A brilliant correlation of business and farming

Owner of Eros Meat Market and farmer Andre Schlechter has found his balance in life doing both things he loves the most, business and farming. The 36-year-old Andre completed high school in Mariental, from which he then moved on to achieve a qualification in Marketing at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.

Andre took over his current business venture, the Eros Meat Market, late in 2010 from its previous owners, which he has grown into the successful business that it is today. The meat market supplies a variety of meat for its everyday walk-in customers but has also built a thriving client base from lodges, hotels and coffee shops that it supplies with fresh meat. Andre explains that the meat market had been in operation for over 30 years before he took over. After taking over, Andre grew the meat market to where it is today with a larger client base and higher quality produce.

Having an agricultural education background from Grade 8 to grade 12, Andre has always had a niche for farming and agricultural ventures. In his matric year he was awarded by the Ministry of Education for the overall best achiever in Agriculture in Namibia. Andre explains that at that moment, his parents didn’t own a farm but he knew that at some point in his life he wanted own a farm.

Stampriet

Having eventually achieved his dream of farming, Andre explains that the two ventures correlate and go hand in hand with one another. The farm, situated 33 km from Stampriet on the Gochas road, supplies the meat market with most of its supplies. “The farm supplies the meat market with most of its supplies, however it cannot supply everything and where we fall short, we buy from my in-laws’ farms as well as other suppliers to provide the meat market with the remaining supplies,” Andre explains. The supplies from the farm are sent directly to the factory where they are manufactured and packaged, ready for the meat market and the rest of the client base which they supply produce for. He farms with cattle, sheep and kucerne and does irrigation as well, making him a preoccupied individual. Through it all he states that his wife is biggest supporter and provides him with the strength to take on daily challenges.

Early bird catches the worm

Andre hits the ground as early as 06:00 every day, followed by a list of responsibilities and errands that need his desperate attention, whether he is at the farm or in Windhoek. Fortunately, modern technology allows him to keep up with daily tasks and payments from the palm of his hands with his mobile device. Andre explains that one of the first things on his lists is payments. “I always check my phone for recons in the morning to see which customers have paid and which have not, so I can update the recons on the system.” Followed by payments from clients, payments from the meat market’s side also have to be done as they also have suppliers to pay. Physical activities at the butchery and factory for Andre range from making sure all stock is in place to receiving and preparing orders for clients efficiently and having it delivered promptly. Ensuring that the shop is hygienically clean that the meat displays and packaging is in order and up to standard run as a part of the daily routine of running a meat market. It all works out well with the assistance of his staff members. “My staff is very important, from my father that’s my right-hand man in the business down to a cleaner, everyone plays a big role in a business success,” he states.

Overall the Eros Meat Market has not really faced many challenges apart from the coronavirus pandemic which affected the business operation and created a dent in their client base as well as supplies. Apart from the pandemic, the meat market is generally only challenged with managing the cash flow of and when they receive orders daily they have to make sure that the order goes out the same day or the next day at the latest. “We try to get all the orders that we need and to have the supplies and deliver them, we try to never short deliver as that would taint the image of the meat market.”

Andre considers himself to be a strict person who likes order. He states that his team knows this, however he does know when to be lenient with them. He is also a perfectionist who likes things done a certain way. He considers himself to have great management as he is able to work well with people from different groups and backgrounds. Despite being strict Andre considers himself to be a friendly individual that strives to create and relationships with clients and make them feel welcome. One of his longest serving employees, Ella, confirms that her boss is indeed strict and likes things to be done a certain way and to be done neatly as well. “I have been working at the meat market for almost 8 years now and I can genuinely say Mr Andre is a good boss and he takes care of his staff,” Ella says. She adds that one of the values that Andre has taught her is honesty and order at all times. During her time here she has gained a lot of personal qualities and has grown as an individual.

As successful as he is now, Andre still wishes to advise his younger self to continue being independent and continue saving and work wisely with money. “Always be willing to learn, you are never old enough to learn and take advice from people, however be vigilant and know when someone is giving advice and when someone just has something to say,” he says. Lastly, to individuals who dream of joining the business or farming industry, a word of advice from Andre: “Dream big and never think your dreams aren’t valid. Work hard and push yourself to no limits.”