Explore Glen Paul Mhere's entrepreneurial journey with Trail Lines Investments. Learn about business growth, challenges, and success. Follow Trail Lines Auto & Construction for updates.
Serial entrepreneur Glen Paul Mhere, the founder of Trail Lines Investments shared his journey to establishing multiple businesses; a feat that seems impossible to many. The 31 year old Glen like most rising business people has faced challenges in building his empire but the drive to succeed has kept him going.
Glen’s vision of running multiple business ventures became possible after he registered a Holding company, Trail Lines Investments in 2018. The company has several subsidiaries under it including Trail Lines Auto, Trail Lines Construction, Trail Lines Farming and other ventures still in the pipeline. Glen received advice from his father’s lawyer to register all businesses he intended to venture into from the onset and this led to forming a holding company.
The first subsidiary, Trail lines Auto, specialises in automobile services including car repairs, car servicing, roadside assistance and fleet management. The second subsidiary, Trail Lines Construction’s operations are run by Mrs Sisasenkosi Mhere, Glen’s spouse, who holds the position of an Operations Director in the company. Glen revealed that Sisasenkosi can effectively run the construction subsidiary as she has a civil engineering background. The company offers site analysis, designing and building services. The third subsidiary in operation, Trail Lines Farming, is an agriculture venture that is focused on poultry, piggery and market gardening.
Business Exposure At A Tender Age Instilled A Yearning To Be His Own Boss
Hailing from an enterprising family, Glen got business exposure at a tender age with his parents running a hospitality and a car-rental business. He helped out at the businesses during weekends or school holidays serving in different sections. This exposure instilled a sense of responsibility and a yearning to be his own boss as an adult.
Upon completion of his Advanced Level studies at Victoria High School in Masvingo, Glen was guided by his father to pursue auto mechanics. Initially he was against this idea as he preferred pursuing a Marketing degree but his father made him realise the importance of vocational education in a country with a high unemployment rate like Zimbabwe. His father also opened his eyes to a passion he has for cars. He had noticed this whilst Glen came to help at the car rental business. With his career path now clearer, Glen joined Toyota Masvingo as an Apprentice then later pursued a diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Speciss College in Bulawayo.
After completion of his studies, Glen began offering mechanical services informally, repairing and servicing vehicles. He later started importing second hand vehicles for resale. The car trade enabled him to save towards purchasing equipment for establishing his formal business. Glen revealed that his businesses are service-based and therefore not capital intensive to start. “It does not take much capital to service or repair someone’s car, the responsibility is on the customer to purchase the requirements to get the job done. It is the same in the construction business, the customer pays for building material and we provide the labour,” he stated.
Accessing Financing For Start-Ups Is A Major Inhibitor To Fast Growth And Expansion
Despite his achievements so far, maneuvering the complex business environment in Zimbabwe has posed a challenge. Glen highlights difficulty accessing financing for start-ups as a major inhibitor to fast growth and expansion. Local financiers demand collateral beyond the reach of many upcoming businesses. Glen aims at expanding Trail Lines Auto services towards fuel and LP gas but it is taking longer as they are growing organically. Another challenge he noted is securing business from corporates against the established players on the market. “There is a general perception that small businesses are incompetent, which is not true. We are just as capable as the bigger players and we aim at going the extra-mile. At Trail Lines Auto we do not try to please clients by cutting corners. Our policy is to use the best spares then minimise our labour charges,” he said.
Every Client That They Serve Is An Opportunity To Market Their Services
In the face of prevailing difficulties, Glen reveals that they are determined to offer premium service. He insists that every client that they serve is an opportunity to market their services. Not only do they endeavour to offer perfect services but they linked their subsidiaries for the benefit of their clients. A Trail Lines Auto customer qualifies to receive Trail Lines Construction services at a discount and vice-versa. The customers also have privileges of holiday deals in Victoria Falls because of Glen’s link to the family run Mopani Lodge and Safaris located there. In trying to ensure comfort of their clients Trail Lines Auto also offers a courtesy vehicle or a chauffeur driven vehicle for clients who bring in their automobiles for repair or service. They also provide Wi-Fi access and refreshments for customers who prefer to wait.
Glen and his father with Executive cars they hire out
Business Is A Sacrifice And One Should Prepare To Lose Some Relationships Along The Way.
Glen urges aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their passion as it will keep them going in the face of difficulties. He insists that business is not about copying the next person but pursuing what one is passionate about. “The moment one hits the hard times, they will easily be discouraged. When you make your work a hobby, work becomes play,” he stated. Another critical piece of advice he shared was the importance of managing personal relationships in growing a business. “It is a sacrifice and one should prepare to lose some relationships along the way. People wish you well but never wish you to do better than them,” he said.
Apart from looking up to his inspiration Zimbabwean Billionaire, Dr. Strive Masiyiwa, Glen also seeks business guidance from his parents and Mr. Neil Rix, a retired business person and real estate investor. He also applies knowledge from The Art of War by Sun Tzu is one of his best books with insights he applies in business and life situations. Glen envisions a multi-national business empire and plans are underway to establish operations in neighbouring Southern African countries. His businesses are open to hiring young talented people who believe they can take their operations to greater heights. Follow Trail Lines Auto and Trail Lines Construction on their Facebook Pages.
