We are LESCO
Uniquely positioned to be a different company to each stakeholder, we set ourselves apart from our competitors.
- To the retailers, we are a preferred and trusted supplier.
- To the homeowners, our brand represents safety and high-quality electrical products.
- To the youth and traditionally unemployable, we are an employment opportunity.
But, most importantly, while established at the foot of the African continent, we are known as a continental driver of sustainable change.
Sipho Nkosi - Non-Executive Chairman
LESCO & Switch King
Four facts about LESCO
Leaders in Sustainable Change
We are passionate about developing a sustainable organisation that supports local talent and infrastructure. In doing so, we have been able to meet a number of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Employing the Unemployable
Through our community development programmes, we have been able to provide work opportunities to any class of labour, from low-medium and high functioning disabled, women to the youth.
Guaranteed Product Quality and Safety
We produce our range of products at competitive pricing with high quality & safety for the local market. All products adhere to local standards and are SABS accredited. We are renowned for our strict quality control and response time to any specification changes.
Rich History of Success
Founded in 1999 by David Shapiro, we have a 23-year track record under the LESCO Manufacturing name. Did you know that our roots can be traced back to 1958 to Switch King - a company founded by Natie Shapiro, David’s father?
Our Legacy
1959Switch King was founded by Natie Shapiro
Switch King started manufacturing standard sheet metal distribution boards1992Pioneers in the industry
Expanded into switches, sockets, isolators and adapters1995Switch King Growth and Success
At this point, Switch King owned and operated 4 factories employing over 500 people1998Liquidation of Switch King
Change in the business environment led to Switch King’s liquidation in this year which led to the pivotal shift in business processes that birthed LESCO1999Founding of Light Electrical Switch Company - LESCO
David Shapiro founded LESCO, using his experience from Switch King and started to develop products1998The outsourced model for LESCO
David developed an outsourced model which gave work to people living with disabilities1999LESCO Ethos
David wished to create a labour force where employer and employee benefited from a symbiotic relationship with a philanthropic angle1999LESCO moved to Regent’s Park
From David’s garage to a warehouse in Regent’s Park, LESCO operated it’s office from a container office situated on the same premises as the factory2010Jonathan Shapiro joined LESCO
From shadowing sales directors to working on the assembly line, Jon integrated his life into the workings of LESCO2012LESCO’s new product range
The company expanded it’s product range to include switches and sockets2014LESCO’s co-branded label strategy
After listing with larger retailers, LESCO started co-branding label strategies for its customers2016LESCO has a new CEO
Jonathan Shapiro takes the reigns from David as CEO of LESCO2018LESCO’s Vertical Integration
LESCO opened its own factory and vertically integrated the business model by insourcing labour and moulding supplies2018Welcome Sipho Nkosi
Sipho Nkosi came on board as an external investor and is now LESCO’s non-executive chairman2022LESCO growth and future
LESCO continues growing from strength to strength in recent years and numerous exciting projects are on the horizon
Watch our video
Did you know that in its current capacity, our factory can produce up to 500 000 electrical products per month, enabling us to supply JSE-listed companies and South Africa’s largest electrical products distributors and retailers?
Our company is one of the only remaining plug manufacturers in South Africa that competes with well-subsidised factories out of China.
We have manufactured and sold over 300 million products since our inception.
