Interview With Nedbank Pitch & Polish Top 8 Finalist Prudence Mabaso

Interview With Nedbank Pitch & Polish Top 8 Finalist Prudence Mabaso. A total of 8 talented and innovative minds have made it to the top 8 of the Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition for the R1 million prize. Among them is South African entrepreneur and founder of The Kitchen Wrap Company, Prudence Mabaso. With her company, Prudence aims to transform home renovations in South Africa with innovative wrap solutions. We took some time to have an insightful conversation with her about the competition and her business journey. Read all about it below!

How did you first discover the concept of kitchen wrapping for renovations?

I first discovered the concept of kitchen wrapping online. I was fascinated by how it could completely transform spaces without the mess or cost of traditional renovations. When I tried to find someone doing it in South Africa, I couldn’t , at least not visibly and that immediately felt like an opportunity.

I started researching and eventually found someone in the branding and signage industry who taught me the basics of wrapping. I took those skills, experimented, and adapted them for interiors. I began wrapping in April 2021 and officially registered The Kitchen Wrap Company six months later. That’s how the journey began , from curiosity, to learning, to turning it into a thriving business.

What challenges did you face convincing South Africans to try wrap solutions over traditional renovations?

At first, the biggest challenge was awareness, most South Africans simply didn’t know that wrapping was even an option. But once people see the results, the product sells itself. The benefits are too strong to ignore, it’s cost-effective, convenient, quick to install, and offers endless design options without the mess or downtime of traditional renovations.

So instead of convincing people, we focus on showing them. Through demonstrations, before-and-after videos, and client testimonials, we let the results speak for themselves. Once clients experience how affordable and hassle-free it is, they never go back to traditional renovations.

What has been the most memorable transformation project you’ve completed?

The most memorable project for us was transforming the Bruma Nissan showroom. It was our very first large commercial project, and seeing it come together so beautifully was such a proud moment. What made it even more rewarding is that they were so impressed with the outcome that they’ve continued working with us, we’ve since wrapped almost every piece of furniture in their showroom.

Another highlight for us is filming vlogs with our clients. Those projects stand out because we get to interact with them on a more personal level and capture their genuine reactions. It reminds us why we do what we do, turning ordinary spaces into something extraordinary, while creating a memorable experience for our clients.

How do you ensure durability and quality in your wrapping products?

Durability and quality are at the heart of what we do. We work directly with a certified manufacturing partner whose materials are SGS tested and A-class fire rated, meaning that they meet international standards for safety and performance.

Before choosing our current range, we spent over a year trialling and testing different suppliers to ensure the films could withstand moisture, and daily wear. The result is a product that’s easy to clean and built to last for years without peeling or fading.

We also make sure our installers are properly trained in surface preparation and application techniques, because even the best material can fail if installed incorrectly. So for us, quality is a full system, from sourcing the right product, to training the right people, to maintaining strict installation standards. That’s how we guarantee long-lasting results and happy clients.

How has being part of Pitch & Polish helped you position your brand?

Being part of the Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition with Raizcorp has helped me position The Kitchen Wrap Company as more than just a renovation business — it’s refined our identity as a home innovation brand. The program pushed me to clarify our message, tighten our numbers, and articulate our impact — not just in creating beautiful spaces, but in creating jobs and making sustainable renovations accessible to more people.

Through the mentorship, I learned how to present our story with confidence and back it up with solid financials and scalability. The exposure has also boosted our credibility, opening doors to new partnerships and helping me see the brand through the eyes of investors and clients. Today, we’re more intentional about our growth strategy, our messaging, and how we position ourselves as the leaders in fast, dust-free renovations across Africa.

What trends are you seeing in home renovations and design preferences?

In South Africa, homeowners are increasingly opting for comprehensive renovation rather than piecemeal fixes. What was once a kitchen or bathroom refresh often becomes a multi-room overhaul.

This reflects that many people stay in their homes longer, so rather than moving, they rework the space to fit changing lifestyles (e.g. more remote work, multigenerational living).

How are you planning to expand your services beyond Gauteng?

Our goal has always been to make beautiful, affordable, and dust-free renovations accessible across Africa, not just Gauteng. We’ve already started expanding through a network of trained installers in other regions like Cape Town, Namibia, and Botswana. The plan is to replicate that model by partnering with local installers, cabinet makers, and renovation contractors in each province.

How do you manage competition in the home improvement space?

The home improvement industry is competitive, but our focus has always been on differentiation rather than competition. We don’t compete on price, we compete on value, speed, and experience. Traditional renovation companies are still using outdated, messy methods, while we offer fast, dust-free, and sustainable transformations using high-performance architectural vinyls. That already sets us apart.

We’ve also invested time in building trust through visible proof, before-and-after projects, influencer partnerships, and satisfied clients who become brand advocates. Our average order value is around R35,000, and our clients often come back or refer others because of how convenient and professional the process is.

Instead of seeing others as competition, we collaborate, especially with cabinet makers and renovation contractors who lose clients that can’t afford full rebuilds. We step in to offer an alternative, which helps them keep business they’d otherwise lose. So our strategy is partnership, innovation, and quality ,not fighting for the same piece of the pie, but expanding the market together.

What advice do you have for women entering the male-dominated renovation industry?

My biggest advice is, don’t wait for permission. This industry can be intimidating because it’s traditionally male-dominated, but the truth is: skill, consistency, and integrity have no gender. Know your craft, understand your numbers, and deliver excellence, that’s what earns respect.

What impact would winning R1 million have on The Kitchen Wrap Company’s growth?

Winning R1 million would be a game changer for The Kitchen Wrap Company. It would allow us to move from surviving to scaling. Right now, our biggest limitation is stock and capacity, we know the demand is there, but without enough inventory and equipment, we can’t serve as many clients as we could.

A large portion of the funding would go towards bulk inventory, which would immediately increase our profit margins from 55% to over 80%, giving us more breathing room to reinvest in growth. We’d also expand our installer training program to empower more people, especially unemployed youth and women, to start their own wrapping businesses under our network.

Beyond the numbers, this funding would help us build the foundation for our tech platform, the next step in making home renovations faster, more accessible, and more sustainable across Africa. So it’s not just about winning money; it’s about unlocking the next phase of growth, job creation, and impact.