It’s so inspirational to learn about other young entrepreneurs’ success. This month, we’re delving into Lethabo Mokoena’s story – a young Corporate Communications graduate from Daveyton.

The Stepping Stones that Led to the Birth of Walk Fresh

Lethabo obtained his Bachelor’s Degree at the University Of Johannesburg and, after spending a few years on campus, returned home following his graduation. Lethabo said that one of the reasons why he chose to become an entrepreneur was because he felt deflated to have returned home only to find most of his friends exactly where he left them.

In an interview with SME South Africa, Lethabo explains when he first had the idea to kick-start his now up and coming business ‘Walk Fresh’:

“We were chilling at the shops, and one of my friends was cleaning his mother’s sneakers. After realising that I also had sneakers I would like to be cleaned, I asked him why he was not getting paid for the work he was doing. He didn’t think it was a viable business to pursue.

It was at that moment when I saw the opportunity. The following day I spent the money I had budgeted for transport to get to work to buy cleaning materials, and then asked some of my friends to work with me.”

Township, tackies, tournaments and festivals

Walk Fresh is essentially a shoe cleaning business – but there’s more to Lethabo’s business than cleaning! Along with ensuring that his clients can step out in style, Lethabo has bolstered his developing organisation by hosting exciting events that boast a classic township backdrop. His bi-monthly event, ‘Don’t Trip Session’, is a music session that focuses on introducing other music-loving customers to a variety of fresh, new sounds.

There’s also talk of expanding Walk Fresh within Johannesburg, and Lethabo is proud to have been invited to an array of different events and soccer tournaments to exhibit his business to the masses – and it has been very well-received.

Since February 2015, when the business first began, Walk Fresh has taken big growth steps. Lethabo and his friends cleaned 46 pairs of shoes in their first month. They now clean 120 pairs in just one week, and he has employed seven youngsters full-time as a result. His customers can now also drop off their kicks at a range of different drop-off points around Johannesburg including Braamfontein, Auckland Park, Randburg, Boksburg, Edenvale, Midrand, and Diepsloot.

Big Brand recognition

But that’s not all! Lethabo has also been lucky enough to collaborate with world-renowned brands including Nike and Kiwi on two separate occasions – both of which were initiated by the brands themselves! Who knows what the future holds for this ambitious young entrepreneur and his employees. The sky is truly the limit.

Are you feeling inspired? We hope so. If you’d like to build on your own entrepreneurial skills, why not join your school’s young entrepreneur society? Don’t have one? Start one! Follow this link to find out how.