the year) distributor operating in Southern Africa. to ensure that learners are kitted out and Established in 1992, Insterstat is the fully stocked with everything that they perfect fit for Freedom Stationery with need and is required by their respective its reputation on an offering based schools. Freedom Stationery also takes on the highest level of integrity and care of businesses and general population exceptional service at every level. The by way of dependable office supplies as acquisition allows Freedom access to well as stationery items that are needed the commercial market, where Interstat around the house. is well-known for its speedy delivery and efficient turnaround times. Established in 1987 in Isithebe, KwaZulu- Natal, Freedom Stationery celebrated Interstat holds sole distribution rights its quarter century of existence in 2012, to a collection of international brands with many exciting milestones to attest and products, including its house brand, to their success. The last three eventful NEXX. With an ever-growing list of decades have witnessed the stationery commercial stationer items, Interstat is manufacturer grow from a fledgling perfectly placed to ensure that customers competitor to a well-respected leader in are able to find exactly what they need, its field of expertise. all in one place. This phenomenal growth of the brand has subsequently resulted in Freedom Stationery setting up five fully-fledged branches with nationwide distribution.

our infrastructure_ In 2000 the company invested in an extrusion, injection moulding and conversion plastics plant in Cape Town called Oyster Plastics our milestones_ and by July 2003 this division was moved to Isithebe, leaving the Cape Town plant as a distribution warehouse. The plastic division specialises in filing sleeves, display books, presentation files, secretarial folders, Spacecases, rulers and other polypropylene products. In July 2003, the company acquired a distribution warehouse in Midrand, Gauteng, a massive milestone in the company’s history. Freedom Stationery was now in close proximity to its existing customers which afforded them the opportunity to increase its market share as well as attract new customers. In August 2003, the company obtained machinery for the manufacture of lever arch and ring binder files, as well as a printing machine for design covers. The demand for these new products was phenomenal and by July 2004 Freedom Stationery had also acquired a company in the Kempton Park area that manufactured lever arch and ring binder files. The file plant trades under the name South African File Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd. By April 2008 the company had opened its East London branch and by October that same year the company was certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant which was a noteworthy achievement. Freedom Stationery is currently a Level 1 Broad Black Based Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) contributor. In 2012 Freedom Stationery moved its main distribution centre from its Head Office in Isithebe to a 12 000m2 warehouse in Prospecton, Durban, and has since moved to a 18 500 m2 warehouse in Mount Edgecombe, Durban. This move has allowed for a more efficient logistics management process to the various branches nationwide. Freedom Stationery proudly opened the doors to its fifth branch in Bloemfontein in May 2013, offering a service delivery to customers in the Free Sate and Northern Cape provinces. Freedom Stationery boasts a total of over one hundred thousand square metres of warehouse holding space and a vast fleet of delivery vehicles to ensure excellent service delivery. Freedom Stationery’s core business remains the manufacturing of scholastic books with volumes in excess of 100 million books per year awarding the company the title of largest manufacturer of scholastic books in the southern hemisphere.

FIVE BRANCHES “ We are proud to have five nationwide branches to boast of, WITH NATIONWIDE with our head office located in Isithebe, KwaZulu-Natal. DISTRIBUTION_ The five branches are in Mount Edgecombe, Durban; Midrand; Cape Town; East London and Bloemfontein. We’re ready to assist, wherever you may be. ” It’s in the details_ We have successfully established ourselves as one of South Africa’s leading stationery brands because of our meticulous attention to the details of each manufactured product, ensuring consist high quality that has earned us unrivalled brand loyalty and trust from end users.

our values_ We subscribe to a value system that is core to Freedom Stationery’s operations. These qualities are key to our work and customer service ethic and underline our performance and our interactions internally and with our clients.

Customer service Relationships Work Ethic Strong, umnatched Corporate relation- Promotion of an customer focus building, interactive honest work ethic. where exceptional techniques. service is fundamental. Change Respect Delivering Embracing change Always show Diligently delivering as the only way to respect and on our stated grow and remain courtesy to our promises. business partners relevant and customers. Integrity Conduct business and relationships with integrity and goodwill.

our valued team_ Our human and intellectual capital are the core of our organisation with a bank of competence, knowledge and experience. We understand that our people are a vital resource for achieving sustained success. Freedom Stationery embraces the core strategy of building meaningful partnerships with employees so as to ensure that our investors receive the best service. We strive to maintain the happiness, integrity and personal growth of every employee. Freedom Stationery’s approach is to treat its employees like they’re part of a big family. That company culture has boded them well over the last quarter century and seen them grow from strength to strength. The fact that they provide service and products well above par is just an added benefit.

EXTENSIVE “ Freedom Stationery is a proud one- PRODUCT stop shop for everything you need. We RANGE_ cater for a wide range of needs and are constantly striving towards filling any gaps that arise in the market and adding products to our range that are ”useful and in demand.

growing our brands_ Freedom Stationery acquired the MARLIN brand of stationery accessories in 2003 and later in 2007 the brand was extended to include a range of stationery specially designed for children, MARLIN KIDS. With ‘Education for the Nation’ being what we live by, it’s not difficult to imagine that we want only the best and durable products in the hands of every learner across South Africa. Our MARLIN range includes writing tools, adhesives, arts and crafts items, books, pads, paper, files and so much more that every child needs to sustain every schooling year. Its always important to get the right tools for any job and with MARLIN KIDS as part of the Freedom Stationery stable, children will always be equipped with the right kind of stationery for learning and fun. The MARLIN KIDS range includes easy-to-handle crayons, play dough, aprons, important educational aids and loads more products that are sure to enhance kids’ learning and play experience. All products in the MARLIN KIDS range are non-toxic and come in stimulating bright colours to keep children entertained and energised in all their activities. Both the MARLIN and MARLIN KIDS range have been developed over the years to provide a comprehensive offering of home, office, and scholastic stationery accessories.



MARLIN KIDS have three superstars, Mikey, Mandybrand awareness_ and Spike who love travelling up and down the South African countryside bearing knowledge and acting out skits, interacting with children, and best of all, handing out much-needed stationery and school supplies to our young and bright future leaders. In 2018, all three mascots got stuck in for the exciting ‘back to school’ season in January and February to encourage children and wish them well for another school year ahead. Mikey, Mandy and Spike are not stopping here – they have great plans to travel some more, bringing more edutainment and gifts to even more schoolchildren, assisting with the school journey, making it exciting, fun and full of memories. MARLIN KIDS ALSO CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S LEADING KIDS’ STATIONERY SUPPLIER, ENCOURAGING LOADS OF FUN WHILE LEARNING.

corporate social Freedom Stationery is also quite actively involved in investment_ corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives such as sponsorships, donations and getting actively involved in helping surrounding communities, that we strongly believe in because we are strategically placed in the market for enhancing children’s educational process by providing the right comprehensive tools where necessary. We are also investing to going beyond doing roadshows with hampers and donations that reach underprivileged schools and learners around the country who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access quality learning materials.

www.freedomstationery.co.za HEAD OFFICE DURBAN MIDRAND EAST LONDON BLOEMFONTEIN CAPE TOWN TEL: 032 459 2820 TEL: 087 350 7861 TEL: 011 314 0953 TEL: 087 350 7862 TEL: 087 353 7861 TEL: 087 350 7863 FAX: 032 459 3255 FAX: 031 502 3754 FAX: 011 314 0957 FAX: 043 731 2421 FAX: 051 430 9618 FAX: 021 557 9155 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]