Plumbing Africa Plumblink's first hundred stores | Page 15

A Plumblink truck.
for the workers and is keen to recognise
talent. “Some of our branch managers
as example are those who have taken
advantage of learning opportunities and
they are expected to also pass on this
knowledge. This is an extremely hands-
on business, our branches, which are
on average around 250m 2, are staffed by
between four and eight staff depending on
the shop size and how busy they are.”
The above talks to the greater efficiency of the
business: when it had 19 stores it had around
600 employees, and with over a hundred
today it has just over a thousand employees,
www.plumblink.co.za
albeit the stores are smaller. Previously, every
store had a vehicle and a buyer, and generally
more of each position. Many positions and
functions have been centralised, and today
each branch does not have a creditors and
debtors clerk or buyer as example – it is all
done at the regional head office due to the
company’s seamless IT system, as well as
simplification of stockholding. The result of
the streamlined business is that new stores
also reach profitability earlier than before in
the old model.
Plumblink has not deviated from the
wholly owned model, despite Chandler
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“
Plumblink is also a
major supplier to the
insurance industry
and government,
notwithstanding
the oft-reported
difficulties of being
paid by government.”
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