Man with a van makes big plans
SECOND-HAND vans are what seem to be driving the entrepreneurial spirit of some business-minded South Africans, in spite of tough economic times delivered by coronavirus during lockdown.
While the demand for goods like personal protective equipment (PPE), hot meals and other food items has spiked, some entrepreneurs have spotted a gap in the market, due to the restrictions on movement, and seized the opportunity.
Lightweight vehicles are being used by those who were able to tap into the new streams of revenue that have emerged from the delivery of basic and essential goods.
The VW Caddy has been in big demand, according to recent statistics by Autotrader, the country’s leading online automotive classified magazine.
The Caddy panel van, with an average resale price of R46 000, has emerged as the most searched for and sold in the small van category of vehicles recently, said Autotrader.
Harry Naidoo, an umhlanga-based businessman whose core business is events, said he read the times correctly and purchased a Caddy, days before the lockdown.
Since he got his permit for small deliveries, Naidoo said he has been hard-pressed in keeping up with the demand for PPE from customers, and is contemplating buying another Caddy.
“I have not been off the road since I got my permit to trade on May 3.”
Aaron Jude Buddan has been clocking miles recently, supplying and delivering fresh fruit and vegetables to customers, especially those living in Queensburgh and Chatsworth.
The 21-year-old university student said he saw the need in the community when the lockdown began, and with some inspiration from his father, his business was now in full bloom.
Buddan said he was considering buying a second van, possibly a Caddy, and hire another driver for deliveries.
“My dad was not permitted to operate his fruit and vegetable stall at the RK Khan hospital and when the lockdown came into effect I took matters into my hands and began to deliver the goods at a very cheap price.”
Ndu Dladla of Kwandengezi, near Pinetown, is another business-minded person who used the lockdown to improve his earnings by making and delivering “hot and fresh” pizza. After posting pictures of his pizzas online, orders poured in, he said.
“People wanted pizza and when Level 4 came into effect, asked if I could deliver.”
Dladla, 27, has been producing his pizzas in a 2-plated stove with an oven, but the high demand led him to buy a stove with a bigger oven last week. Previously, he delivered the pizzas in his car but has since hired a motorcyclist so he could spend more time in the kitchen.
George Mienie, chief executive of Autotrader, said, “South Africans are incredibly good at making a plan,” and observed since the start of level 4, search patterns on its site had changed to suit economic opportunities.
“There has been a sharp increase in searches for both small and big vans at the end of April and the beginning of May. From January 1 to April 28 van searches were on a downward trend.
“However, following the level 4 announcement, which included activity such as food delivery, searches for these vehicles have more than doubled,” said Mienie.