Shuter & Shooter Publishers
Encyclopedia
Shuter & Shooter is a publishing house based in South Africa
.
was Vause, Slatter and Co. This company was taken over in 1921 by Mr. L.G. Shuter. In 1925 Mr. R.A. Shooter joined the company and the name was changed to Shuter & Shooter. Mr. L.G. Shuter was the stationer and Mr. R.A. Shooter the bookseller and publisher.
Vause, Slatter and Co. was originally a printing, stationery and music business. According to a letter which we received from the Standard Bank
in 1981, when they presented the company with a plaque commemorating 102 years of association, the company Vause, Slatter and Co. was established in 1850. The original trading site was 185 Church Street, the site now occupied by Volkskas Bank. As the business grew, they moved to 192 Church Street (part of the site now occupied by the Sanlam Building) and then to 166 Church Street, next to the Cathedral. (Part of the OK Building.) These premises were specially built to their requirements. A further move was made to Grays Inn, 230 Church Street in 1950. The adjoining buildings at 232 Church Street were acquired in 1976 and 1979 and both shop frontages were restored to their Victorian
splendour in 1989.
In June 1948 Mr. L.G. Shuter retired and sold his interest to Mr. C.A. Roy, Manager of Wm. Collins in South Africa. In 1951 Mr. R.A. Shooter retired from active directorship and allowed Mr. Roy to acquire financial control of Shuter & Shooter in 1955. The company was registered as a proprietary limited company in 1947. The first Board of Directors
consisted of Messrs L.G. Shuter and R.A. Shooter, C.A. Roy and W.H. Jenkins. At the end of June 1966 Mr. Roy, while remaining on the Board, stepped down as Chairman of the firm. The Natal Witness (The Witness (South African newspaper)
) bought into the company and acquired financial control of Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. On the retirement of Mr. Roy, Mr. D.M. Craib was appointed Chairman of the Board and Mr. E.B. Oscroft as Managing Director. On his retirement in 1977, Mr. M.N. Prozesky was appointed Managing Director and Chairman of the Board
in December 1979.
Mr. Prozesky retired from the Company on 30 April 1993. He was succeeded as Chairman of the Board by Mr. W.N. Vorster, with Mr. D.F. Ryder, a man who had a great enthusiasm for wine, taking over as Managing Director of the Publishing Division and Mr. E.O. Oellermann the Retail Division.
Mr. A. Maher took over the management of the Retail Division on the retirement of Mr. E.O. Oellermann in March 1997.
The firms publishing activities commenced in the early 1930s, producing mainly Zulu
novels, poetry
and textbooks. More recently the publishing operations have been expanded to cover the requirements of all educational authorities of South Africa
.
During World War II
, when it was difficult to import books, Shuter’s published jointly with overseas publishers, to enable leading titles to be available in sufficient quantity to meet demand.
Shuter & Shooter also introduced one of the first lending libraries in Pietermaritzburg
for the sum of a tickey (2 ½ cents) for each book lent.
In 1999 the Publishing
Division moved back to the first floor at the shop premises at 230 Church Street after its 10 year lease at 199 Pietermaritz Street expired.
The Publishing
Division also has a presence in Cape Town
, East London and Randburg. There is a main warehouse at Plessislaer, Pietermaritzburg
from which the company distributes its books countrywide. Due to the extremely difficult trading circumstances experienced in 1996, 1997 and 1998, the company was forced to reduce drastically the activities of Ikhwezi Publishers and Read Well Publishers in 1999.
At 1 June 2000 the retail bookshop became a separate company and started trading as Shuter & Shooter Retail (Pty) Ltd. In late 2000 Alan Maher was appointed Managing Director of this company.
Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. Was then able to focus on its publishing activities.
During 2001 it was decided that Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. and Reach Out Publishers (Pty) Ltd. would merge their publishing interests and form a new company to be called Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
In May 2002, the shareholders of Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. and Reach Out Publishers (Pty) Ltd. voted unanimously for this merger to take place.
The new company started trading on 1 June 2002 with Dave Ryder as its Managing Director.
In July 2003, Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd. moved to 21C Cascades Crescent, Pietermaritzburg
.
In January 2008, Primi Chetty took over as Managing Director.
