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PEP COMMISSIONS SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST BUSINESS BUS

14 February 2007

NEWS RELEASE
PEP, Southern Africa’s biggest single brand retailer with just over 1 350 stores, has launched SA’s first mobile boardroom bus which, rather like the retail business itself, will be constantly on the move.

The rationale is that, rather than PEP’s directors and senior managers holding their meetings at the retailer’s HQ in Cape Town, they are able to have meetings on board the bus in different locations.

The bus is the brainchild of PEP’s managing director George Steyn who was inspired by a European retailer’s use of a similar bus and decided that this would offer an effective way of interacting more with staff, stores and customers around the country.  The bus allows PEP directors to visit more stores as well as hold departmental team and supplier meetings en route, all whilst flying the PEP flag as the bus travels from one destination to another.

The interior of the bus took five months to complete and now features a boardroom table, with seating for up to 18 people and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, including flat screens, printers and laptop power points.

The bus, which is sponsored by Vodacom, has already been on four trips.  George Steyn explains:  “The feedback is fantastic. I wanted to rekindle the spirit of directors visiting the stores more often.  If we’re to stay ahead of the game, this is one very positive way for us to be in touch with what’s happening at store level”.

One of PEP’s store managers in Caledeon, Karin Carelse adds: “Everyone was talking about the bus when it came to town.  I have been working for PEP for many years and it’s the first time I got to see all the directors together.”