Sebina: A Car Rental Guru In The Making
Pini Bothoko | Monday March 21, 2016 18:00
In Botswana the example of Choppies, which started as a single supermarket in Lobatse is a telling example and cannot be overemphasised. In Francistown, Destiny Car Rentals is following the footsteps of Choppies and other successful businesses.
With just two cars in 2008 when the company started, Destiny now has grown into a business empire that has eight different car models of various types.
They include Ford Figo, Corolla, 2.5 Toyota Hillux, Range Rover, 3L Toyota Hilux, Mercedes Benz C300, Quantum and Land Cruisers 4.2L. The owner of Destiny, Carlos Sebina has now opened other branches in Gaborone and Maun.“Our fleet of vehicles ranges from off-road cars, mini buses and luxury cars. This is a significant improvement in order to cater for a variety of needs for our different customers,” said Sebina. The Gaborone branch has two offices while Maun has one. Recently, Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) held a graduation ceremony for Destiny at Thapama Hotel. At the ceremony, Sebina disclosed that his relationship with LEA started in 2007 followed by the opening of Destiny in 2008.
Sebina said in 2007 he did not know the mandate of LEA until he visited its offices to ask for funding to start his business.
“They told me that they only offered guidance in establishing businesses. I then presented my business idea, which was followed by vigorous interviews. I then went to Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) who funded my business. Even today I am still receiving business expertise from LEA,” said a happy Sebina.
Sebina is indeed living proof that perseverance pays as to date Destiny offers affordable, accessible and quality car rental services in Botswana and hopes to open other branches in Botswana before branching outside the country. “As an entrepreneur I felt that there is need to have offices at the airports, which to date are offering excellent service to air transport customers in Gaborone and Francistown. My Maun office is also near the airport,” said Sebina.
He said that to date they have employed 10 full-time staff, three on part-time basis and youth on an internship programme.
Sebina praised government for helping him and he disclosed that to date his turnover has increased by 20 percent.
He said just like other businesses, Destiny is faced with some challenges like when the demand is higher than the supply.
The major problem affecting his business, Sebina said, is some thieves who masquerade as customers only to hire cars before selling them in South Africa and Mozambique.
Fortunately Sebina said, “We have a good relationship with the police who at all times are able to help us trace some of our cars in cases of theft.” He stated that they have a competitive advantage over their rivals because they offer quality service, adding that companies now understand the services that Destiny offers. Officiating at the graduation ceremony, LEA’s deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) client services, Masego Gwaila-Madanika said the owners of Destiny were committed and took their interventions seriously hence the success of their business today. She said despite facing challenges from already established businesses in the market, Destiny continued to thrive and create employment for other Batswana.
Gwaila-Madanika said despite being the first business to graduate in the north of the country, LEA will continue to mentor Destiny and advise them where possible if they encounter challenges.