Startup Story
Lerato Zulu is the founder of ChemWeb, a South African manufacturing business producing household and industrial cleaning detergents in accordance with the strictest Quality Management System as specified by ISO, thus ensuring consistent quality of the highest standard, while maintaining competitive prices. The company offers a wide range of cleaning products necessary for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness of households, hospitals, learning institutions and essentially all environments of work.
LoA spoke to the enterprising and tenacious Lerato Zulu about her entrepreneurial journey, her challenges, and her ambitions for the future of her business.
Tell us how you got started
They say that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Our preparation was born from the extensive experience we had acquired from running a small cleaning services company that we operated as a “side hustle” to make ends meet. Our moment of luck came when the company that we had been buying our cleaning chemicals from suddenly became available to purchase. We jumped at the opportunity and decided to take a leap of faith. We used the money from our retrenchment to buy this company and decided that this was the opportunity to fulfill our lifelong ambitions of being our own boss. As one can imagine, the challenges of starting a business while also raising children was difficult on many fronts, particularly emotionally and psychologically. However, having a partner with the knowledge and experience of chemical manufacturing was invaluable.
“They say that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Our preparation was born from the extensive experience we had acquired from running a small cleaning services company that we operated as a “side hustle” to make ends meet.”
What does your company do?
ChemWeb manufactures household and industrial cleaning detergents. We have a wide range of cleaning products inevitably deemed necessary for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness of households, hospitals, learning institutions and essentially all environments of work. All our products are available for purchase onsite and at Makro online Site to increase our clientele by gaining access to customers all around the country. But for now, at Makro we only listed Floor Polish, the rest will follow with time. We are always looking for reliable distributors and retailers. We deliver nationwide.
Our products are categorised according to use:
● Kitchen care Cleaning Products
● Floor Care Cleaning Products
● Bathroom Care Cleaning Products
● Sanitisers and Disinfectant,
● Industrial care Cleaning Products And
● Vehicle Care Cleaning Products.
We further supply cleaning accessories such as mops, brooms, dust pans, etc. We offer advice on appropriate safety gear, safe handling and best practice for ultimate results with every product.
What inspired you to start a company?
The company was born out of desperation rather than inspiration. As we were facing retrenchment head-on, we were desperate to kick start our lives and it was the love for our three children that inspired us to combine our respective skills to build a legacy that they could one day be proud of. It has been through sheer hard work and determination and God’s grace that we are still in business eleven years later. At the time we had a cleaning company, but it was clear that depending on tenders was not a sustainable long-term growth solution.
“The company’s ability to host young graduates for an internship program each year makes me feel proud that our business can contribute to the future of our youth in the country. That gives me satisfaction that what we are doing is not in vain.”
Why should anyone use your products?
All our products are manufactured under the strictest Quality Management System as specified by ISO, thus ensuring consistent quality of the highest standard while maintaining competitive prices. Our good products are effective and available in different sizes. Our products are biodegradable. They are good value for money.
Tell us about your team
We are a team of five, a chemical engineer and his assistant, business administrator, and two drivers (one is full time while the other one is working part time) they also assist in the factory when they are not on the road. On the side we have a support of an accounting firm and chemical engineering that we consult with as and when the need arises. Our consultants guide through their expertise to ensure smooth daily operations.
Share with us your entrepreneurial journey
It has been a journey of highs and lows. We have accumulated a few accolades along the way:
● Third prize award - Umyezane Business Awards in the category of Best Exempted Micro Enterprise in 2014/2015.
● Acknowledged by the eThekwini municipality during their 15th year Exhibition celebrations.
● Nominated amongst the 15 companies that operate within the Ethekwini municipality honoured for making an enormous success over the years.
● Nominated to be within the National Gazelles Top 40 2017 cohort, out of over 200 companies that entered the competition. The National Gazelles is a three-year business mentorship program with a great support system. We worked with business coaches that helped by providing guidance and advice where necessary. It was a great learning experience.
The negative economic growth and status of the country affects us all. The exchange rates affect the prices of our raw material in a negative way, and in the end pushes the price of our products. The high unemployment rate in the country also contributes to the difficulties of our potential customers. All these affect the business in a negative way. Covid-19 has also come with its one set of challenges. As if that was not enough, when floods hit KZN very hard in the April 2022, we were affected badly. We lost most of our assets, all production (finished products and raw material), machines and vehicles that were parked on site. It was like taking ten steps backwards. With the grace of God again we are still standing. We remain hopeful and continue to do all we can to make it through the effects of the pandemic and natural disasters.
“We want to expand this type of partnership agreements with other retailers to increase our reach of the market. We would like to contribute to the economy of our country by creating more job opportunities.”
What is your future plan?
Expanding the Chemweb brand nationally. We have already formulated a partnership with Makro Online. We want to expand this type of partnership agreements with other retailers to increase our reach of the market. We would like to contribute to the economy of our country by creating more job opportunities. I would love to see Chemweb being able to run itself without me in the middle of its everyday life.
What gives you most satisfaction
Seeing Chemweb growing from where it was to where it is today, despite disastrous setbacks. The company’s ability to host young graduates for an internship program each year makes me feel proud that our business can contribute to the future of our youth in the country. That gives me satisfaction that what we are doing is not in vain. Although we are not able to provide more employment opportunities now, it also gives me satisfaction that the company has the potential of providing employment for a few, which will increase as business picks up.
Biggest piece of advice that you can give other women looking to start up
If you want to start something, look around in your community where you are, see what is needed most, and take advantage of that by providing a solution to the need. Be prepared to start small but with bigger dreams. You must be prepared to learn and accept constructive criticism. You will work longer hours than others, make peace with it. It is what it is. Have fun in the process!
Find out more
Email: chemweb@mweb.co.za
Why LoA loves it…
They say that to succeed in business you have to be brave, tenacious, extremely hard working, and importantly, have a vision for what you want to achieve. Lerato Zulu has all these facets and more, and her vision for what she is trying to achieve is what drives her and the Chemweb team to succeed. This is a hardworking manufacturing business that is in growth mode, with products that people want to buy at affordable prices. Definitely a brand to watch this year! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa