Saw opportunities where others saw nothing and created one of St
Ann’s best businesses
By: Tanya Chin
Born and raised on the sweet Vere plains in Clarendon, Wayne
Boothe, is engaging, unconventional, smart, a riot, unassuming, but above all
an astute business leader. Now at age 47 Wayne Boothe has accomplished his
number one goal, which was to develop a continuing business, whose service will
always be needed.
A proud graduate of the Vere Technical High School, Boothe was wired from birth to be an entrepreneur. He recalled that whilst he was in school he had his cow and goat raising business and sold them for the fun of commerce in the summer. Directly after graduating from high school he started his career as a mechanical engineer at Jamaica Aluminum Company, JAMALCO, in 1985. Even then, the same entrepreneurial spirit, he had in high school raged, however, this time it was a taxi and trucking business.
A fully fledge entrepreneur for the past 12 years, Boothe started out with his first service station in the heart of Ocho Rios, Boothe’s Esso. Six years ago he made his way out of the hum drum in Ocho Rios and unto the bypass to create a serve all full service Petcom station which is second to none. Amidst negative opinions of naysayers, Boothe was confident and remarked, “Let’s make it big, let’s make it spacious.”
He’s one of those people who see things that don’t exist and walk the path not travelled and create opportunities and wealth.
Today, Boothe’s Petcom is one of the most spacious, comfortable, top of the line service stations in St Ann, and busy as ever. The business caters for shoppers wanting supermarket items, food, confectionery, household articles, health and beauty products and almost anything g you want. As a service station, of course it has auto accessories and those everyday maintenance parts.
Not so long ago, he added a pharmacy too. The newest addition to the family, Delexis Pharmacy is a hit amongst customers, boasting competitive prices and the widest variety of prescription and over the counter medicines along with gift and stationery items.
VISION
What drove Boothe’s out of central Ocho Rios is in fact the allure of the business – no congestion, no hangers on, no vehicles turning the station into a bus and taxi terminus – just the ease and pleasure of going into a service station and getting out with everyday items or your vehicle ready. On top of that he insists on service.
He’s forever tweaking the business, adding more items, ensuring service delivery and meeting customers.
When many could not see a large profitable business outside of the hum drum of central Ocho Rios, Wayne Boothe saw the possibilities and away from the beaten track, started from scratch up the road from IRIE, another ground breaker.
Boothe’s greatest achievement is tied to his business. “To be able to employ over 60 persons and see their lives change for the better,” he said is immeasurable joy. He feels proudest when persons visit the pharmacy in their sickest of times at midnight and receive medication to make them better. All entities within the service station operate on a 24-hour basis.
Happily married for the last 20 years, technology has helped Boothe to balance his family and business life. He noted that everyone is just a phone call way. In addition, he praised his staff, stating that they always support him every step of the way and they are there not because it’s just a job, but also they feel a need to be there.
A committed Christian Boothe attends the Sangster Methodist church, his favourite scripture which links directly with his favourite quote is “Let us make man in our own imagine.” He explained that man shares so much with the spirit but more so knowledge and intelligence and that is what links man to his spiritual side.
His advice for budding entrepreneurs is for them to know the business they are going in, he remarked that, “You can’t be over qualified but you can be under qualified. Try to be as qualified as possible.”
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