Bouwer Broers


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Latest features Forthcoming features Subscriptions Job classifieds Tweet June/July 2010 Retailer showcase: Reasons for their success: After six decades, Bouwer Broers have become a Pretoria institution where people know they will get good service and sound advice from people with lots of experience; Generation after generation in the same family drive from far to shop at Bouwers Broers, because the store has become a part of their heritage — therefore the changing demographics of their location does not affect them; They make their clients feel at home so that they enjoy the shopping experience — and therefore return; Hennie Bouwer keeps up to date with the latest product developments by attending trade shows like the SAFTAD fishing tackle show. Bouwer Broers: Celebrating 60 years of service Clients have told Hennie Bouwer that there is a gap in your education if you haven’t shopped at Bouwer Broers in Pretoria. Over the past 60 years this independent store has become a Pretoria landmark Bouwer Broers in Voortrekker Road, Pretoria, recently celebrated sixty years of successful trading with a sit-down dinner in the store, attended by customers who became friends over the years, current and former employees, and suppliers. The small cycling store founded by brothers Nic and Petrus Bouwer in February 1950, has since become a true Pretoria landmark, with customers travelling across town to buy cycling equipment, fishing tackle or outdoor gear from the people they’ve grown to trust. After twenty years of trading, the brothers moved to bigger premises in the same road, where the floor space has since expanded to 1 600m2 to accommodate all the product categories they offer, which now include fishing tackle, arms and ammunition, camping equipment, braai tools, walking equipment and other outdoor gear, in addition to cycling. Johan Bouwer, a nephew of the founders, joined them in 1967 as a partner. He was joined by the current owner, Nic’s son Hennie, in 1980, when Petrus retired. Nic retired in 1994 and Johan followed him in April this year — the birthday celebration was also his retirement party. The Bouwers find that customers keep flocking back because of the service they provide. Outdoor sport is specialised and advice from the retailer is of utmost importance to the customer, says Hennie. Because their advice is trusted, several generations of the same family are prepared to drive across town to buy from them. That is how they, as independent retailers, manage to survive despite the growth of chain stores. One of the problems faced by independent retailers is the public perception that they are much more expensive than mass discount stores — even if that is not the case, says Hennie. “But, people don’t only buy on price. They are prepared to travel to buy from someone whose advice they trust. There is nothing more frustrating than a salesman who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Hennie Bouwer (pictured here) is the current store owner after his father and uncle founded the store 60 years ago. * Read our copyright notice before making use of this article Back to retailer showcase

June/July 2010

Retailer showcase:

Reasons for their success:

After six decades, Bouwer Broers have become a Pretoria institution where people know they will get good service and sound advice from people with lots of experience;

Generation after generation in the same family drive from far to shop at Bouwers Broers, because the store has become a part of their heritage — therefore the changing demographics of their location does not affect them;

They make their clients feel at home so that they enjoy the shopping experience — and therefore return;

Hennie Bouwer keeps up to date with the latest product developments by attending trade shows like the SAFTAD fishing tackle show.

Bouwer Broers: Celebrating 60 years of service

Clients have told Hennie Bouwer that there is a gap in your education if you haven’t shopped at Bouwer Broers in Pretoria. Over the past 60 years this independent store has become a Pretoria landmark

Bouwer Broers in Voortrekker Road, Pretoria, recently celebrated sixty years of successful trading with a sit-down dinner in the store, attended by customers who became friends over the years, current and former employees, and suppliers.

The small cycling store founded by brothers Nic and Petrus Bouwer in February 1950, has since become a true Pretoria landmark, with customers travelling across town to buy cycling equipment, fishing tackle or outdoor gear from the people they’ve grown to trust.

After twenty years of trading, the brothers moved to bigger premises in the same road, where the floor space has since expanded to 1 600m2 to accommodate all the product categories they offer, which now include fishing tackle, arms and ammunition, camping equipment, braai tools, walking equipment and other outdoor gear, in addition to cycling.

Johan Bouwer, a nephew of the founders, joined them in 1967 as a partner. He was joined by the current owner, Nic’s son Hennie, in 1980, when Petrus retired. Nic retired in 1994 and Johan followed him in April this year — the birthday celebration was also his retirement party.

The Bouwers find that customers keep flocking back because of the service they provide. Outdoor sport is specialised and advice from the retailer is of utmost importance to the customer, says Hennie. Because their advice is trusted, several generations of the same family are prepared to drive across town to buy from them. That is how they, as independent retailers, manage to survive despite the growth of chain stores.

One of the problems faced by independent retailers is the public perception that they are much more expensive than mass discount stores — even if that is not the case, says Hennie. “But, people don’t only buy on price. They are prepared to travel to buy from someone whose advice they trust. There is nothing more frustrating than a salesman who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

Hennie Bouwer (pictured here) is the current store owner after his father and uncle founded the store 60 years ago.

* Read our copyright notice before making use of this article

Back to retailer showcase