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Lessons from Retailability’s CEO
Welcome to Episode 17 of the Thoughtonomy Podcast! In this insightful conversation, host Grant Gavin sits down with Norman Drieselmann, CEO of Retailability, to unpack one of South Africa’s biggest retail turnaround stories. Norman shares his journey from a young, chartered accountant to a retail leader who spearheaded the acquisition and revival of Edgars, saving thousands of jobs and building one of the country’s largest unlisted fashion retailers.
This episode dives into leadership, resilience, scaling businesses, servant leadership, and the bold decisions that shaped Norman’s career and legacy. Whether you’re a young professional, small business owner, or corporate leader, Norman’s story offers practical wisdom on navigating uncertainty, building strong teams, and finding opportunity where others see risk.
Norman Drieselmann is the CEO of Retailability, a diversified retail group operating across five African countries with brands including Edgars, Legit, Swagger, Style, and Boardmans. With over 7,500 staff and more than 600 stores, Norman has built Retailability into one of the largest unlisted fashion retailers in South Africa. Known for his strategic vision and servant-leadership style, he played a pivotal role in acquiring and turning around Edgars post-COVID, a move that preserved thousands of jobs in the retail sector.
⏱ Timestamped Overview
00:45 – Introducing Norman Drieselmann: family man, community leader, and CEO of Retailability
03:30 – Retailability explained: 600+ stores, 7,500 staff, and multi-country operations
05:30 – Norman’s shift from chemical engineering to chartered accounting to retail
08:30 – Early career lessons: from Mr Price to Edcon, Massmart, and beyond
11:00 – The Edgars crisis: liquidation fears, jobs at risk, and the opportunity Norman saw
14:20 – Buying Edgars during lockdown: risk, strategy, and “the big five” changes
20:00 – Culture, cost, and customer focus: how Edgars was turned around
24:00 – Riots, floods, and rebuilding: resilience under pressure
28:00 – Leadership lessons: nervous in every board meeting, but prepared and hungry
32:00 – Freedom within a framework: how Norman empowers leaders to scale
36:00 – Leadership style: listening, guiding, and knowing when to step
39:00 – Recognition: Circle of Valour Award at Northwood Boys High
40:00 – What’s next: new formats like Kelso and cellular retail
41:30 – Competing with Shein & Temu: level playing fields and local advantage
43:30 – Advice for young professionals: effort, sacrifice, and seizing every opportunity
45:50 – Advice for small business owners: scalability, systems, and exit readiness
48:20 – Closing thoughts and where to follow Norman online
💬 Quote of the Episode
“Worry adds no value. Believe in the plan, focus on the actions, and get it done.” – Norman Drieselmann
👣 Relevant Links
LinkedIn: Norman Drieselmann - Retailability (Pty) Ltd | LinkedIn
Retailability Website: Retailability (PTY) Ltd
🌐 Connect with Thoughtonomy
Grant Gavin Website: https://grantgavin.com/
Thoughtonomy Website: https://thoughtonomybook.co.za/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grant_gavin0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggavin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-gavin-9a120a4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thoughtonomy_Book
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! Let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode on social media.
View all episodes
By Grant GavinWelcome to Episode 17 of the Thoughtonomy Podcast! In this insightful conversation, host Grant Gavin sits down with Norman Drieselmann, CEO of Retailability, to unpack one of South Africa’s biggest retail turnaround stories. Norman shares his journey from a young, chartered accountant to a retail leader who spearheaded the acquisition and revival of Edgars, saving thousands of jobs and building one of the country’s largest unlisted fashion retailers.
This episode dives into leadership, resilience, scaling businesses, servant leadership, and the bold decisions that shaped Norman’s career and legacy. Whether you’re a young professional, small business owner, or corporate leader, Norman’s story offers practical wisdom on navigating uncertainty, building strong teams, and finding opportunity where others see risk.
Norman Drieselmann is the CEO of Retailability, a diversified retail group operating across five African countries with brands including Edgars, Legit, Swagger, Style, and Boardmans. With over 7,500 staff and more than 600 stores, Norman has built Retailability into one of the largest unlisted fashion retailers in South Africa. Known for his strategic vision and servant-leadership style, he played a pivotal role in acquiring and turning around Edgars post-COVID, a move that preserved thousands of jobs in the retail sector.
⏱ Timestamped Overview
00:45 – Introducing Norman Drieselmann: family man, community leader, and CEO of Retailability
03:30 – Retailability explained: 600+ stores, 7,500 staff, and multi-country operations
05:30 – Norman’s shift from chemical engineering to chartered accounting to retail
08:30 – Early career lessons: from Mr Price to Edcon, Massmart, and beyond
11:00 – The Edgars crisis: liquidation fears, jobs at risk, and the opportunity Norman saw
14:20 – Buying Edgars during lockdown: risk, strategy, and “the big five” changes
20:00 – Culture, cost, and customer focus: how Edgars was turned around
24:00 – Riots, floods, and rebuilding: resilience under pressure
28:00 – Leadership lessons: nervous in every board meeting, but prepared and hungry
32:00 – Freedom within a framework: how Norman empowers leaders to scale
36:00 – Leadership style: listening, guiding, and knowing when to step
39:00 – Recognition: Circle of Valour Award at Northwood Boys High
40:00 – What’s next: new formats like Kelso and cellular retail
41:30 – Competing with Shein & Temu: level playing fields and local advantage
43:30 – Advice for young professionals: effort, sacrifice, and seizing every opportunity
45:50 – Advice for small business owners: scalability, systems, and exit readiness
48:20 – Closing thoughts and where to follow Norman online
💬 Quote of the Episode
“Worry adds no value. Believe in the plan, focus on the actions, and get it done.” – Norman Drieselmann
👣 Relevant Links
LinkedIn: Norman Drieselmann - Retailability (Pty) Ltd | LinkedIn
Retailability Website: Retailability (PTY) Ltd
🌐 Connect with Thoughtonomy
Grant Gavin Website: https://grantgavin.com/
Thoughtonomy Website: https://thoughtonomybook.co.za/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grant_gavin0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggavin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-gavin-9a120a4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thoughtonomy_Book
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! Let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode on social media.