Ugomac has been a household name in Nigeria for more than two decades. Having carved a niche in the industrial equipment industry, the company now specialises in the importation, distribution, sales and maintenance of industrial kitchen/catering, laundry/dry cleaning, bakery/pastry and refrigeration equipment.

It represents 18 companies from Europe and America that deal with the above industrial equipment. However, it partners mostly with Electrolux because it is tested and trusted hence its popularity in the industry. The company has been in active partnership with them for more than two decades.

In this interview, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Chief Ugochukwu Ozurumba, says that the only reason why the company has been active in business for that long is because they are consistent in selling quality products and their after sales services is second to none. Excerpts

Question: Please introduce yourself to our readers . . .

Ozurumba: My name is Chief Ugochukwu Ozurumba, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ugomac and Company Nigeria Ltd. We are in the business of importation/distribution, installation and maintenance of industrial equipment in the areas of industrial kitchen/catering, laundry/dry cleaning, bakery /pastry and refrigeration equipment.

All our products come from Europe and America. Apart from stocking the equipment, we also stock their spare parts for easy maintenance. Electrolux, which is so far the best producers of quality equipment is one of our foreign partners.

What are the challenges in the business?

The major challenge in the business is that it is naturally slow sales and very capital intensive, so anybody who is into it should be patient.

Since industrial equipment business is capital intensive, how do you raise money to run the business?

Well, because of the slow nature of sales associated with the business, it is not advisable for any dealer to take loan from the bank because of the high interest rate. It is usually better to gradually raise capital on your own. Except on urgent need when you can run to the bank to take a short term loan.

Any regret going into the business?

I don’t have any regret rather I am enjoying it because I have passion for it.

What is your marketing style?

Our marketing style starts from the quality of our products. We know what our clients want, which is top quality and long lasting industrial equipment. We sell the best of European and American industrial equipment. Our customers come from various sectors which include, hotels, hospitals, churches, oil companies, food processing companies like Nestle, Indomie, pharmaceutical companies, big firms, bakeries, laundries/dry cleaning, in-short any company or factory with up to 50 workers .In anything that one is doing, foundation is very important. So, the foundation of Ugomac is entrenched on high quality products; that is why we have our motto as original things are cheaper on the long run and that has given us an edge over other competitors.

How do you see Ugomac in the next five years?

The fortune of Ugomac in the next five years would increase in leaps and bounds. Now, that we have consolidated our business by being in Ugomac Place, our perception in the eyes of our customers has improved significantly. We are now in a world of our own. In our show room, a good number of our products are showcased.

We now have space to do demonstration of products in a conducive atmosphere. It is because of our customers that we are in business, so, our ultra-modern show room is a way of serving them better and taking our business to the next level. It will enhance greater public relations and interaction between us and our clients and if our clients are happy with us, they would make repeated purchases and we too would be happy. So, we are calling for customers patronage.

Any hope of one day going into politics?

No, I don’t like politics. I like this place that I have found myself, that is selling industrial equipment and helping to industrialise our country and reducing unemployment.

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