Motovac opens franchise in Jwaneng
Keikantse Lesemela | Monday August 18, 2014 12:05
Motovac sales director, Samir Patel, said the company has decided to offer franchises to Batswana. “For over 30 years we have seen the brand growing, even in other countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe. So we want Batswana to benefit because the company started in Botswana,” said Patel.
He said the company, which has partners in South Africa, Namibia and the U.K, has the competitive advantage in the Botswana market. “Our global supply base and exclusive distributorship right in Botswana offers us an obvious advantage to provide quality parts at the right price,” said Patel, adding that the company imports parts and accessories from trusted sources in Australia, Italy, India, Japan, Korea, Thailand and the U.K.
He explained that a total of P1.8 million is required as the start up capital. “We offer full support with the stock for one month as a start-up,” said Patel.
The company’s products include; body panels, engine parts, suspension parts and borehole diesel engines among others. “We provide a wide range of automotive spare parts and quality customer service to the wholesale, retail and government markets,” he said.
Patel further said that they offer support to the franchisee, including staff training. He said they have already approved two franchisees-one opened for business at the beginning of August.
“Our target is to have three franchisees per year, looking at the market they are operating in,” he said, adding that they would ensure that the business does not go wrong, as Motovac would be monitoring their operations. Motovac charges 1.5 percent of the business’s profits as the Franchise fee.
Speaking with the Monitor, Motovac first franchisee, Jacqui Portuondo, from Jwaneng said she has only operated for a week and customers are already coming in large numbers. “There is good market for these products here. I have operated for a week and now customers are already coming in large numbers. They are happy with the shop opening here since they will no longer be traveling to Gaborone to buy some parts,” said Portuondo.
Portuondo said she has long wanted to run a business because she was tired of full time employment. “I realised that there is an opportunity in retail, so I ventured into this because I live in Jwaneng and I have seen a need for these products in this town,” she said.
Portuondo was selected from a list of 30 applicants for the franchise following a call for the franchise following a call for expressions of interest by Motovac in 2012.