SA Franchise Warehouse

Matrix Warehouse shaping up in Brits

Riaan Gericke is the delighted owner of the new Matrix Warehouse store in Brits.

Riaan Gericke (back left), Madeleine, Pieter and Jacques.

Project funded by Kagiso Trust

The person

Growing up in the little town of Despatch situated between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, Riaan completed his Matric at Despatch High School and then went on to study at CS Holding where he qualified as a Certified Novell Engineer. Before stepping out on his own, Riaan was employed as a Regional Service Delivery Manager at South African Breweries, managing the IT infrastructure of the biggest brewery in the Southern Hemisphere. Riaan is fortunate to have the unwavering support of his family as he embarks on this new venture — "They are all involved in the business, providing support and helping where they can."

Life as an entrepreneur

Q: Is being your own boss something you always aspired to and who/what motivated you to want to own your own business?
A: I always wanted to be my own boss, even when I was still at school. With Matrix Warehouse I was motivated by the franchisor's passion for good service and the professional manner in which they conduct their business. I once bought computer components from Matrix Warehouse and was so impressed that I decided that this is the business I want to own.

Q: Tell us about your dealings with SA Franchise Warehouse and how you experienced the funding application process.
A: I was totally impressed with the way SA Franchise Warehouse handled the process and kept me informed every step in the way. I would recommend any prospective business owner to consider going the SA Franchise Warehouse route.

Q: Did you apply for funding elsewhere? Tell us about your experiences.
A: My experience of applying to the banks was not pleasant. The process was painfully long and the saying "How can we help you?" simply does not exist.

Q: How much capital did you have to invest in your new business and how did you accumulate it? 
A: I invested R200,000 which I had accumulated with the help of my family.

Q: How has the training and support you received from the franchisor and from SA Franchise Warehouse prepared you to manage the business?
A: The process was absolutely worth it as the training supplied by the franchisor and by SA Franchise totally prepared me for the new experience. With the franchisor's assistance the set-up was painless and the ongoing support is absolutely fantastic. 

Q: Do you think you could have established a similar business on your own without the help of a franchisor?
A: No, it would have taken years to establish a business that would have been far inferior to the Matrix Warehouse model.

Q: Is the reality of being a franchisee different to what you expected? 
A: No — the experience and the process to get to the end result was and is fantastic.

Q: What is your current staff complement and how many staff will you ultimately employ?
A: We employ four people currently and as the store grows this will increase to six people. 

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: I would like to grow this business to its full potential and open more franchises all over the country.

Q: What lessons have you learnt that you would like to share with other business owners?
A: First do your homework thoroughly. Study all aspects of the potential business, including the long term positives and negatives. Always be positive and do not give up on your dreams.