Member Feature
Saleem Khan - iKapa Group Express Auctions
Getting an opportunity to work in an industry you are skilled for is something you grab with both hands. You take the leap of faith. Jobs are scarce in our beautiful country, so when that happens, you don’t hesitate. Our Meet our Members’ feature for this week did exactly that when he got the opportunity to be a part of the Auctioneering Industry in a period where he was looking for a new career venture.
Saleem Khan, of iKapa Group Express Auctioneers, grew up in Cape Town where, in 2000, he pursued a career in Telecoms. Here, he picked up quite a few customer service skills. In 2002, he moved to Gauteng where he climbed up the ladder working alongside some big corporations. He went from a technician to engineer manager and then Senior Account Manager. This further developed his entrepreneurial skills.
“Later, in 2014, I moved back to Cape Town and was looking for something new to do, and an opportunity was born in the Auctioneering sector for me. I grabbed it with both hands and never looked back,” he said.
Two years later, Saleem decided to venture out on his own and has been in the Industry for seven years. He has also been a member of SAIA for those seven years. He credits Johan Kotze of Auction Extreme as his biggest mentor. “[He] saw potential in me and took me under his wing to show me how the Industry works. Without his insight and teamwork, I would not have success,” Saleem fondly stated.
iKapa Group Express Auctioneers focusses on Movables at this stage but is looking for ways to grow. “It was tough at first as I had to establish some good references, but it has been an amazing experience,” Saleem said. Of course, that amazing experience has had its fair share of challenges. “Getting business with competitive rates because usually the lowest price secures business”, is one of the challenges Saleem has had to face.
While many companies struggled to adapt to the world of online auctions once Covid hit, iKapa was fortunate to have already established online auctions as a method of sale. Saleem said that “it was a seamless new way of doing business that is now the new norm.”
Saleem’s favourite part of being an Auctioneer? “Providing an end-to-end service of set up, managing as well as after sales service to our clients and buyers alike. It always brings me joy to close each auction with all parties satisfied.”
Saleem went on to add that the biggest accomplishment thus far for iKapa Group Express Auctioneers has been achieving a SARS contract as exclusive Auctioneer for a few years.
iKapa has an already broad national footprint, mainly involved in the Government sector, including SARS, NPA and various Municipalities around South Africa. “Expansion is always the goal to increase our national footprint,” Saleem stated.
We wish Saleem and iKapa Group Express Auctioneers all the best as they continue to grow and expand in our wonderful Industry.
iKapa Group Express Auctioneers
https://ikapagroup.co.za/
https://www.auctioneering.co.za/auctioneer/ikapa_express_auctioneers-5572/
Johan Kotze
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 082 854 4685
Print