Hall's Retail| KZN Future 50
Find out more about Hall's
Retail, this week's KZN Future 50 featured business...
Number of Employees: 66
Website: www.hallsretail.com
Hall’s Retail: A Business Built on Chemistry, Family and Community Spirit
Hall’s Retail, a proudly family-run business in Pietermaritzburg, has steadily grown over the past three decades from a small adhesive supplier into a trusted name in industrial coatings and chemical solutions across KwaZulu-Natal and beyond. But its success didn’t happen overnight—it’s a story of perseverance, innovation, and a strong belief in doing things properly.
The business began in 1989, when Barry and Jenny Hall, both experienced in adhesives and manufacturing, took a leap of faith. With limited resources and all their savings invested, they opened the doors of Hall’s Adhesives. By 1990, they had secured a make-or-break R15,000 interest-bearing loan—funding that helped carry the business through those critical early years.
From the outset, Barry and Jenny focused on more than just selling products. They believed in delivering consistent quality and practical solutions—values that continue to define Hall’s today. As the product line expanded to include household and industrial chemicals in 1991, the company became known as Hall’s Adhesives & Chemicals.
A Second Generation Joins In
Barry and Jenny never pressured their children to join the family business, but over time, both sons were naturally drawn to the company’s growing potential. Andrew came on board in 2000, followed by Martin in 2003. Together, the brothers brought fresh thinking to the table, and soon after Martin’s arrival, epoxies and industrial coatings were added to the range.
In 2006, they made their first attempt at building a scalable retail brand—a process that came with valuable lessons. By 2010, the company was redesigning product packaging with a renewed focus on brand visibility. A few years later, the team developed custom packaging, including the now-familiar 5L squat bottles and triple-lock 20L buckets.
By 2016, the Hall’s Retail brand had taken shape. With a clear vision of becoming a world-class brand, the team applied the new identity across the full product line, retail space, and marketing campaigns. The business had found its voice.
A Business with a Social Conscience
Hall’s isn’t just about what’s on the shelf. Over the years, the business has played an active role in the community, initiating and supporting various upliftment projects. In 2019, they launched the #litterheroes initiative, offering short-term employment to previously unemployed men and women who helped clean the streets, sort recyclables, and distribute bins. That same year, Hall’s supported the City Hall clean-up, assisted in a local dump fire response, and joined forces with Project Rhino by adopting a hand-painted rhino sculpture.
In 2020, in partnership with the Re-routing Arts Festival, Hall’s provided materials for the #bridgesproject—enabling artists to use paint as a platform for social commentary. From kitten rescue donation drives to SPCA support and community golf day sponsorships, Hall’s continues to show that business and social impact can go hand in hand.
Looking Ahead
Today, Hall’s Retail is led by Martin and Andrew Hall, who continue to build on the strong foundation laid by their parents. The company has launched a nationwide online shop, allowing customers across South Africa to access the full product range—from paints and epoxies to catering chemicals and degreasers.
Always looking for ways to innovate, Hall’s recently introduced an Open Innovation programme. This initiative invites individuals and companies to co-create new products, which Hall’s then manufactures, packages, and brings to market—earning the creator royalties for as long as their product is sold.
The company has also introduced Turnkey Projects, offering clients end-to-end support, from specification and product supply to surface preparation and guaranteed application. And while the business continues to evolve, its core remains unchanged: practical, reliable products, technical know-how, and a genuine commitment to the community it serves. As a fun fact—over the past year, Hall’s sold enough paint to cover 770 rugby fields.
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Image Credit: Supplied
