From Grease Monkey To Towing Boss
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday October 12, 2021 06:00
Trading as Angelique Motors, the company added towing to its portfolio that includes panel beating, spray painting and mechanical repairs. Currently, it has a small fleet of three vehicles; a brand new UD towing truck and two private cars. The business has built its reputation on quality works in panel beating, spray painting and sales of used auto parts, apart from auto mechanics.
It was established when Christopher Musa decided to start his own company after identifying a gap in the Northern part of Botswana, realising he could be more than just a grease monkey, following gained experience. Narrating his journey to Business Monitor, Musa said after quitting his full-time job, he started doing panel beating, spray painting and doing mechanical repairs. As his business expanded, he then approached the Youth Development Fund in 2014 to fund his equipment.
He later bought a towing car with his savings. “The company was registered to take advantage of the existing market after realising the need for professional mechanical companies. My first customers were mostly individuals and I still get more support from them, as I have not yet built rapport with companies and organisations,” Musa said. According to Musa, who has managed to penetrate the industry over time, the Local Enterprise Authority has been instrumental in the growth of his business as the organisation has been offering mentoring while monitoring his business.
The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency has also resourced him. “We’re a turnkey one-stop-shop, starting with consulting moving through to final mechanical, spray painting and the ongoing tranquillity thereafter.
Providing a client with the very best service is vital to us,” he said. The company faces stiff competition from the bigger operators. “We offer competitive rates, which gives us an edge over our competitors.
Our service is professional, which is an asset towards meeting the demands of individuals, corporate, government and mine projects,” he said. Furthermore, Musa said they meet their customers’ demands by offering the best communication, response time and putting their clients first.