About Us
68 years of history = 68 years of experience
Our business was established in Cape Town in 1957 by George Kavnat, a leather merchant, who opened the first shop in Upper Darling Street. A few years later Mr Kavnat brought his nephew Trevor Jackson into the business. Under Mr Jackson’s guidance the business expanded, opening outlets throughout Cape Town through the years.
The present-day franchising structure started in 1991 and in 1993 the Bloom Group bought the business. The Bloom Group incorporated Barksole (Pty) Ltd in 1994, which widened the appeal and reach of our business, as new stores came into being.
With 14 retail outlets now in operation, including a backup repair clinic in Woodstock, our business is now the largest multiple repair services chain in the Western Cape. We are a household name, recognised for the depth of our experience, efficient service from qualified and enthusiastic staff and owners, high quality materials and professional workmanship.
Most of our stores are owner-operated, which ensures that you receive the best service and attention to quality. Our stores are located in most major shopping malls, suburban shopping centres and mini-malls. Our factory located at our Woodstock company headquarters, handles all major customer repairs that cannot be done in-store. This repair work is carried out with the same dedication and attention to detail as can be found in our stores.
We are an accredited member of the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA).
Our Philosophy
- Our success depends on the success of each franchisee.
- The franchisee’s individual success depends on our support, hard work and commitment to service excellence.
- We are committed to service excellence, in which the customer comes first.
- We are committed to supporting each franchisee in their achievement of our corporate goals.
This philosophy is embodied in our operating practices, the locations we choose and our contractual arrangements with franchisees and third parties.