Forms Media Independent Africa celebrates 25 years of serving the Secunda community.
At the recent Trade Show hosted by Forms Media Independent Africa at the Sasol Recreation Centre in Secunda, Brian Taylor, General manager FMIA explained their involvement in the Secunda community for the past 25 years.
“We are very proud to be part of the Secunda community,” said Brian, “we are here for the long run and we will be here for the next 25 years!”
Forms Media Independent Africa (FMIA) is widely recognised as an industry leader in their relevant market spheres –office stationery, computer consumables and hardware, office furniture, canteen and janitorial supplies and promotional gifts and clothing.
“We offer the Total Office Solution,” said Brian, “from school supplies to office supplies.”
The company known today as FMIA was established in 1981, as a supplier and distributor of business forms. Over the past 42 years, they have grown to be the largest independent supplier of print and office products in Southern Africa. From the company’s inception, it was evident that through its style of management and the running of its business activities FMIA would be the driving force in their industry in South Africa.
“We started as a print company and evolved over the years to encompass supplying anything one would require for an office or school environment. Now we are a company that also supplies office furniture, project managing large projects over R10 million.”
FMIA offers a national footprint for their corporate clients seeking service from all the major centres. FMIA not only delivers to all the major centres and outlying areas but offers the all-important sales service and backup from our regional offices and depots. Their team of dedicated account executives are positioned to pro-actively manage all their national accounts.
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They are an independent group with no affiliation to any dealer group or procurement franchise and have branches in nine centres nationwide namely: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane, Secunda, Tzaneen, Nelspruit, Witbank and Vanderbijlpark. Their fleet of vehicles delivers daily to most major centres in South Africa.
“FMIA is considered the largest independent office product company in South Africa.”
Judging from the large number of visitors at the show it was evident that FMIA enjoys huge support from the Secunda community. It is easy to see the commitment that the FMIA staff has towards their clients. The interactions with the FMIA staff and their client and suppliers provided evidence of the priority FMIA places on customer and supplier relationships.
One of the Casio representatives at the show commented on the excellent relationship between their company and Forms Media stating that “They sell a lot of our products.”
The various suppliers that exhibited their products reiterated their commitment to FMIA as an important channel partner in marketing their brands and products.
FMIA has a philosophy of continual growth, improvement and change; all of these traits are vitally important for successful trade in their dynamic and ever-changing business environment. They continually strive for better processes, improved service delivery and greater overall client satisfaction. Successfully trading since 1981 is a testament to the fact that they have and will continue to achieve all of their goals and will continue to strive to build on their trusted reputation as market leaders.
“We are a total office solution for you to run your business,” said Brian.
René Du Toit is the CEO and founder of FMIA. Mr. du Toit is joined on the board by Jessica Stockhall and Denise van der Walt. The board is backed by a passionate team of experienced management and a dedicated, loyal staff.
FMIA’s staff are an integral part of our business, and as such thirty percent (30%) of the company is held by an empowerment staff trust for the benefit of PDI/ HDI individuals.
“We pride ourselves on our product knowledge, competitive prices and service excellence. We are a fully integrated and committed South African company that has embraced the opportunity to empower fellow South Africans and create an environment where our South African diversity truly flourishes.”
The Markets in which they trade:
Office Stationery
FMIA supplies a range of products at extremely competitive pricing to meet all stationery requirements, pens, pencils, files, books, pads, plastic products etc. They have national stationery supply contracts in place with a number of large corporate customers and are also focused on supplying scholastic requirements to schools, colleges and universities.
Computer Consumables and Hardware
FMIA stock and distribute all brands of computer consumables, computer equipment, hardware and accessories. They stock both original and compatible products.
Office Furniture
FMIA carry a full range of Office Furniture products and has the capacity to manufacture specific items to our customer’s requirements. FMIA can undertake space planning and office layouts to maximise productivity.
Canteen and Janitorial Supplies
FMIA supplies a full range of well-known brands of Canteen and Janitorial supplies.
Benefits of trading with FMIA
One supplier to meet all of your office needs
The main and most obvious benefit to their customers is that Forms Media Independent Africa can truly be considered the ONE-STOP SHOP, with their ability to supply any office product that their customers may require.
This alleviates a substantial portion of the creditors’ reconciliation functions experienced by FMIA customers, as they have to reconcile only one account with one supplier.
National delivery
Due to their strategic positions nationwide, FMIA has the ability to manage national clients effectively, ensuring that their clients do not have to wait for extended periods of time before their stock arrives. FMIA can dispatch goods from any of its branches when an order is placed at an entirely different branch.
National pricing
They have the ability to load national pricing based on their customers’ specific requirements, this means that no matter where their customers have branches nationally, all branches will be charged the same price for specific items.
System stability
FMIA have a fantastic internal infrastructure, which leads to fast and efficient order processing and delivery.
They continually strive to improve on customized software applications, technology, infrastructure and business systems integration, ensuring that they are always ahead of the pack.
Quick delivery
Because they stock most items and ranges, FMIA endeavours to deliver all goods ordered within 24- 48 hours
“The concept of total office solution provision extends beyond the mere extension of one’s product list. At FMIA we understand the importance of sustainability and the ability to support the products on offer. Our five dedicated departments are supported by product specialists that are focused on providing solutions for office requirements rather than the mere fulfilment of orders. If you have a specific office need that requires fulfilment, consult your sales executive who will engage the support of a solution specialist to analyse the requirement comprehensively before offering the appropriate solution for your specific need.” FMIA web page
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Preferential procurement
Forms Media Independent Africa seeks to procure products and services, wherever possible, from companies or organizations that are partially or wholly owned by PDI’s, without compromising on quality, service and delivery.
Forms Media Independent Africa can be truly described as a dynamic and progressive company.
