Agrimark Kirkwood - Everyone wins through collaboration

Kirkwood, in the fertile Sundays River Valley and at the heart of the Eastern Cape citrus industry, is renowned not only for its production of citrus and soft fruits but also for a wide variety of agricultural activities and the annual wildlife festival hosted here.

Johan Myburgh manages Agrimark Kirkwood and emphasizes that the store is always ready to support the community with their product range and services.

Originally from the Free State, Johan, the branch manager, initially worked as a policeman before entering the agricultural industry. With extensive experience in the retail sector, including owning a filling station and shop, he has been managing Agrimark Kirkwood for 5 years. Johan follows a management style that involves him in the store's daily operations. When necessary, he and Piet Bosch, his right-hand man, jump on the forklift or load a truck for urgent deliveries.

Piet also has extensive experience in the agricultural industry and has been in the Sundays River Valley since 1997. He knows the producers well and understands their needs.

Nick Burkett is the specialist marketer of building materials, ensuring that the store always has sufficient stock. He explains how the construction industry in the region is growing and that Agrimark Kirkwood can supply all building materials.

"We pay special attention to ensuring that we can meet the ongoing demand for products. We supply building materials to residents of the town and the region. It is much cheaper to get building supplies from us than to travel to Uitenhage or even Gqeberha every day to get them," he says.

Agrimark has a strong presence in the community. There's a new Expressmark and filling station in Addo, and an Agrimark Packaging branch is currently being set up in Addo to be ready for next year's new packing season. Agrimark Liquor will also open here soon.

In Agrimark Kirkwood's store, there's an extensive outdoor department with camping equipment and a variety of fishing gear. There are numerous holiday resorts and camping sites around Kirkwood, and the store provides everything for campers who may have forgotten items at home.

The clothing department is also tailored to customers' needs, and the Jonsson range offers excellent value for money.

Walking through the store, you quickly realize the significant role it plays in the lives of Kirkwood's residents and the producers in the surrounding area. The various departments, such as those for household products, gardening, DIY, and motor maintenance, offer everything needed.

Owners of fur families can visit with peace of mind, knowing they will find what they are looking for. Particularly heartening is seeing how many families and mothers with children visit the store.

Johan emphasizes that they are the only store in town that mixes paint. They stock a variety of brands and can provide any colour combination.

Since the store is located in the heart of the citrus industry, packaging material is inevitably a major focus. Boxes, wrapping paper, and other materials used in the packaging of the wide range of citrus fruits grown in the valley are marketed by them.

"Packaging material is important for our store and region, and we ensure that we have enough stock to meet our producers' needs in critical times," says Johan.

In addition to citrus, a variety of other agricultural products are also produced here, and they try to cater to all these needs. The abattoir with its feedlot is also one of their important customers, obtaining animal products such as feed and veterinary medicines from them.

He explains that they keep limited stocks of some products such as fuel and building materials because they are delivered directly and in bulk to producers. To achieve this, they now work with contractors and participate in project planning to ensure that customers will receive their supplies on time. This also applies to the protective nets erected over the fruit orchards. This part of the industry is also well-supported, with Agrimark supplying nets, poles, and other materials needed for the construction of net structures.

"I know most of the producers very well, and my experience in the industry now comes in handy when I can give a bit of advice to farmers and identify and recommend the best products for their needs," says Johan.

But it's not just about selling products for this Agrimark Kirkwood team.

"We are now involved in the community and go that proverbial extra mile for our agricultural clients. We have even opened the store on Sundays when customers urgently need products and have driven as far as Citrusdal over a weekend. For example, we also support the town's residents with the collection and distribution of food parcels to needy families, clean water for schools, and book collections for libraries," Johan explains.

It is clear that the community benefits from the friendly and accommodating service they receive at Agrimark Kirkwood.

Kirkwood

Main Street 34, 6120