Sunday News (Zimbabwe)

Audio Connect partners internatio­nal firms

- Dumisani Nsingo Senior Business Reporter

ONE of the country’s leading and most reputable event management companies, Audio Connect has partnered with two foreign firms as part of its efforts to enhance its service provision and grow its business.

Audio Connect director Mr Don Johnson Shirichena said the events management stable has entered into an agreement with South African firm, Sound Track, which is in the same line of business and Pro Audio System, a Chinese Public Address and audio devices manufactur­er and supplier.

The Harare-based company, which also has a branch in Bulawayo specialise­s in events management, hiring and selling of PA Systems as well as installati­ons.

“We have entered into an agreement with a reputable events management company, Sound Track of South Africa. Our partnershi­p is such that Sound Track leases part of its equipment to us. As you are aware South Africa is technologi­cally advanced than us (Zimbabwe) and we import most of our equipment from there or in China thus this partnershi­p will enable us to introduce the latest technologi­es in events management,” said Mr Shirichena.

“Suffice to say a partnershi­p with Sound Track will enhance our brand and catapult the growth of our business. We have also brokered a deal with Pro Audio System, which will see us marketing its products as well as doing specialise­d installati­ons of state-of-the-art PA systems at churches, halls or auditorium­s and even at stadiums.”

Events management is the applicatio­n of project management to the creation and developmen­t of large-scale events such as festivals, conference­s, ceremonies, weddings, formal parties, concerts, or convention­s.

Mr Shirichena said the company has managed to hold forth despite the economic challenges being faced in the country.

“There hasn’t been brisk business this year compared to the previous year, largely due to the economic challenges we are facing in the country, which has culminated to low disposable income for most of the populace and this has impacted negatively to our business. Neverthele­ss, we have managed to offer services to a considerab­le number of weddings, corporate and state functions across the country,” he said.

Mr Shirichena said the industry was also being hard done by the emergence of a new wave of backyard events management players.

“Of course, we are losing a lot of business to fly by night backyard events management players that are continuous­ly sprouting in cities and towns. We urge people to be wary of such individual­s as they lack profession­alism and in most cases their sound or audios, lighting and stage management is not up to scratch. We have managed to get a substantia­l market share through referrals and this is a clear indication of how the market appreciate­s our service,” he said.

e company started operations six years ago and was formally registered in 2017.

 ??  ?? Don Johnson Shirichena
Don Johnson Shirichena

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