With the employment rate on a downward trajectory, painting a gloomy picture for many South African youths to enter the job market, one industrious young lady did not let the prospect deter her from creating employment for herself.
21 year Itumeleng Lebese from Mabopane Block B, started ‘Golden Fresh and Clean’, a company that offers laundry, carpet cleaning services. She is also an Avon and Tupperware representative in order to augment her income.
A mother to a 1 year- old daughter Lebese said “my daughter is the reason behind all this hustle; she was a wake up call. I completed my matric in 2017 with a (B) symbol which is known as the admission to Bachelor’s degree at Setumo Khiba Secondary School
I’ve never been employed at a registered company although I’ve been sending out CV’s, but I did work at some of the non-registered companies. I’m in multiple businesses… I am an Avon representative, Tupperware representative and the main business that I’ve started for myself is called “Golden Fresh & Clean” where we offer laundry services, carpets cleaning and the washing of blankets
This business was established this year between the months February & March.I brought up the idea of the business then my mom chipped in and encouraged me to go ahead with the idea and then we decided to be together in this business. So she’s the co-founder of “Golden Fresh & Clean”.
The unemployment rate in South Africa actually pushed us to have something of our own, something that can be our source of income since we’re both unemployed.
Currently we offer these services from home where we live. It’s a drop, collect & pay. The support has been moderate, we have regular customers but hoping to get more.
We have to make sure that we broadcast the posters around the area we live in and that will be done once we save up some money to print out as many posters as we can and ask local Tuck shops to distribute them for us.
When it comes to the Avon & Tupperware side of business the challenges I faced was when most of the clients had doubts about sending 50% deposit amount. That has led to many customers pulling out. But the success of these ones is that no matter what, I get orders every month and I can make ends meet. I have loyal customers who buy most of the times.
When it comes to the ‘Golden Fresh & Clean’ the challenge I face is location. Most people live far and some don’t have cars to bring their laundry and we also don’t have a form of transport to collect the laundry from them so in this case we lose out on business.
The success of this business is that every week I get customers. Well some are my regular ones and some just want a once off thing, when they are too busy or something but one thing for sure. New people come most of the times.
In future I’d like to see us opening a Laundromat
at a convenient location and as time goes by when the business grown we might have a couple of branches.