From taxi operator to innovative stationery supplier
Obed Padi left the taxi industry after his ideas were stifled.
He decided to go into the stationery business and OR Trading cc was
born…
When you meet Obed Padi for the first time his enthusiasm and
confidence are immediately apparent. They are part of what have made
him so successful in running different businesses for the past fifteen
years.
He started OR Trading in 2003 as a stationery business mainly
supplying quality products to township schools after his research
revealed the potential of this market.
Recently he started a line of corporate and protective clothing plus
corporate gifts to balance out sales during the slow half of the year
in the stationery business.
Obed first came to The Business Place Alex in February 2007 after a
friend advised him he could get skills there to help him make his
business more cost effective.
He attended the Micro-MBA training and immediately implemented what
he learnt.
Apart from giving him more ideas on how to run his business, the
training helped him look at costing, stock control and pricing.
Obed realised he was carrying too many costs and so started
restructuring the business. He aims to close his retail store and
convert his warehouse into a showroom, which alone will save him
R8,000 a month.
“I realised I was carrying too many
costs..”
Beyond this all six of his staff are attending the Micro-MBA
training so that they get the same understanding of the issues and can
support Obed in the radical changes he is implementing.
What he wants most from The Business Place now are networking
opportunities, particularly in the form of introductions to the
procurement departments of big corporates.
This will allow him to move his client base away from government and
parastatals.
He would also like more in depth training on operations,
administration and marketing.
One lesson learned is that manufacturing or sourcing goods in South
Africa provides very little profit margin or flexibility. He now
sources quality stationery products from overseas where his suppliers
are fast and flexible and can respond to market needs. A sad
indictment of our local manufacturers.
Going forward Obed is confident that with the restructuring the next
few months will see him increasing his profits dramatically as he
implements his new branded products and flexible direct sales
approach.
Business details:
 Obed Ramogodi Padi,
Managing Member,
OR Trading cc: stationery distribution, pamphlets and poster
distribution, corporate clothing, protective clothing, and corporate
gifts.
Phone: 011 887 1166
Mobile: 082 667 0744
Email: obed@eaglemail.co.za
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