Daniel Mclean and Nicholas Gliksman left the corporate world to turn their hobbies into the ever growing, Homemation business. These inspiring entrepreneurs story demonstrates that following your path can be lucrative when combined with innovation, vision and hard work.
Homemation is the exclusive specialist South African suppliers of premium branded audiovisual and home theatre products. The brands in their stable offer some of the most advanced and sought-after AV and home automation technologies in the world! And it all began with two best friends pursuing their personal interests and taking a leap out of corporate comfort zones.
DJ’ing and playing around with computers while getting through his studies was just a way of keeping chartered accountant Daniel entertained in his spare time. It was not until the business bug bit that he realised he could use his passion for music to his advantage.
Nicholas began his career at in corporate banking and later ran a successful AV custom installation business. “I have had a passion for sound from a young age. I was selling and installing audiovisual equipment while I was studying and working in the corporate world; it’s in my blood,” says Nicholas.
Daniel and Nicholas first met at school, where they became fast friends. In 2007 they decided to join forces and venture into high-end audiovisual and home automation solutions. Plinth Audio was born a mere two years later, the company then merged with Homemation. This has since evolved into a business that markets and distributes audiovisual and home automation brands countrywide. Homemation has grown exponentially and has recently moved to new premises, which features a state-of-the-art showroom and lifestyle centre.
“If I take a snapshot of our balance sheet when we first began, and our revenue today on a given day, is equivalent to our revenue in one year back then! Starting Homemation with only two of us, to a team of 60 people today are the two things I am most proud of. Nic and I started the business together, just before the Global Financial Crisis. In hindsight, we have never operated in a buoyant economy which shows that there are opportunities in every situation.” says Daniel on the successes and challenges they have experienced.
By nature, entrepreneurship is a series of highs and lows and one learns a lot along the way, Daniel and Nicholas have solid personal advice to share with other entrepreneurs after 11 years in business.
Daniel places emphasis on problem solving and having the responsibility and accountability to see the bigger picture, “As an entrepreneur I am forced to think bigger and if there are obstacles – to find the way to solve them, it is a mindset. In this industry, opportunities abound – so go for it.” It is also vitally important to Daniel to understand the numbers as they tell a story, to have a clear strategy and to create and implement power systems and processes – which form the foundation upon which a business can grow. In Daniel’s opinion it helps to be naturally business-savvy and that the adage, work hard and play hard still rings true.
“There are no quick roads to success in business; only hard work will pay off. The more balloons you put in the sky, the greater the chance of hitting them” advises Nicholas. “Build a business on a solid foundation so that you can continuously add new product lines to it. You need to be resilient in the hard times. Your team needs to be motivated and guided so they can achieve their full potential and carry out the company strategy effectively. Life is about working hard and playing hard; the balance is extremely important. One also must be an “Operator” – which means getting it done! An Operator sees trends, has abundant energy, is a “do-er”, gets out there, is hand on and leads from the front”, he adds. “But the most important advice is – look after your customers and stay true to your core!”
The next big thing for Nicholas and Daniel
Their latest project is a one-of-a-kind and state of the art, cutting edge Technology Experience Centre. They have built, within their office, a mock home. The home features all their latest technology offerings, such as automated lighting, blinds and security – using Control4. They even have a robotic vacuum cleaner connected. Everything is high tech, bringing the future into the present. The home shows how the Internet of Things can be brought together seamlessly.
This is a first in SA, a world class operation, comparable to the US and UK markets. The scale is exciting – a mini-house fitted out with tech and home automation and AV. It is 500m2 has a kitchen, dining room, living room, TV room / play room / pyjama lounge, bedroom, patio and a listening room. Their offices also boast four movie and music rooms.
“What is great is that it is relatable to your own home and where we can demonstrate real-life scenarios with cutting edge technology”, enthuses Nicholas. It is the home of the future here and now, nimble and evolving to change, with voice-controlled lighting and appliances, the Internet of Things and in true Homemation fashion, the audio and visuals are seamless, practically invisible and still deliver performance. There are even hidden TVs behind artwork and hidden ceiling speakers.
Daniel’s Story:
Daniel, fondly known as Dan, grew up in an entrepreneurial family, with his father having a huge impact on this facet of his life. With a CA in hand, he didn’t intend to as one, the degree was merely a way to gain tools to learn how to take the risk to have his own business. “I always knew I wanted to have my own business” says Daniel. He did his Articles at a bank where he developed management and finance skills. On being an entrepreneur: “I love the financial freedom, problem solving and having the responsibility and accountability to see the bigger picture”.
It was not always easy, “Initially, the sacrifice was financial as I went from being a CA in a Corporate to earning a quarter of my salary, in my own business. That’s why it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind, building a business to make a good living for me and my team and to have a business that can stand on its own two feet”, says Dan.
Daniel’s leadership style is firm and fair. What he loves most about what he does is seeing the success from the processes he puts in place, being able to create jobs and watching his team flourish.
Asked whom he would invite, dead or alive, to his perfect dinner party, he says Steve Jobs. “I love his whole business story… I am a huge admirer of how he revolutionised so many things in just one short lifetime.” Dan’s favourite product in the Homemation range is the new Heos by Denon – a wireless music system. Dan is quite the adrenaline junkie and his hobbies include DJing and mixing music, snowboarding, Enduro off-road motorbikes.
Nicholas’s Story
Nicholas, known as Nic, wanted to be a pilot, entrepreneurship wasn’t driven from his family, they preferred he seek a profession, “I didn’t fit into that mould and the entrepreneurial spirit in me needed to be unleashed, it’s like it’s part of my DNA and nature. It is innate – going into business with Dan, unleashed the entrepreneur in me”. Even in school he had businesses on the side to make money. And in adulthood it was a hobby that began making more money than his job! “A highlight was when my boss, seeing that the entrepreneur inside me needed to be let out, encouraged me to own it and pursue it. The timing was perfect; looking back all the wheels in the cog were perfectly in place to start the next chapter. I love seeing how others have grown through Homemation and creating a sustainable business in an industry that is a ‘dark horse’ is what I love most about what I am doing”, says Nic.
Nic’s hobbies include golf, tennis and Enduro. “I read articles online, on news sites, and in magazines and newspapers. I like to be informed and well-rounded, so read on a variety of topics”, he says. When asked to describe himself in five words, Nic says, “Motivated, Driven, Ambitious, Funny and Entrepreneurial”. His favourite saying is “Put your takkies on” – which means, go and pound the streets if you must, to bring in business, take action!
These two have the right mix of attributes to complement each other and the proof is in the Homemation pudding! “Nic and I are very compatible partners, to this day we still share the same office, I couldn’t imagine being in an office on my own – we feed off each other’s energy, balance each other’s weaknesses and strengths. Plus, being in the same office, we can be agile and make decisions quickly”, says Dan.
