The pioneers of success
James Thompson became an apprentice carpenter in Durban at the age of 12. He eventually found his way to Johannesburg where he began working for Kemp and Wishard. In 1889 he set up his own building and carpentry business: J Thompson, Carpenter and Builder. Thompson offered his clients the strong values that were to define his legacy: honesty, reliability and excellence, bringing public interest to a family business with an established set of principles. By this point, Thompson had ensured that his business philosophy had been passed down to his sons, Mark and James.
From modest beginnings he developed a network of loyal and trusting customers, and his talents earned plaudits from the likes of Sir Herbert Baker, who declared Thompson “the best builder in South Africa”.
