Summary

Save Big on Quality Textbooks – Affordable Learning Starts Here

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Fully describe the business's activities?

Specialises in supplying brand-new university-level accounting and law textbooks to students (University of Johannesburg, Wits) as well as to accounting and legal firms, tax practitioners, financial planners, and banks. The business offers online ordering, national courier delivery (R 99), and flexible payment methods.

How does the business operate on a daily basis?

Store open weekdays (08:00–17:00) and Saturdays (08:00–13:00).
Over-the-counter sales.
Orders via website and phone/WhatsApp/email; staff process orders, check stock, pack, and arrange courier delivery within 1–3 business days

What Advertising/Marketing is carried out?

Basic website with subject-, campus-, and edition-based search.
No overhead marketing campaigns; communication primarily via email/WhatsApp/website.
Google advertising.

What competition exists?

Van Schaik bookstores.
Sherwood books
Provision books
Wize books

How could the profitability of the business be improved?

We presently only doing accounting and law booksdue to owner capacity constraints.
Huge opportunity exists for doing the following:
- school books
- medical/engineering/nursing/teaching/educational and health science textbooks
Applying for university and government Department tenders

Give a breakdown of staff/ functions/ length of service?

Staff member in employment for 13 years

Do any have management potential?

She manages the business in my absence for about half the year

How involved is the Owner in running the business?

Directly involved daily via laptop on site or off-site from Durban

When does the current lease end?

Business run from basement of home

What are the trading hours?

8=5 weekdays and 8- Saturdays

What are the main assets of the business?

Stock
PCs
Website
Long-standing solid relationships with the Big 4 Auditing firms and Legal firms
Proximity to UJ and Wits

Strengths?

Market niche in accounting/law textbooks
Strong campus focus and delivery capability
Competitive pricing with good service

Weaknesses?

No capacity by owner to expand the business offering due to time constraints as owner also involved in profession.

Opportunities?

Introduce rentals or used-book trade
Partner with institutions for book bundles
Improve digital marketing and SEO
Other product offerings besides accounting and law