Founder Of Walk Fresh, Lethabo Mokoena Reflects On Key Lessons From His Entrepreneurial Journey
Founder Of WALK FRESH, Lethabo Mokoena Reflects On Key Entrepreneurial Lesson So Far. WALK FRESH is a boutique sneaker cleaning and shoe-care service providing the best sneaker cleaning, suede/nubuck refurbishing and mainte- nance, shoe shining and Repairing services for all footwear brands, makes and materials.
The business currently has stores in Soweto, Daveyton and Sandton and it has been progressing at a pace the founder and owner is very comfortable with. Here is what he had to say below;
It has officially been a full year since WALK FRESH Sandton opened it’s doors. I have not made any real noise about this shop, 12 months in, no campaign, no nothing. Because I’ve spent the past year head down, learning about this shop & my business, learning this new market/environment, learning the business language, studying the consumer behavior & spending habits, making mistakes, fixing them, finding the right team, letting go of some. The hard part was teaching while I was learning.
Some 3yrs ago my bro Luyanda Skhulule Jafta said “no one cares how pretty it looks, all the client wants to know is DOES IT WORK???”
I’ve carried this question with me since. Today I can proudly tell you that this shop is solid, I’ve cracked it, the hard part, I’ve cracked it.
People probably think my pace with WALK FRESH is slow, I should have 9.11 million shops by now. But me I know what happened to the Chisa Nyama franchise, I saw what happened to the Fish&Chips franchise. I also studied Ian Fuhr & how long it took him to franchise Sorbet. Nga dideki! It’s nice to have a pretty looking shop in “Africa’s richest square mile” or 5 other areas, question is DOES IT WORK!??
Congratulations to my team, majita back home ko Daveyton-Sgodi Phola (Bra-T, Sjijo, Fistos, Makhekhe). You’ve done what no one in the history of our hood has ever done. With no investors, you’re focused & running a successful shop in Sandton & thanks to technology & your dedication, you’re doing this from the township. EZINYE IZINJA BAFWETHU! ?? Ok now let’s go open a shop in Cape Town.”
