In Pursuit of Excellence
Zaid adds “We try to anticipate what we will
be needing in the future depending on what
projects are going on. For instance we may
bring in Tyres for a particular piece of heavy
equipment for a crane or a tractor and when
that project finishes we have tyres for that
“
Batteries and Scooters so trends in these
markets have to be carefully monitored.”
“As far as the Scooters are concerned we
Another area The Brothers feel needs to be
looked at within the industry, is the issue
of duties facing different Caricom nations:
Tyres are dutiable at 62% in Grenada.
In Trinidad that duty is only 30%
120 different size tyres.
A Honda CRV for instance has 10 different
sizes of tyres depending on the year of
manufacture so we have to stock them all.
actually checked out 10 different factories
in china before we decided on the make
CROX which is also sold in Europe. That was
significant in our decision making process.
European standards are high. We can get up
to 45 scooters in a container but we do have
to do some assembly when it gets here. Now
we are selling less bikes but more parts. Our
strength is that we are very good with after
sales and parts. We want to be able to service
every scooter we sell. We spend a lot of money
on parts for our scooters. A scooter is not a
wealthy purchase. The average person buying
a scooter is a poor man so he needs serviceable
parts to keep his machine on the road. We’ve
been selling bikes now for about 4 years.”
Spice Isle Retreaders are also in the process
of revisiting the law as it pertains to the tyre
industry in Grenada and are working with the
Grenada Bureau of Standards on this so that
companies can only bring in used tyres that
are unblemished.
Presently SIR only bring in Tyres that pass
the standard for Europe and North America,
so if it passes these standards, then they
import. They refuse to bring in sub standard
tyres to Grenada but others do. Thats why they
remain keen to introduce better standards to
the market.
PHOTO BY STEVE BRETT
equipment in stock so we end up having to
keep it in our storeroom for years until we can
sell it again.”
Other challenges we face are that people
are bringing in all sorts of different vehicles
from Japan that are not readily sold here …
so that means we have to bring in a much
broader range of tyres than we did before
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The Suzuki Grand Vitara has 7 different
types of batteries that we have to stock.
Illustrating his fundamental knowledge of
vehicles and the market place in which the
company operates, Zaid continues
Tyres are the companies main business
representing a sales split of around 60%
new and 40% used Tyres, but they also sell
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“We see this initiative as vital to protect
the customer and also our own Integrity &
reputation as a business at the same time”
states Zaid
Another area The Brothers feel needs to be
looked at within the industry is the issue of
duties facing different Caricom nations: Tyres
are dutiable at 62% in Grenada. In Trinidad
that duty is only 30 %
Salim continues “what in effect happens
is that you are now creating a situation
where competition from Trinidad can look
at the Grenada market favorably and look to
compete with our own home grown companies
here, because we cannot compete on a level
playing field with them, because of the huge
differential in duties.”
The astute businessman continues:
“During recessions we always sell more used
tyres than new, but in the fairly recent past
there was an additional environmental tax
“
THE FUTURE
“My Father is a smart man and just like he
got his children to run the company, we would
like to see our children running the company
too, so we can retire also”
With Zaid & Salim aged 46 & 43 respectively
they may be a few years before retirement I
can e realistically considered however states
Zaid
“We are grooming employees to take on more
responsibility within the business
As far as the Scooters are concerned we actually
checked out 10 different factories in china
before we decided on the make CROX which
is also sold in Europe
placed on used tyres, which made them more
expensive to the consumer, So… for the poor
man who cannot afford a new tyre, a used tyre
has now become more expensive.”
“We think it should have been the other way
around and used tyres should have remained
at the same cost and new tyres should have
received the tax increase.
This strategy would ensure that the poor
man in the street is not so adversely affected.”
Salim wisely observes.
“As leaders, our information must be based
on knowledge, and we like to think that’s what
we bring to the market, an in depth knowledge
of product and our market.”
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
“There are many things we do you will not
know about … We give from the heart not
from the head.” States Salim
“Between myself and my father we have
served on the boards of many organizations
such as The Grenada Bureau of Standards,
The Grenada Chamber of Industry and
Commerce, Rotary Club, Westmoreland
School, NAWASA, GRENLEC, Grenada
Manufacturers Association.
“We have built over 30 bus stands all over
Grenada and initiated this nationwide practice.
“We maintain roundabouts in the area and
we maintain the entire verge in the middle of
the highway with no pomp or ceremony.
“
Managing Director Salim states: “Some
products we import, do not yield big profits and
other items bring in more profits but we have
to take it all in our stride. We bring in both
New and Used Tires but sometimes importing
a container of used tires can backfire as the
shipment may be poor quality, that means we
could take a loss or barely cover expenses so
that aspect is a bit of a lottery when dealing
with used Tires, because we never know what
precise quality we are going to receive.
to accommodate them and that affects
our storeroom capacity, it makes ordering
more difficult. Whereas we used to stock 40
different tyre sizes, now that figure could be
“
CHALLENGES
In Pursuit of Excellence
Who can do a job from within so that is
something we are looking at for the future.
Our Parents are still great advisors to us even
today and we look upon them as consultants
we can always bounce ideas off. My Father
Managing Director Salim proudly states
“Myself and my brother believe in any thing
that puts Grenada first.”
Brother Zaid reiterates, “We try to live in
the principles of the lord, demonstrating
to our staff and customers excellent
Ethics, Values, & Fairness”.Salim
adds, “If it were not for the mercy
of God Almighty, for us striving to
do what is right, I am convinced
that we would not be where
we are today and would not
have experienced this level
of success. Humans wake
up everyday with a choice.
and if we make the right
choices in tune with our
creator then we will be
surely blessed. We try
to make humanity better
with our existence through
the guidance of our Lord
Almighty.
This is the story of Spice Isle
Retreaders.
A story of Tyres, Scooters Batterries
and Family. BG
www.businessgrenada.com
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