So, says Jaco Barendse, the new Dealer Principal at Welkom Toyota, the dealership that opened its doors for business a couple of weeks ago.

CFAO Mobility has more than 100 dealerships of different brands across the country and a large concentration of Toyota dealerships in the Free State and the North-West province.

The new Oranje Toyota in Welkom was built on a premises CFAO Mobility bought in a better part of the city. “CFAO Mobility believes in this city and its people, that is why we invested in this dealership. The new facility is impressive with enough space and security for both customers and staff,” Jaco tells Dealerfloor.

“We also went for a more environmentally friendly approach regarding the provision of water and electricity. A borehole was drilled, and the water purified to make it potable. We are finalising the process of installing solar for our electricity needs. Going this route is essential for the environment.”

Jaco tells us that they were able to absorb a number of staff members from a different franchise that is closing up shop in Welkom. “We needed extra capacity in certain departments, and I am glad to keep these skilled people in Welkom. Although we kept our staff component more or less the same, we will have to see what the future holds before increasing it substantially,” Jaco says.

Currently, they are able to service around 35 vehicles a day, but with a growing demand, the capacity could rise to 45 vehicles a day at the new dealership. The new dealership will also accommodate the pre-owned vehicles under the Automark banner in the same building.

“The dealership is also a lot more attractive for customers with safe and secure parking and comfortable waiting areas with different facilities. We donated all the furniture from the old dealership to schools in need, which welcomed the donation with open arms.

“It is important that we become more active in the community and assist schools and other institutions with needs where possible. I firmly believe that we should plough back into the community that serves us,” Jaco tells Dealerfloor.

Asked about the primary customer base, Jaco says that Welkom and the immediate surrounding towns are their main focus. “We are here to serve the great Welkom area and to also reach out to the smaller towns in the region.

“The local community, industries, the mining sector and the large agricultural sector in this part of the Free State are our clientele, and we serve them with the different needs they have. Our increased parts department and the possibility of expanding our ability to service more vehicles will all go a long way to render an even better service,” he says.

“I think it is crucial that, notwithstanding a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, at the end of the day it is all about customer service. We have to constantly perform better for our customers, and we as management and the staff must ensure that we are on the same page to achieve this, day in and day out,” Jaco says.

Jaco, who has been appointed as the new DP with effect from 1 May, was previously the DP at Oranje Toyota in Hartswater in the Northern Cape on the border of the Free State and North-West, says it is a new and larger dealership compared to Hartswater, and a new environment and people. He is, however, all geared up for the challenge and with a very strong team in place, ready to do business.