At first glance Suping Pooe seems like a regular young person, holding down a 9 to 5 and trying to get by but after speaking to him I completely understand why Honda chose him as the right person to head their new business venture.
29-year-old Pooe is making history as one of the first black people to open a bike dealership in the township.
His relationship with the dealership began when he and his brother Kgomotso approached Honda for sponsorship for their company, Soweto outdoor adventures.
“They told me that they were looking for someone to start up a whole new division for the brand and thought I would be the perfect person to head it up.”
Following a number of gruelling interviews, Pooe finally joined the Honda SA team.
After working for Honda SA, handling the company’s emerging marketing development, Pooe was given the opportunity to head this project; a task which he admits was daunting at first.
“It was pretty daunting in the beginning because everyday you learn something new - also the onus really lies on me. Should everything fail or become a great success, the buck stops with here, with me,” he says.
The dealership was launched on 3rd November 2013 in Pan Africa, Alexandra.
Pooe is not only passionate about bikes and adventure but also helping black people to learn more about bikes and the importance of safety when riding them.
“People have this perception that bikes are coffins on wheels but that’s only because the people who are riding have not really been taught,” he emphasizes.
“What we are trying to say is, you can start with the small bikes, hone your skills before going on the road,” he adds.
“A lot of times you’ll hear of such deaths because a person was on their bike, trying to show off, trying to do certain things….we are trying to avoid that”
The dealership offers free training with every bike that is bought.
“Safety first, that’s one of the key things we are about,” he says.
Honda Alexandra is still small and currently boasts of four staff members including Pooe but the company hopes to see similar businesses launching in other townships soon.
“The idea is to make a business model that works, a full proof franchise concept, so that when a person is interested in opening the same dealership in another township they can be equipped with the right knowledge and tools.”
When it comes to advice for young people who are interested in starting their own business, Pooe says that passion must come first.
“If you have a dream, you must also be passionate about it, because the passion behind everything else is what drives you. Not matter how many pitfalls you may have, that passion will keep you going, it will be the very same thing that will always get you somewhere”, he says.
Don’t be afraid to start your own business whilst having a 9 to 5, he adds.
Alexandra gets its first motorbike dealership
At first glance Suping Pooe seems like a regular young person, holding down a 9 to 5 and trying to get by but after speaking to him I completely understand why Honda chose him as the right person to head their new business venture.
29-year-old Pooe is making history as one of the first black people to open a bike dealership in the township.
His relationship with the dealership began when he and his brother Kgomotso approached Honda for sponsorship for their company, Soweto outdoor adventures.
“They told me that they were looking for someone to start up a whole new division for the brand and thought I would be the perfect person to head it up.”
Following a number of gruelling interviews, Pooe finally joined the Honda SA team.
After working for Honda SA, handling the company’s emerging marketing development, Pooe was given the opportunity to head this project; a task which he admits was daunting at first.
“It was pretty daunting in the beginning because everyday you learn something new - also the onus really lies on me. Should everything fail or become a great success, the buck stops with here, with me,” he says.
The dealership was launched on 3rd November 2013 in Pan Africa, Alexandra.
Pooe is not only passionate about bikes and adventure but also helping black people to learn more about bikes and the importance of safety when riding them.
“People have this perception that bikes are coffins on wheels but that’s only because the people who are riding have not really been taught,” he emphasizes.
“What we are trying to say is, you can start with the small bikes, hone your skills before going on the road,” he adds.
“A lot of times you’ll hear of such deaths because a person was on their bike, trying to show off, trying to do certain things….we are trying to avoid that”
The dealership offers free training with every bike that is bought.
“Safety first, that’s one of the key things we are about,” he says.
Honda Alexandra is still small and currently boasts of four staff members including Pooe but the company hopes to see similar businesses launching in other townships soon.
“The idea is to make a business model that works, a full proof franchise concept, so that when a person is interested in opening the same dealership in another township they can be equipped with the right knowledge and tools.”
When it comes to advice for young people who are interested in starting their own business, Pooe says that passion must come first.
“If you have a dream, you must also be passionate about it, because the passion behind everything else is what drives you. Not matter how many pitfalls you may have, that passion will keep you going, it will be the very same thing that will always get you somewhere”, he says.
Don’t be afraid to start your own business whilst having a 9 to 5, he adds.
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