Hi-Q Ten years of service for
From being an apprentice in his dad’s auto repair business to running a successful branch of one of South Africa’s top motoring brands, Robert van der Merwe pauses often as he describes that journey. However, it all started in 1983 when his dad Len opened Len’s Auto Repairs. Robert worked at the repair shop and during that time also qualified as a mechanic. He later on, after starting his own family, decided to run and expand the family business.
In 2006, he and his brother Mark partnered and started the thriving Hi-Q Len’s Auto, situated at 37 Bathurst Street. Hi-Q Len’s Auto started with selling and servicing tyres, exhausts, batteries and brakes. Hi-Q was at that time a growing brand and has since been awarded icon status by the TGI (target group index) for seven years running (2010-2016) as the top tyre retailer in South Africa.
TGI is an annual survey in which South African consumers vote with their hearts and wallets, irrespective of background or living standard, for their choice across a range of product categories. Thousands of brands and more than 15 000 consumers of all races, creeds and colour go into the mix.
While product offerings, customer value and services and an experienced team are at the core of Hi-Q Len’s Auto’s success in Grahamstown, Robert emphasises that it’s his family which is equally at the heart of it.
“My parents Len and Julie supported us in so many ways when we were starting off,” Robert said. “Without them providing their experience and surety needed to get the business up and running we would not have been able to make Hi-Q Len’s Auto the success that it is today.”
Peace of mind Hi-Q’s main focus as a tyre fitment centre is to sell tyres, wheel balancing, wheel alignment and to be an overall around the wheel expert delivering service you can trust. By using the latest technology to service his customers, Robert has spared no cost to provide great and trusted service. Hi-Q Len’s Auto does 3D wheel alignment and it is much more accurate Robert says.
“It eliminates technician error and gives the customer peace of mind.”
Hi-Q Len’s Auto sells a wide variety of trusted tyre brands that are local and imported to suit every consumer’s needs and wallet, but their biggest range is of the Goodyear tyre brand. “They’re all SABS quality approved,” Robert says.
Hi-Q Lens Auto also offer nitrogen for tyres that costs a bit extra but makes a difference on lower profile tyres.
“Nitrogen is less likely to migrate through tyre rubber than oxygen, which means your tyre pressures will remain more stable over the long term,” Robert says.
Apart from the quality of products sold by Hi-Q Lens Auto, there are special deals for customers that keep them coming back. In Grahamstown, Hi-Q Lens Auto is also a Purple Tag participant, meaning Rhodes students that present their student and Purple Tag cards enjoy discounts on services at the store. Photos: Stephen Penney