By James Wells

BRISBANE: Bi-Rite Electrical franchisor, Abdul Sacur, has bitten back at comments made by Retravision WA with the acquisition of five Betta Stores Retail (BSR) retailers located in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Sacur told Current.com.au that five BSR members have joined his group in the last month – Tweed Heads in New South Wales, Middlemount, Blackall and Mitchell in Queensland and Donald in Victoria.

“We are continuing to receive enquiries from disenchanted retailers as the word spreads that Bi-Rite can offer an environment for small, mid and large electrical retailers whereby they can grow and be profitable,” Sacur said.

“Many of these well-established businesses have provided their communities with quality service for over two decades. For example, the Ballina store, which was the pilot store for BSL-W, Maleny Chandlers, Mellick’s of Innisfail, Morelli’s of Sale in Victoria, O’Shea’s of Dalby and Goondiwindi in Queensland, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Washers and Fridges of Mooloolaba, Merrylands, Fairfield and Liverpool in Sydney, Murwillumbah and Mullimbimby in the NSW Northern Rivers area, Clayton, Hoppers Crossing, Broadmeadows and Kilmore in Victoria, Launceston, Tasmania and many more.

“There is solid evidence that our formula of good buying, our large range of quality products and brands and the flexibility we offer to our members in terms of ranging and marketing their businesses provides a strong retail footing for our members.

“Whilst announcing our growth and future development, we would like to put on record the following important points: firstly, we are very selective as to who is offered a Bi-Rite franchise, secondly, our process of due diligence ensures members have suitable and adequate financial security and last of all like any prudent business, insurance is standard practice.

"These points should clear up a totally incorrect assessment of our business which was offered recently in an article by a person associated with Retravision WA,” Sacur said responding to a comment made by his competing buying group who boasted about the $70 million in BSR stores that have shifted to Retravision WA over the last six months that are fully secured to the value of 2.5 times their monthly purchases and sit within the group’s bad insurance policy.

"I’m making this point as the Bi-Rite blokes are taking anyone they can get without security or insurance which is a very high risk business model from my perspective,” Retavision WA said last month.