Indelible Trink triumph
Stationery company is moving forward with quality service and products
HARD work, dedication and service are the three pillars needed to make it in the business, especially in these trying economic times. As cliched as this may sound, it is the blunt truth in the world of entrepreneurship. According to Collin Smith, the managing director of Trink, his story on how he made it is one that places service at the core of any operation of a successful business.
Trink Group has been serving a number of diverse industries for over seven years and has achieved a deep understanding of consumable and stationery requirements, he said.
Since its inception in 2006, the company “has become the largest compatible toner and ink supplier within South Africa with distribution outlets in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban and new distribution outlets due to open in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Nelspruit soon”.
Explaining how his company made it to what it is today, Smith said that it was all about finding the right suppliers and product.
It is also about building up a clientele that will give you the support you need for the business and getting backing and the product out in the market affordably. Product should be usable and the pricing good.
Speaking to The Herald on Friday, Smith reminisced how the company started just before the global economy took a dip back in 2006.
He said this gave his business a footing where people could afford cartridges again.
Explaining this scenario, he said his products are on the same playing field with the best at a fraction of the price.
“No one saw us coming because all big businesses are in Joburg so we managed to build a solid clientele and we grew the region and opened other offices in Cape Town.
“It was easier opening up a branch in Durban and Cape Town than in Port Eliz- abeth,” he said. He explained that Port Elizabeth is a price-driven city where people spend less money and look for cheaper options.
“Our approach is giving the best price and the best services.
“You can open exactly the same business as me and someone will choose you or me, but that choice is based on service.
“We treat our clients all the same and It takes 10 years of putting things together and persisting for a long time,” he said.
Smith recalled how he could not take a dividend for 10 years – testament to the hard work and sacrifice he had to put in to run a successful enterprise.
“People think starting a business means that you will work less and earn more but it is the opposite.
“There is more responsibility and you work more and earn less.
“You need to have a decent plan with proper market research and see the gap in the market. It takes at least 10 years. Nothing happens in the first two to three years,” he said.
He also highlighted that local businesses should look at how to deal with the increasing presence of Chinese companies.
“Given the increasing presence of Chinese companies in the Eastern Cape, for local businesses the question of dealing with China is not ”should I?” but “how soon can I?”
“As with all business transactions, knowing how to deal with a potential supplier abroad, setting up a long-standing relationship and understanding fragile cultural nuances are all key to making a success of your business venture,” he said.