HAVING started off doing odd jobs here and there as a young man soon after college, then securing employment as a messenger of court and subsequently being promoted to deputy sheriff, Charles Hunda has now settled into his own enterprise.
Report by Phillip Chidavaenzi
During his long spell as a messenger of court and deputy sheriff spanning 20 years, he developed the flair for disposing of people’s properties, the passion to establish his own auctioneering business blossomed.
This led him to establish and register his own auction company, Bottlesky Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd — trading as Supreme Auctioneers — although he did not immediately go into business due to forbidding circumstances.
The father of three, who is married to Gladys Mhlanga, said the experience he has accrued in the business has come in handy, although his company was still in the process of establishing a solid client base.
“I am driven by passion. In my life, I have worked the longest as a messenger of court and deputy sheriff,” he said.
“During that time I used to attach and auction movable and immovable property.”
“I now understand the business like the back of my palm.” Hunda said there had been terrifying moments in this journey, and at times he often wondered if there would be a good response to his auctions. Trust, he said, was critical in his line of business. “As a dark horse in the industry, you would be wondering what if people don’t come to the auction?
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“So there is a challenge of trust. Even if you are an expert, if your name is not well known, that might not be good for business,” he said.
Although rather conservative with figures, Hunda said the business was so profitable that he would not quit, but continue to press on. He said his company specialised in auctions on behalf of the government and parastatals although they also did public sales for individuals, which can be done at home when, for instance, someone wanted to dispose of their household effects.
“At the moment we are concentrating on tenders and sales on site due to the challenges of space,” he said.
“Under this scenario, we go to the site and sell off the items from there, for example, you can go to a manufacturing company’s premises and sell off machines on their behalf. “The machines will then have to be dismantled and carried off in pieces from the site.”
Hunda said his company earned its money through charging commission. Although most auctioneers charged 3% commission, Hunda said they settled for 1% commission to attract more clients.
In his desire to enhance the effectiveness of his company, he has roped in a veteran auctioneer, Douglas Zvokuenda, who has over 25 years experience in the business and specialises in Zimra rummage auction sales, company liquidation sales, sale in situ, wildlife auction sales, house disposal sales, antique sales, house disposals, vehicles, machinery and equipment sales and evaluations.
