We are delighted to begin 2018 by sending our congratulations to our long-standing and dedicated distributor, Day Technical Products (PTY) Ltd. who are celebrating their 50th year in business! Day Technical Products have been a key partner of the TECH group since 1976, distributing a range of TECH repair products and supporting the tyre repair industry throughout South Africa.
To mark the occasion, we caught up with their Managing Director, Colin Bate, to find out more about the company’s growing success, how it all began, and of course, how they will be celebrating this significant milestone!
Can you tell us about the history of Day Technical Products and how it began?
“Day Technical Products Ltd was launched in 1968 by founders Russell and Rhoda Day. In 1976, our founder met with TECH’s parent company, TRC in Johnstown, Ohio and since then, we have been selling the TECH product range, promoting safe and effective tyre repair in South Africa.”
What is your role within the company?
“I am the Managing Director, and have been in this role since 2005. Family values has remained an importance aspect of the company as I am ably assisted by Gail who is Russell & Rhoda’s daughter, as well as their son Richard, who is our technical director. My wife acts as our financial director and I am also pleased to have my son in the business, having joined the company in 2007.
I am happily involved in all aspects of the daily running of the company, which includes interaction with our international & local suppliers, and service providers, order verification, invoicing and sourcing.
I am proud to have a team who all have specific job functions within the business but are happy and eager to get involved in all tasks to offer the best service to our customers.”
How has TECH impacted your business?
“I believe that TECH has been an integral part of the success of the company. We have embraced TECH’s philosophy of ‘Tech Each Customer How’, and have, over the past number of years spent a great deal of time educating our customers in line with this philosophy.
Beside the high quality of TECH’s product offering, I believe that this sets us apart from our competitors. It has been very rewarding to be part of the international “TECH family.”
Any secrets to success? Reasons why you believe Day Tech has reached this amazing achievement of 50 years in business?
“It is due in large part to our founders Russell and Rhoda that we have achieved this milestone. They were dedicated, and driven to succeed, and inculcated a philosophy of commitment and hard work to all employees, which I am pleased to say continues in the company today.
I must also credit our dedicated staff, who go above and beyond what is asked of them on a daily basis. Our current 14 employees have a total of over 260 years of service to the company!
And then of course, the product. It has been both a privilege and a pleasure to have represented TECH for the last 42 years. We appreciate all the support that we have received from them over the years, as this has made our company what it is today.”
Any exciting plans for this year?
“We are all very pleased to have made some wonderful new friends at Tech Europe in Lisburn, and are hoping to visit them later this year. We are also looking forward to taking a number of short breaks to our holiday home in Umhlanga (Durban).”
How will you and your team be celebrating?
“We are planning an evening out with our staff and their partners, to celebrate this auspicious occasion.“
To find out more about Day Technical Products (PTY) Ltd., please click here.