About Technique Shopfitters

It was 1990 – South Africa’s economy was struggling, apartheid was ending and Nelson Mandela was a free man – when courageous local entrepreneur, Roy Singh opened his own business in the garage of his Chatsworth home.A perfectionist by nature and a skilled artisan, the 24 year-old had learnt his trade working for some of the best, including one of the leading shop fitting companies of the time, Frederick Sage & Company. Although he had his mother and siblings as well as his own young family to support, his aim went beyond simply bringing in money.  His vision was to use his passion for the shop fitting trade to forge into an uncontested segment of the market and to build a sustainable business. What started as a “four man band” with Roy Singh doing the manufacturing, late business partner Paul Reddy handling on-site installation and two workers, has evolved into a slick operation with a staff of over 50, a fleet of vehicles and a newly refurbished head office and factory in Umbilo Road, Congella, Durban

The hard work and long hours have paid off. The small company started by fitting out a small sari boutique in Chatsworth Centre. Over the years, it has added big brands and respected private and public sector organisations such as KFC, Fego, Ithala Bank, Bidvest, Transnet Limited and the University of KwaZulu-Natal to its client list. During its earliest years, Technique Shopfitters focussed on cabinetry and joinery for the domestic market. The company had moved to a small 60 m² space in Spradbrow Road, Congella. Even though it later grew and took over additional space in the same location, it remained there for nearly 24 years. After six years, Singh took the strategic decision to prioritise commercial projects. Starting with joinery work and cabinetry, Technique Shopfitters quickly moved on to manufacturing aluminium shop fronts and then expanded further into major bulkheads and shop fronts. Later, the company diversified its product offering by providing cladding and partitioning expertise.

The year 2000, marked an important milestone when Technique Shopfitters fitted out its first KFC store at the top of what was then Francois Road, adjacent to the university. A contractor had defaulted and the company spotted an opportunity and took over. When the project manager saw the quality of the work, more stores were allocated to Technique Shopfitters.To date, KFC remains the company’s largest corporate client. The company has completed over 200 stores for KFC – and is still counting. Technique Shopfitters’ reputation for quality workmanship together with word-of-mouth recommendations have seen the company grow organically every year. Today, it project manages large contracts with in-house teams responsible for the bulk of the work. As the company grew its capacity and portfolio of services, it was also able to address one of its biggest challenges – a lack of skilled artisans. The company is accredited and invests significant resources in up skilling and training its people to deliver according to its high standards.

As he has built up Technique Shopfitters, Singh has created an important legacy. Many of the employees who joined him during his earliest days, remain with the company today. His three daughters and one brother have also since joined the company, making this a true family business.In 2014, Singh realised yet another dream when he bought a large, but neglected, building in Umbilo Road. He has expertly refurbished it and the end result is a testament to what the company can do for its clients. Sophisticated design and layout coupled with superb finishes make it a true showpiece.