About Us...

History Of Mica:

MICA was set up, in South Africa, 20 years ago by Ant Hacker. Ant was previously a director of Spar and had seen a recipe for success within the Spar Group that could work with independent hardware retailers in the same way it did for independent grocery retailers.

Ant left Spar and MICA South Africa was born. Today the MICA stores are on television every month and have the biggest market share of any group in South Africa - dominating the market: ask any South African, the all know MICA.

In 1994 David Brawn, who was then Sales and Marketing Director of the British Hardware Federation (BHF), went out to South Africa to see the MICA set up and to look at their member stores - an idea was born. To help independent hardware retailers here to survive and prosper - we could bring MICA to the UK.

In 1995 Mike Greenham - Managing Director of MICA South Africa came to the UK and addressed the BHF National Conference - he was enthusiastically received by all those who attended.

When the BHF did not progress the vison in 1996, David Brawn and Belinda Barnard (then Marketing Manager) left the BHF and togethor with Mike Greenham, who came over with his family from South Africa, set up MICA in the UK.

In those early years it was a struggle, but the small band of committed retailers who boldly took on the corporate identity and promoted their store month after month saw large increases in turnover and profitability - we now had good news to spread. We were helped by key branded suppliers who gave special terms to MICA members, rewarding their efforts to improve their store, increase their turnover and support the MICA suppliers, not just during the promotions but ongoing with stock ranging within the store.

Here we are today, with 180 stores and over 100 suppliers and over 1 million leaflets going out to households around our stores for each promotion.

History speaks for itself, committed, willing and enthusiastic members help themselves and the rest of the group reap the benefits and rewards. It is hard work, but follow the recipe and you too will see the fantastic results that those other dedicated members have seen.