PTC in franchise dealership for closed shops
Peoples Trading Centre (PTC) has unveiled an opportunity to local entrepreneurs to run 20 of its 85 shops which it closed earlier this year.
The company, a subsidiary of Press Corporation Limited (PCL), closed some of its shops nationwide due to what it called poor performance which impacted negatively on the company’s profitability.
Under the new arrangement, interested entrepreneurs will take over not only the shops that PTC closed, but can also open any other shop to operate under chain store franchise.
PTC chief executive officer Ken Mthunzi said in an interview on Friday the move is meant to respond to people’s outcry, but also to maintain its presence in the locations where it closed the shops.
He said: “Not only will this move enable us maintain our presence by making us relevant, it will also empower and enable local Malawians to run a business with expertise as we will be available to provide support where needed.”
Mthunzi said PTC will provide the dealers with free uniforms, logos and staff training, adding that they will also be buying commodities from PTC at a discount and a flexible payment model.
Some of the shops PTC closed include Chilomoni, Chileka, Magalasi and Dalton Road in Blantyre, Thyolo, Monkey Bay and Mangochi Express in Mangochi, Malosa in Zomba, Namitete in Lilongwe, Nkhamenya and Kasungu Metro in Kasungu.
Mthunzi said two of these shops, one in Chitipa and the other at Kamwendo in Mchinji have been taken up by two etnrepreneurs and are running as PTC franchise.
Meanwhile, discussions are underway with another dealer to take over what used to be Msundwe in Lilongwe and Karonga PTCs. n
