10 Jan 2024

A shoe wash business serves as an essential service for maintaining cleanliness, enhancing appearance, lengthening shoe durability, and nowadays many people lead busy lives and may not have the time or resources to clean their shoes regularly. 

To understand more about this shoe wash business, BOPA reporter Bakang Wren, visited a shoe wash business based in Phase 2 to understand how they offer professional cleaning services for their customers.

In an interview with the owner of the shop, Omphemetse Leshona, a resident of Kopong said at the shoe wash business, they offer customers great service that has even attracted many customers.

 “Customers can drop off their shoes and have them cleaned while they attend to other tasks, saving them time and effort and offering convenience, and promoting environmental sustainability,” he said.

He added that their primary goal was to ensure that people’s shoes were clean and well-maintained, as they believe that neatness was the key to confidence. 

Shedding light on the business, he said he has been operating for three years now. The idea for the business, he said, was first conceived in Tlokweng and when they noticed that there was no business they moved to Phase 2 where the business is booming. He remembers that the first time they started in Gaborone, all they did was word-of-mouth advertising.

“We offered to wash our friends’ shoes for free, and this led to our popularity spreading throughout the town,” he narrated. 

After considering the best location for the business to thrive, he added that, they have received tremendous support from the local community. In a day they wash about 60 pairs of shoes and for clients approval they use the best washing detergents specially designed for shoes. What he has learnt about the customers is that some do not use the right detergents when washing shoes at home and have resorted to using household detergents that were only designed for kitchens and toilets. 

His customers include notable figures such as Vee Mampeezy, DJ Ngwazi, and influencers like Hey Nyenaah who regularly bring their shoes for cleaning.

“Mostly our customers are Botswana artists and we are thankful and this is giving us morale that we are doing something good,” he said.

He also said CEDA CEO, Thabo Thamane was one of their regular customers and other public figures.

Their dream is to wash President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s sneakers specifically the ones made by Collections by BK Proctor. 

As we conducted the interview, it was evident how popular they are, as every passing car honked and some even shouted, expressing their intention to bring their shoes for a wash.

When it comes to competing with other businesses, Leshona emphasised that they have hired five employees and prioritise a quick turnaround time of one to two days for customers to receive their shoes. 

He said their busiest period is during holidays and when people want to go out to notable events. What he testified is also that they started off using a wheelbarrow to carry the shoes but were now thankful that the shoe business has generated money and now they have bought a Honda fit.

“We are able to pick and drop customers shoes and we have private clients who prefer to have their expensive sneakers cleaned at the comfort of their homes,” he added. 

He said they also offer express services for customers who want their shoes to be cleaned much quicker.

“We have a house where we dry the shoes for fast service and for safety of our clients’ shoes,” he explained.

So far they have not experienced any theft.

In the near future they plan to sell shoe products and to expand the place where they would have machines to fasten the shoe wash business.

Perseverance and patience have kept the shoe wash business booming and to anyone wishing to start he advised that they start small and never give up. Ends