Local Laundry Enterprise Determined to Succeed

Springbok, February 2023 With financial and mentoring assistance, a Matjieskloof community member, Mrs Wendy Hendricks has been able to equip and grow a laundry business that provides local employment and services to this small town and surrounding communities. It is hoped that the business will be able to expand enough to rent premises in Springbok, which will attract more customers and offer more jobs. 

Having identified a gap in the local laundry market for a year, this entrepreneur established Wendy’s Laundry, which subsequently received funding from the close-by Kangnas Wind Farm as part of its Oranjefontein Biodiversity programme.  The business has benefitted from both essential equipment and other non-financial services to help maintain and grow the business. “The support has been exceedingly helpful, and I am very grateful for the equipment, which will help me run my business successfully. I also received financial assistance, which enabled me to focus on essential needs such as a water tank.,” said Mrs Hendricks. To date, Kangnas Wind Farm has bought Wendy’s Laundry two washing machines; one tumble dryer; one generator; one industrial scale; two irons and iron boards; as well as washing powder and fabric softener. At the moment, the business is operating from home and is doing well thanks to the support of the locals. “It is my dream and goal for my laundry business to become very successful and to grow. I would like to open more laundromats in other areas where there are shortages of jobs for women,” added Mrs Hendricks.

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Among the non-financial services are six months of mentorship; training and implementation of a financial system; a laptop; a logo design; creation of a business profile; development of contracts and indemnity forms; as well as the establishment of a Facebook page. “As part of our objective to support SMMEs, we saw it fit to support Wendy's Laundry with equipment and other non-financial services, which in turn will help boost the local economy.  Through this support, SMME`s like this one are also able to create opportunities for employment. With the correct guidance, attitude, and quality service, we believe that Wendy’s Laundry can make a success of the business,” concluded Rouchet Daniels, Rouchet Daniels, Economic Development Manager for Kangnas Wind Farm.