1983 the year of iconic hits, the year of songs that bring back floods of memories. The year Bossi was born in Cape Town, by a South African for South African’s – yes 1983 was a great year to remember.
Neville Dorrington, an ambitious entrepreneur started with the humble beginnings of selling his Jean-Pierre Gift Range from the boot of his car to retailers in the Cape. His flair for business helped him grow his start-up into the official National Bossi brand, specialising in quality wallets for the market of South Africa.
Neville worked tirelessly travelling and negotiating to find manufacturers who could meet the quality, price and design requirements the Bossi brand would be become known for.
Initially, the first years of business, product was mainly sourced from Macau in Nylon and PU Fabrication. From 1986 onwards, Bossi diversified to include quality, affordable leather products to its vast and fast-moving range of styles. Bossi was well on the way to becoming an Iconic South African brand.
In the same year, Claire, Neville’s daughter at the age of 8, put on her Bossi Brand Ambassador cap and stepped into her young entrepreneurial shoes. She got to work designing her first product range, named ‘Big Bucks’ wallets, which she went on to market to her fellow peers. From that time on, Claire spent many hours helping out at Dad’s side. As Claire grew, she ‘walked the beat’ with Bossi Sales Representatives, learning the in and outs of business negotiation, design, production, wholesale, merchandising and customer relations. Even during her years studying her BCOM she worked part-time at Bossi.