Meet Elion Levitan

Elion Leviton’s entry into sales was unconventional.  His late father, Mike Leviton, had been a steadfast representative of Sparks & Ellis for over 30 years and when he died, Elion felt a calling to follow in his father’s footsteps.  He applied for a position with Sparks & Ellis and got the job and so, for the past 11 years, Elion has been a dedicated and successful member of the Sparks team, based in the KwaZulu-Natal office.

As a representative for Sparks, his mission is clear: to uphold the company’s reputation and ensure that both existing and prospective customers associate only one name with uniforms and accessories.

In his day-to-day responsibilities, Elion shows both integrity and prowess in his role. He enjoys the unpredictability of the sales landscape and charts his way through with grace and determination. Whether he’s in the office or on the road, his focus is unwavering.

He does admit to struggling with rejection and is as dogged in his determination to win new clients as his father was. 

Building excellent client relationships is Elion’s forte.  His empathetic nature means he can put himself in his client’s shoes – even if they aren’t Sparks & Ellis shoes – and he takes the time and trouble to listen to their needs.  The fact that he’s working for a company that can then carry through on that level of detail and attention completes the circle and keeps everyone satisfied.

Elion loves the fact that he’s working for a company that encourages open communication and the sharing of ideas and that, together with his colleagues, he is able to bring everything together in a professional way.

Outside of work, Elion enjoys spending time with his wife, family, and friends, and relishes engaging with his community too, where his talents extend beyond sales and customer service. Like his father, he’s a natural born mimic and a master of accents – which amuses his colleagues, clients, family, and everyone around him.  The Levitan legend lives on as Elion carries the family name proudly forward within the Sparks team.

Meet Suzette Plowman

She may not look the part, but Suzette is called ‘tannie’ by many of her clients – and while she appreciates that Tannie (aunty) is a sign of respect, she’s also aware of the fact that her clients are often a lot younger than she is. After three decades of sales experience, it’s not surprising that Suzette has finely tuned her strengths in fostering strong client relationships and developing innovative solutions for them. 

Her move to Sparks & Ellis was fueled by the allure of joining an experienced and thoroughly professional team – which offers top-to-toe uniform solutions to a multitude of industries and government departments.

After nine years with Sparks & Ellis, Suzette now plays a pivotal role in steering future business prospects.  Her daily agenda involves delving into a client’s core business, identifying opportunities for portfolio growth, and promoting cross industry collaborations.  She prioritizes client satisfaction and always ensures timely communication and proactive service delivery.

Strengths abound in Suzette’s arsenal, and these include her prowess in client relationship building, a solution orientated mindset and relentless pursuit of goals and targets.  She candidly acknowledges her impatience with unnecessary complications and sometimes struggles to decline challenging demands which can put herself and the team under pressure.  She also has zero tolerance for corruption and is one of the key reasons she loves working with Sparks & Ellis – because they abhor it too.

When it comes to nurturing client relationships, Suzette pays close attention to their feedback, builds conversations around shared interests, and commemorates special occasions with thoughtful gestures.  Her personal approach has cemented lasting bonds with her loyal client base.

Sparks stands out in the realm of customer service by upholding honesty, transparency, and a commitment to quality.  Suzette reflects this by maintaining open communication, swiftly sorting out problems and by always delivering world-class service.

Suzette attributes her professional growth at Sparks to the supportive environment that exists in the company – where acceptance, encouragement and a collaborative spirit thrive.  Notable career highlights include the team’s collective effort in finding new business opportunities and the ability to adapt quickly within a very competitive high-tech industry.

At the end of her busy day, Sunette finds solace in family time and indulges in hobbies like gardening, courses in first aid and art, and exploring nature reserves like Rietvlei.  She adores her schnauzer, Josh, and looks forward to their daily walks. 

She’s a real ‘tannie’ at Sparks too – because she helps to guide the spirit of teamwork, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to service excellence.  This makes her an indispensable asset to Sparks and a beloved figure among clients.

Meet Alex Sigwadi

When Alex catapulted into a sales career, he found his perfect vocation because he’s always loved achieving goals.  This basic instinct is conveniently matched by an innate ability to navigate stressful situations with ease, spot opportunities for growth, and work well with people at all levels.  When he joined the dynamic team at Sparks & Ellis eight years ago, he knew immediately that he could make a difference, and his colleagues would be the first to echo that he has made a big contribution to the company’s success. 

Alex is the sales leader of the Western Cape sales team, and his main responsibility is to ensure that sales targets are not only met but also exceeded.  This involves a relentless commitment to always being available to his customers and this is what fills most of his days – along with keeping a keen eye on that sales target and helping to drive more sales.

Alex knows his weaknesses and he knows that he often bites off more than he can chew but this is counteracted by his other strengths: a meticulous attention to detail, his team spirit, and his exceptional communication skills. 

When it comes to building crucial client relationships, Alex thrives on responsiveness and continuous improvement.  He believes the customer is always right and that translates well when handling any of their concerns because he makes this a top priority and alleviates any of those concerns instantly. Alex and his team are proud to work for a company that continues to distinguish itself through its unwavering commitment to quality products, well-equipped staff, timely deliveries.  Alex ensures that they reflect this professionalism while they aim to surpass every customer’s highest expectation.

When Alex began working at Sparks & Ellis, he was given skills training and sales courses, which have proved invaluable to him over the years.  He’s particularly aware of how this training has helped him to be more grounded and realistic in his working life and various disciplines such as time management and attainable goal setting have been invaluable. 

Outside work, Alex finds solace and fulfillment in a wide variety of hobbies and passions.  He loves traveling to new destinations and engaging in volunteer work within his community.  Above all he cherishes family time with his wife and children and embraces life to the full beyond the business hustle.

Despite his considerable abilities, Alex harbours a few surprises.  He admits to being unable to ride a bike and he also has an abject fear of snakes.  But this makes Alex the likeable man he is – a sunny, multifaceted character who oozes buckets of charm mixed with utter professionalism.