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Conti Corner • 43
Tobie Crause and Tinus Bester.
Says Wayne: “In these challenging economic times, we’ve chosen to
consolidate our operation by focusing exclusively on our primary shop
in Rosslyn.”
Following a boom year in 2008 which culminated in a record-breaking
turnover and good gross profit margins for Tonway, Wayne and Tony are
hoping to boost their performance further during the course of this year, in
spite of the gloomy economic forecasts.
They’ve chosen to do this by consolidating the operation, capitalising on
internal efficiencies, keeping overheads to a bare minimum and continuing
with their hands-on approach to the business.
Says Wayne: “I’m not just a business owner, I’m also a salesman. My
immediate and most important function (aside from running the business),
is to personally service my customers. That’s what I believe has been the
key to our success.
“Only operators who are lean in their infra-structure and who abide by strict
accounting practices are likely to survive the current economic crisis,” he
adds. “In this business, we see so many retail outlets running on bank
balances as opposed to accurate management accounts,” says Wayne,
something he personally insists on seeing by the 7th of each month.
Plus, the factory produces six days a week, 24 hours a day, while the store is
open Monday to Friday from 07h00-17h00 and Saturdays from 07h00-13h00.
By all indications, their discipline and diligence in this regard coupled with
their willingness to ‘get their hands dirty’, has reaped dividends for this
independent operation which continues to receive high praise from its
most formidable critic – the marketplace.
Adds Tinus Bester: “Tonway Tyres Services Silverton caters to a diversified
market sector. Here, we sell anything from passenger tyres to light
commercial, heavy commercial and OTR tyres.”
And despite the presence of no less than 13 opposition shops in the
immediate area, Tinus further claims that their close association with two
premium brands - Continental and Bandag - as well as their decision to
specialise on the commercial sector, has worked in their favour. Add to
that, their attention to detail and near-exclusive fixation with the smaller
commercial operator who is less likely to incur bad debt and it appears
Tonway Tyres Silverton is equally well poised to weather the storm.
Concludes Wayne: “Our suppliers have played a huge role in the success
of our business. Take Continental for example: Close on 80% of our new
tyre sales are made up of Continental. In fact, Tonway Tyres was built on the
Continental brand. To us, they’re not just our primary tyre suppliers – they
are our business partners.”
Strengthening existing relationships such as these, remaining ever vigilant
and focused on their immediate business and refusing to fall prey to
the current negative energy that is circulating courtesy of the looming
recession, are the all-important elements which Wayne and Tony believe
will carry them forward. We take our hats off to them! In their independent
capacity, they seem to have achieved what many others with considerable
resources cannot.