aBr June 2014 June 2014 | Page 54

Midas franchise | by Tristan Wiggill Colourful crowd Rainbow Midas in Louis Trichardt is a family affair and highly ➲ The shop is seen and loved by locals and tourists in equal measure successful spares franchise operating in the Limpopo province. Family is very important to us and we will always be grateful for the many years of support and commitment from Uncle George toward the Midas brand. Planning for the future has been important to him, so by building a solid foundation he has ensured that his children can follow in his footsteps and continue to grow within the Midas family. - Gerhard Braun; Midas franchise director ➲ George has no plans to retire and continues to pass down his knowledge to his family O wner and long-time Midas supporter, George Boyd, has been happily “married” to the Midas group since the early 1980s and, like a loyal husband, has no reason to leave - or retire for that matter. Speaking of wedded bliss, George employs his two daughters and his two sons-inlaw on a full-time basis, as well as a granddaughter and grandson. “You’ve got to look after your children,” he says affectionately. Apart from his immediate off-spring and their other halves, Rainbow Midas employs a total of some 39 people who all work in harmony in the 1 000 square metre building. George is a busy man, overseeing the running of Rainbow Midas and three other Midas branches in Limpopo as well. These include Rissik Street Midas; Elim Midas and Nzhelele Midas. Two of the four stores under his guidance are situated in Louis Trichardt, with the Rainbow branch in his capable hands for the past 15 years. “We specialise purely in automotive parts and accessories,” he says, avoiding the distraction of diversification. “Business has changed dramatically over the years… when I started here there were only two spares shops in competition to us – today there are 16 or 17.” George says he appreciates the fact that Midas head office staff pay the shop v isits from time to time and interacts with him and the business. He has developed an innovative approach to parts delivery and job creation, with two bicycles used to transport the lighter, fast-moving stock to nearby workshops and private individuals. The company also uses a more traditional delivery vehicle for out-of-town deliveries. Much of the business in the once thriving farming community comes from informal mechanics and roadside “technicians.” The leisure market is also well supported, with camping and outdoor equipment | words in action 52 june 2014 popular choices among those going to the nearby Kruger National Park and other game reserves. Despite this massive spike in competition, the Midas brand has kept him at the front of the pack. “Midas is a big concern. Everyone wants a slice of the spares cake and the reality is the slices are getting smaller and smaller but Midas is a household name and one of the best established. The most important aspects are customer’s service and keen pricing. Most of our customers are shopping on price, although some do ask for certain brands. At the end of the day, affordability is paramount in Louis Trichardt,” he says.