Entrepreneur Award inspired by Eric Ellerine

Late business icon Eric Ellerine was the ultimate entrepreneur, having started out with a single shop and building an empire on that foundation. It is therefore fitting that the Absa Jewish Achiever Entrepreneur Award will be renamed in his honour as the Eric Ellerine Entrepreneur Award.

“The name Eric Ellerine is synonymous with entrepreneurship and business in South Africa,” said Howard Sackstein, chairperson of the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards. “It’s an honour and privilege to have our entrepreneur award named after him. With this, we recognise his achievements and the icon he became in South Africa.

“Great entrepreneurs inspire other great entrepreneurs, and that’s why being able to put Eric’s name to this award means that it can be even more of an inspiration for people to move from success in business to significance,” he said.

Ellerine, who died in December 2023, won the Kirsh Family Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Absa Jewish Achiever Awards for his business legacy and assistance of young business people.

His youngest daughter, Dionne Hirschowitz, who is a long-time judge of the Absa Jewish Achiever Business Awards, said, “Sponsoring the Entrepreneur Award is a fitting way to honour the entrepreneurial spirit and legacy of my father.

“As an ambitious 16-year-old, my father opened his first store with his Barmitzvah money in 1950, and called it Eric’s Furnishers. This laid the foundation for what became South Africa’s largest furniture retail chain – Ellerine Holdings,” said Hirschowitz, who now runs the family empire.

“By sponsoring this award, we aim to inspire and recognise individuals who embody the same tenacity, innovation, and dedication that my father demonstrated throughout his life. The award serves as a reminder that with hard work and determination, the legacy you leave could be more significant than you could ever have hoped for,” she said.

‘‘My father was known for his innovation and ability to identify opportunities in the market. He constantly adapted to changing conditions, ensuring that Ellerines stayed relevant and competitive,” Hirschowitz said.

After Ellerine retired and handed the reins of the businesses to his youngest daughter, he established an office to support other entrepreneurs. According to his daughter, he believed entrepreneurship was a driving force for economic growth and a way to improve lives. He invested in young talent, and loved seeing others succeed.

Ellerine saw this as a second career, and together with capital and advice, was able to help build some of South Africa’s most successful businesses, Hirschowitz said.

She said her father looked out for the next generation, and wanted to share with them the wisdom he had learned over the years.

As an entrepreneur, her father had a list of firm beliefs, Hirschowitz said, which budding entrepreneurs could learn from. These are: start small and dream big; show consistency every day; be humble; value family; show resilience; commit to excellence; be disciplined, and always be thorough.

Sponsoring the Entrepreneur Award allowed the Ellerine family to keep their father’s spirit alive by inspiring others to follow in his footsteps and make their mark in the business​ world, she said.

Nominations for the 2024 Absa Jewish Achiever Awards close on Thursday, 15 August. Don’t miss this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise those in our community who are excelling and doing great things.

To nominate, go to https://bit.ly/ja2024nom