Recognising the challenge facing small businesses, Hollard launched its Big Ads for Small Business campaign to boost the ‘little guy’ through sharing its advertisement space. Selected businesses would be afforded the chance to market their services on Hollard’s billboards, street poles, and digital platforms, including spots on radio and TV over six months.
Laundromat business, All Things Laundry, started by husband-and-wife team William and Kefilwe Mosola in January 2018, was one of the 12 small businesses chosen from almost 300 applications.
The laundromat provides small bulk laundry services for individuals and households. Their bulk laundry services for commercial businesses include linens for B&Bs, hotels and restaurants, PPE clothing, work uniforms and fabric for exhibition stalls. Same-day service turnaround, pick-up and laundry delivery options are also available.
William Mosola, a creditors clerk at the GIBS Finance Department by day and a business owner after hours, is excited about the prospects that the Hollard campaign has for their business. “The advertising campaign is aimed at giving us entrepreneurs the space to advertise on platforms we would not necessarily afford. This has really given us the platform to have our brand reach the masses and, in turn, increase sales. This campaign could not have come at a better time. We are eternally grateful to Hollard for choosing our brand for this campaign,” he said.
The Covid-19 national lockdown led to the shutdown of one of their branches in Soweto and another in Alberton North, Gauteng, shrinking their staff from six to four full-time employees, who are currently operating two branches in Dobsonville, Soweto.
The business partners, who are also parents to twin toddlers, say running a business while being employed full-time elsewhere is tough. “It is extremely hard to balance a full-time job and to be an entrepreneur, but we have managed to train our staff to continue their daily activities without us being present. We work double shifts. After our full-time jobs, we allocate our time accordingly and share responsibilities according to our strengths and weaknesses. My wife, Kefilwe, is fully responsible for all the HR matters, and I am responsible for operational work and the day-to-day running of the business,” said Mosola.
The duo hopes to expand the business into other provinces.
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