By Takemore Mazuruse
The Covid-19 pandemic has weighed down heavily on the global economy with many businesspeople singing the blues as a result of inconveniences and setbacks born out of the lockdown situation and travel bans.
Moving business wares across the globe remains a nightmare and for those that relied on international travel for business stocks and orders, the disconnect is real and business has suffered immensely.
However, necessity remains the mother of invention and it is this realisation that has made China-based entrepreneur Violet Avoid Gonamamombe Madzikanda’s Avylet Logistics company a hit with many entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe and the region.
“Avylet Logistics is bridging the gap between China and businesspeople intending to buy whatever stocks they need for resale in their respective countries,” Madzikanda said.
“Using our presence in China as well as in Zimbabwe where we have an office for administration purposes, we have been able to bring better convenience to our clients.
“China was the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic and it has put in place strict travel measures that make it impossible for would-be travellers to reach its shores. This has affected many business players that relied on that travel for their business wares, stocks, machinery and equipment purchases for resale back home.
“By engaging Avylet Logistics, you can still keep your business going given our unique and tailor made logistics services through professional and affordable buying and shipping of goods.”
The 31-year-old who is also an award-winning filmmaker and freelance journalist is the founder and CEO of Avylet Investments, a company that specialises in global logistics and film production.
She said she was happy to play her part in bringing convenience to her clients in her native Zimbabwe and the region.
“I started off with Avylet Studios, which focusses on film production, but Avylet Logistics is fast becoming a big hit with clients in Zimbabwe and the region given our professional and highly effective buying and shipping business model which has been embraced by our clients,” Madzikanda said.
“Having relocated to China, which is one of the greatest industrial hub in the world, many people back home would ask me to buy things for resale in Zimbabwe.
“After doing it several times, I saw the need to establish something that would help my fellow countrymen buy easily and at the same time spreading my business tentacles.
“This realisation gave birth to Avylet Logistics but this time targeting mainly corporates and serious individuals.
“The kick off was great, first with a circle of young doers I met in social circles supporting the brand, followed by organisations and churches within the community I grew up in.
“The interest is growing by the day and we promise to continue satisfying the market.”
Madzikanda said the Avylet Logistics business concept started from humble beginnings
“Avylet Logistics was born out of a situation where the goods that we would have bought for clients required to be transported back home to Zimbabwe,” she said.
“That was the inception of the cargo services being incorporated into the business.
“We basically ship all legal goods into the country from China, mainly targeting raw materials, machinery and other goods procurement for corporates.
“We plan on embarking more on demand products campaign other than the heat press machine, building materials, car parts, media equipment, farming equipment, mining equipment and wholesale shop campaigns we are currently running.”
Avylet Logistics also offers promotions whereby groups that buy in bulk get discounted prices on products bringing even better convenience to clients.
“We also organise groupage shipping for the convenience of cheaper shipping fees as well as buying price for our clients,” Madzikanda said.
“The more stuff you buy the cheaper it becomes on payments.
“So we organise groups whereby people pay up their money and we buy their desired goods at the same time and from the same reliable supplier to unlock discounts.”
Avylet Logistics is planning on opening more branches around Zimbabwe and the region to grow its reach and impact.
“We hope to open more branches in other cities other than Harare for the convenience of all Zimbabweans who want to buy through us,” she said.
“We want to become the go-to company for all international buying and logistics needs of our clients.”
Madzikanda said her background contributed to her drive and undying ambition.
“I was born the only child to a very hardworking woman who did her best to provide for the family despite the economic challenges,” she said.
“My mother Euvitor, is a benchmark of women entrepreneurship, she would order doughnuts to sell at work at a time where women had not yet been fully empowered business wise before eventually moving into Chinese herbal business which saw her achieving her goals.”