April 24 - Lowveld

Members of region 5
BUCO’s history dates back 45 years,
which is when the first parent store
was opened. “We started building up
this region from 1997,” explains Pottie
Potgieter, the regional operations
manager, “but the story actually
goes back a lot further than that. We
opened the first parent store in 1980,
and over the years, the family grew to
twelve. Currently, the stores belong to
the Building Company, which in turn
belongs to the Pepkor Group.”
BUCO has come a long way since
those early days. A one-stop shop
for building supplies, the company’s
role in the community has grown
in a number of directions, from
community-based initiatives to
interior decor and gardening. In
February 2024, the eastern regions’
stores were named the best within the
Building Company, an achievement
calculated not only specifically in
terms of nett profit, but also fixed
assets and stocks. “The company’s aim
is to always strive to be better - better
than the opposition and better than
yesterday,” he adds.
Pottie goes on to say that the best part
about it is that each store’s branch
manager is an individual entrepreneur.
“Most of them have fifteen or more
years of experience in the industry. We
believe the reason for the company’s
success under the extremely difficult
economic times we currently face
is due to the incredible teamwork
and camaraderie between these
employees. In addition, we believe
in turning each and every threat
into an opportunity - and we firmly
believe that no matter how big
or how small, there is always an
opportunity.”
Staying humble in their convictions,
Pottie maintains that BUCO’s eastern
region will always give their absolute
best, both for their employees and
for their fellow man. “It is such a great
honour to have been appointed as
the best region within this remarkable
company,” he smiles, “and it is an
accolade we share with each and
every one of our clients and suppliers.”