AlgoaFM News
A bustling boat-building business in Nelson Mandela Bay is up and running from new premises - less than three months after a devastating fire destroyed their building at the bottom of Brickmakers Kloof - diagonally opposite AlgoaFM House.
The husband and wife team of Warren and Joey Rachman began operating Nauti-Tech Suzuki from no 5 Produce Street in South End on the 1st of August.
They've increased their operation from 550 square metres to 1700 square metres at a personal investment of close on R1 million.
"It's been quite a transition from what happened to us and how we've literally risen out of the ashes," reflected Warren Rachman as he surveyed the 35 boats already occupying their new building.
"We thought the bigger premises were going to be fantastic but it's so full of the variety of watercraft that we service and build that we are already thinking of trying to secure the premises next door for further expansion."
The Rachmans and old Brickmakers Kloof neighbours, Andre and Reinette Els of Bonzai Marine Enterprises and Coast to Coast Refrigeration are sharing the new premises and employ 23 people between them.
Rachman says their new landlord was very kind to them and gave them a month or two rent-free as they literally arrived to four walls and not much else.
"Between us and the landlord, we put in lighting, plumbing, three-phase power, ablution facilities, a kitchen, offices, storerooms and also carried out some major repair work on the roof which leaked like a sieve when we arrived here."
What was once the old EH Walton and EP Herald storage packhouse, and then car park, is now a thriving business that Rachman feels has uplifted the area significantly.
"All the folk running their business here in the lower South End valley say conditions have really improved since we arrived here. The vagrant element has moved on and we've cleaned up the place so we've improved the area nicely and the locals here have really supported us."
Rachman also revealed that Baakens Valley Trust, the landlord at the building devastated by the May 9 fire, is looking at demolishing the premises and that a rebuild might take place thereafter, depending on any insurance payouts.
"As for our own insurance, our broker and assessor have been by our side the whole journey," said Rachman.
"We were so devastated that I was thinking of going back to work for the United Nations and Joey returning to being a housewife. But we had so many loyal customers and are so passionate about our business and our work that we decided to keep going."
Rachman says the life lesson that he and Joey have walked away with is that with the right approach, adversity can lead to opportunity.
"That is 100% correct; this whole experience has opened up new horizons to us and to have a business that is booming again in these tough financial times is just amazing."
