When Mbongeni Msomi, the owner of Carwash Supreme, told his parents that he had resigned from his job as an import clerk at a shipping company to open a car wash business, they were not pleased.
However, 31-year-old Msomi, from Mandeni outside Durban, was determined to pursue his dream of running his own business.
After resigning, Msomi approached the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in 2012 to apply for funding for his business. The NYDA gave him a grant to the value of R45 000 to buy equipment and waterless wash crystal products that the company would use to wash cars.
Since then, the business has grown to such an extent that he now runs three Carwash Supreme sites at the Pavilion Shopping Centre, uShaka Marine World and Wilsons Warf near the harbour in Durban. Carwash Supreme offers an eco-friendly service that uses only 500ml of water to wash one car.
“The products that we use provide the best carwash. We use an advanced spray on the car that lifts the dirt off. This allows the dirt to be wiped away with a special cloth. Our conditioner enhances and brings out the shine of the vehicle paintwork and removes stubborn grease, tar and surface scratches. This leaves the vehicle shining the Carwash Supreme way,” said Msomi.
Carwash Supreme employs 55 full-time and 26 casual youth employees.
“I am planning to increase employees to 100 as I will be opening another site in Pietermaritzburg before the end of the year,” he said.
S’busiso Mkhize, one of the employees at Carwash Supreme, said he enjoys his work because it has helped him to gain a lot of experience and he is able to provide for himself.
“The experience that I have gained is going to help me as I am planning to open my own carwash business one day and be like my boss,” he said.
Msomi’s advice to the youth is to work hard, persevere and be disciplined about how they manage their finances.
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