....But it's slightly more complicated than that.
The Centurion D5 gate motor was a superb gate motor, but probably not the best gate motor ever build, worldwide.... Before anybody bites my head off, hear me out. I'll start at the beginning.
Centurions' success can be attributed to a combination of factors. Factors that all came together at the right time, and I doubt that anyone, not even Centurions management could have predicted just how successful their green gate machine would become. The guys from Centurion did their homework, and gave South-Africa what they wanted, when they wanted it. They build a great gate motor, and backed it up with service that the gate motor industry have never seen before. That motor was the Centurion D3 ...
It's success can be attributed to a combination of factors. Factors that all came together at the right time, and I doubt that anyone, not even Centurions management could have predicted just how successful this green gate machine would become.
Centurion appointed a few distributors and took great care of them. They gave them exclusivity, by not supplying retail giants, building depots or hardware stores. They filled their pockets with money, resulting in loyalty, resulting in unhealthy market domination. They prescribed the Trade model, to their distributors, whereby suggesting different prices for contractors installing their motors, and the end users, owning their gate motors. This difference in price was allowing these contractors a lot of room for profit. - What they have achieved, in a nutshell, was a very successful business model: a distribution network of installers, hungry for their product, not because it was the best product, but because it allowed them a larger margin of profit. The big guns, like Makro, Game, and Builders couldn't get their hands on these exclusive motors, and end users had to go through the installers, in order to get a gate motor. Their distributors were spread out across Gauteng evenly, so that they didn't have to compete in terms of area.
They were very careful, and very strict when they appointed their distributors. They made sure there won't be any territory disputes. They determined three price classes: DISTRIBUTORS, TRADE and RETAIL. The idea was simple enough: Give the installers (TRADE) a good reason to choose their product, and they will in turn advise the end user on what product to buy.
The D3 looked the same as the D5, but it was meant for gates weighing no more than 300 kilograms. It was also cheaper than the D5, and it sold like hot cakes.
Only after the D3 was discontinued, did the D5 become Centurions #1 gate motor. The D5 Evo
