TRADE NEWS •••
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WESSELSBRON RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Tait has time for his producers
FLIP TAIT ’ S NAME SAYS IT ALL - HE HAS TIME ( TYD IN AFRIKAANS ), OR IN HIS CASE TAIT FOR HIS PRO- DUCERS .
AUBREY KRUGER
Flip is well-known to the producers of Wesselsbron , the area upon which we focus this time , the reason being that Flip will be celebrating 50 years with the company this year !
Communication runs like a silver thread through his successes at Senwes . Flip started as a clerk at Senwes in Bloemfontein half a century ago . He brings new meaning to joining a company straight after school . He finished matric on Friday , 8 December 1967 and joined Senwes on the Monday , 11 December 1967 . Two years later , in 1969 , he was promoted to assistant branch manager at Verkeerdevlei . He filled the same position at Klerksdorp branch and Koppies . During his sixth year with Senwes he became branch manager at Lagerskraal , followed by Lindley , Brandfort , back to Lagerskraal and then Theunissen . He has been at Wesselsbron since 2003 , first as branch manager and then as relationship manager .
He has been in this position since 2005 . He has time for his producers and when he doesn ’ t have time , this Zastron-born man makes time . He has extensive knowledge and tells us that , in addition to communication with his producers , communication with his personnel and suppliers is equally important .
Flip follows an umbrella approach , which includes making sure that his customer is satisfied , determining the needs of the customer and arranging financing for the customer . “ This is why they trust me . When they trust you , they communicate better with you .”
He also visits producers on their farms . Alternatively he “ sees them when they come to town .” However , on Saturdays he makes time to go to the farms and he makes notes of what is happening on the fields . When a producer comes to visit him , he is usually ready with a recommendation or two since he already knows what is happening on the farm . They usually ask : “ How do you know ” and I tell them that I am really interested in their business .
He works well with all his personnel . Branch manager Johnny Bezuidenhout and Flip make a formidable team . “ I work well with Johnny . He supports me with marketing and we communicate well with each other . Often when Johnny is away , I accept responsibility for matters - one hand washes the other , after all .”
He will be celebrating his 44th wedding anniversary with his wife , Yvonne , on 17 March this year . They have two sons , who are also in the agricultural industry . His eldest son , also Flip , is in the fertiliser industry and works for Vetrivier Boeredienste and Chris is the branch manager at Suidwes in Bothaville .
Flip turned 68 on 31 January this year and he doesn ’ t want to think about retiring . “ What will I do ? My problem is that I cannot sit still .”
He would like to share his knowledge for another three years - “ One can ’ t buy experience after all .”
SENWES Scenario • FEB / MAR 2017 33