In May 2009, Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd moved to a new building, Shuters House, 110 CB Downes Road, Mkondeni Pietermaritzburg
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
History
One of the earliest business houses in PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
was Vause, Slatter and Co. This company was taken over in 1921 by Mr. L.G. Shuter. In 1925 Mr. R.A. Shooter joined the company and the name was changed to Shuter & Shooter. Mr. L.G. Shuter was the stationer and Mr. R.A. Shooter the bookseller and publisher.
Vause, Slatter and Co. was originally a printing, stationery and music business. According to a letter which we received from the Standard Bank
Standard Bank
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited is one of South Africa's largest financial services groups. It operates in 30 countries around the world, including 17 in Africa.-History:...
in 1981, when they presented the company with a plaque commemorating 102 years of association, the company Vause, Slatter and Co. was established in 1850. The original trading site was 185 Church Street, the site now occupied by Volkskas Bank. As the business grew, they moved to 192 Church Street (part of the site now occupied by the Sanlam Building) and then to 166 Church Street, next to the Cathedral. (Part of the OK Building.) These premises were specially built to their requirements. A further move was made to Grays Inn, 230 Church Street in 1950. The adjoining buildings at 232 Church Street were acquired in 1976 and 1979 and both shop frontages were restored to their Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
splendour in 1989.
In June 1948 Mr. L.G. Shuter retired and sold his interest to Mr. C.A. Roy, Manager of Wm. Collins in South Africa. In 1951 Mr. R.A. Shooter retired from active directorship and allowed Mr. Roy to acquire financial control of Shuter & Shooter in 1955. The company was registered as a proprietary limited company in 1947. The first Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
consisted of Messrs L.G. Shuter and R.A. Shooter, C.A. Roy and W.H. Jenkins. At the end of June 1966 Mr. Roy, while remaining on the Board, stepped down as Chairman of the firm. The Natal Witness (The Witness (South African newspaper)
The Witness (South African newspaper)
The Witness is a daily newspaper published in Pietermaritzburg. It mainly serves readers in Pietermaritzburg and the inland areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the oldest continuously-published newspaper in South Africa, having first been published on 27 February 1846. Until 2000,...
) bought into the company and acquired financial control of Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. On the retirement of Mr. Roy, Mr. D.M. Craib was appointed Chairman of the Board and Mr. E.B. Oscroft as Managing Director. On his retirement in 1977, Mr. M.N. Prozesky was appointed Managing Director and Chairman of the Board
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
in December 1979.
Mr. Prozesky retired from the Company on 30 April 1993. He was succeeded as Chairman of the Board by Mr. W.N. Vorster, with Mr. D.F. Ryder, a man who had a great enthusiasm for wine, taking over as Managing Director of the Publishing Division and Mr. E.O. Oellermann the Retail Division.
Mr. A. Maher took over the management of the Retail Division on the retirement of Mr. E.O. Oellermann in March 1997.
The firms publishing activities commenced in the early 1930s, producing mainly Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
novels, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and textbooks. More recently the publishing operations have been expanded to cover the requirements of all educational authorities of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when it was difficult to import books, Shuter’s published jointly with overseas publishers, to enable leading titles to be available in sufficient quantity to meet demand.
Shuter & Shooter also introduced one of the first lending libraries in Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
for the sum of a tickey (2 ½ cents) for each book lent.
In 1999 the Publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
Division moved back to the first floor at the shop premises at 230 Church Street after its 10 year lease at 199 Pietermaritz Street expired.
The Publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
Division also has a presence in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, East London and Randburg. There is a main warehouse at Plessislaer, Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
from which the company distributes its books countrywide. Due to the extremely difficult trading circumstances experienced in 1996, 1997 and 1998, the company was forced to reduce drastically the activities of Ikhwezi Publishers and Read Well Publishers in 1999.
At 1 June 2000 the retail bookshop became a separate company and started trading as Shuter & Shooter Retail (Pty) Ltd. In late 2000 Alan Maher was appointed Managing Director of this company.
Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. Was then able to focus on its publishing activities.
During 2001 it was decided that Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. and Reach Out Publishers (Pty) Ltd. would merge their publishing interests and form a new company to be called Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
In May 2002, the shareholders of Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. and Reach Out Publishers (Pty) Ltd. voted unanimously for this merger to take place.
The new company started trading on 1 June 2002 with Dave Ryder as its Managing Director.
In July 2003, Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd. moved to 21C Cascades Crescent, Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
.
In January 2008, Primi Chetty took over as Managing Director.
In May 2009, Shuter & Shooter Publishers (Pty) Ltd moved to a new building, Shuters House, 110 CB Downes Road, Mkondeni Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
.