Secrets of Running a Successful Auto Garage
By Akinpelu Dada
Many people and corporate organisations spend millions on naira to buy exotic vehicles, which instantly raise their status in the community.
While some spend fortunes to maintain their vehicles, many others fail in the basic task of maintaining their vehicles. The story of Mr. Chris Obiajulu is apt. His car is worth about N4.5m, but he finds it difficult to spend money to maintain it. He regularly patronises roadside mechanics and buy used spare parts until the engine got knocked.
Mr. Adedayo Adefolu is an unusual auto mechanic. He is the Chief Executive of Honda Solution. Though he is engaged in what thousand others are doing, his mode of operation sets him apart from the others.
While many of his contemporaries usually wait for people whose vehicles developed faults to bring them for repairs, Adefolu does not wait for customers, he practically looks for them.
He has taken up advertisement slots on three radio stations, drawing attention to his services.
He explains, I am currently advertising on radio and exploring other ways of expanding the business because if you don�€™t advertise your services, it is like covering your talents. While other people patronise spiritualists and babalawos to help them woo customers, I believe that if you don�€™t expose your business, people will not know about it and you will not get patronage.�€
Determined to take the business to a new level, Adefolu recently hired a consultant to give fresh ideas into the business.
For a man who rose from humble beginnings, his customers say he has done well.
Adefolu says he started as an apprentice battery charger in Kano, where he used to rent batteries to Leventis drivers to start their trucks.
I was in the Honda section, and I was sent to Japan twice to learn more. I applied myself to the job and everybody liked me. Upon leaving Leventis, I came to Lagos and did apprenticeship for another four years to learn how to repair other Japanese vehicles other than Honda.�€
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