The grass is not always greener on the other side, and now I am back home in the Free State with my new family, the BB Group.
So says Deon Bronkhorst, newly appointed Dealer Principal at BB Welkom, after returning from Canada where he had a short stint in the automotive trade on the other side of the world.
Having kicked off his career in 1994, joining the auto trade working in the parts department of the then Highway BMW Group in Klerksdorp, and having gained experience at different dealerships in the Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape in various positions, he was really coming into his own.
"I am fortunate that I filled various positions during my career, from parts and service departments, selling new and used vehicles and management, to becoming a Dealer Principal in 2013. I was fortunate to have a rich and rewarding career with numerous brands at various locations, before leaving for Canada in 2024.” Deon says.
Seasoned in all aspects of the motor retail business, Deon will now oversee the group's Hyundai, Renault and GWM operations in Welkom, working to increase all three brands' footprint in the region.
"I believe there is much opportunity to improve, and our solid and capable staff component is the backbone of our operations. A number of staff members have been with the dealerships (who were all independent at one stage or another) since their inception," Deon tells Dealerfloor.
Deon says they recently moved the dealerships closer to each other, with Renault now adjacent to Hyundai at its beacon position on Welkom's famous motorway, Jan Hofmeyr Road. GWM has just opened across the street in a new building.
"The idea is to consolidate all the dealerships on one premises in the long run, and land has already been procured for this future venture. The Renault and GWM signage for their current locations have also just been completed. Some other exciting additions to the BB Group are also being planned for the near future, watch this space," he says.
And what did he learn in Canada? "That you don't move there during winter as it was freezing cold," he says on a lighter note. "I realised that South Africa is a great country that still offers a lot of opportunities and has amazing people. That is not to say that we don't have serious challenges here, but together we can overcome and grow from these challenges.”
He tells Dealerfloor: "The support from the BB Group is great, and I have no doubt that in the near future our brands here will be an even stronger force to be reckoned with."
He concludes by saying that the three brands and the large portfolio of products within each range offer something for every new car buyer in the Free State. "I am confident that our footprint here will grow, and with the backing of the BB Group, we are but a stone's throw away from becoming the dominant player in town."
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