This closure in its Nigerian and Kenyan branches according to the company is due to the unfavourable global macroeconomic environment which has continually hit the home services industry hard. Explaining further, the company’s statement read: “This has meant that our business cannot sustainably operate due to economic pressures being faced at the moment.”

But one would wonder that there’s more to the pause than just the unfavourable economy as the company seemed to have been thriving well before now.

Hence, rather than reiterating on the right strategies for businesses to thrive despite economic downturn, we hope for a follow-up on this developing story.

SweepSouth further emphasised that customers will keep receiving its services with bookings ending on Friday, November 25, 2022 and it will monitor the Nigerian market until a suitable time for re-entry.

This new development follows the cleaning agency’s acquisition of an online marketplace for home maintenance and improvement services such as plumbing, carpentry, electricity, air conditioning, painting and appliances, FilKhedma. And also its $11 million funding raised to expand across the pan-African region.

Aisha Pandor and Alen Ribic, a couple, founded SweepSouth to enable busy individuals maintain a clean environment by taking up the responsibility.

Customers can customise the services they receive; either leveraging SweepSouth’s cleaning products or supplying their own. A 24 hours digital notice is all that’s needed for the SweepSouth team to meet your cleaning needs.

Having raised over $15 million in funding, the company is backed by Alitheia IDF and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.

The size of the round, which is SweepSouth’s largest to date, is a result of strong growth in the company’s valuation and social impact since the previous funding round. Current investors Naspers Foundry, The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and Futuregrowth Asset Management all committed to participate in this new round, as did new investors Endeavor Catalyst, Endeavor’s Harvest Fund II, Caruso Ventures, and E4E Africa. 

Co-founded in 2014 by Aisha Pandor and Alen Ribic, SweepSouth has a presence in Africa’s four key tech markets: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt.

This latest round of funding will allow the company to further develop and grow its infrastructure and team in South Africa, rollout new services in existing markets, and pursue both greenfield expansions and acquisitions across the African continent and beyond.

“This new funding round is an important one for our team as we continue to scale in South Africa, and further grow our operations in Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt,” says Aisha Pandor, co-founder of SweepSouth.

“We’re excited to continue SweepSouth’s work in connecting customers with home service providers across the continent, building a platform that empowers domestic workers and local tradespeople. We are particularly proud to have raised funding from Alitheia IDF, a female-led fund, and to have included more women investors on the cap table via a female-focused SPV during this round. We are excited about what this means for us going forward and thrilled to have Polo Leteka from Alitheia IDF join the board.”  

Alitheia IDF (AIF), Africa’s first women-focused and women-led private equity fund, is a US$100 million gender-lens fund co-founded and managed by two women-led firms – Alitheia Capital (Lagos, Nigeria) and IDF Capital (Johannesburg, South Africa).

The fund, which announced its final close in 2021 to become the largest gender-lens private equity fund in Africa, identifies, invests in, and grows SMEs led by gender-diverse teams in six African countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.  

“We are proud to support SweepSouth’s growth as it expands its platform that substantially improves the financial and social outcomes for domestic workers across Africa, most of which are women. In the domestic services industry, which is notoriously informal and exploitative, SweepSouth’s model solves autonomy, security, and increasing income for its service providers, and affordability and flexibility for its end users. AIF’s investment will enable the development of infrastructure and operations that will deliver growth for stakeholders – particularly domestic workers and local tradespeople at the base of the economic pyramid,” says Polo Leteka, Principal Partner, Alitheia IDF Fund.   

In addition to its expansion efforts, SweepSouth will scale its current efforts to improve the economic and legal rights of domestic workers through efforts such as the SweepSouth Report on Pay and Working Conditions for Domestic Workers Across Africa – a report that highlights the struggles of domestic workers in Africa and encourages more action from governments and stakeholders.   

Alen Ribic, co-founder of SweepSouth, adds: “We’re excited about bringing new shareholders on board in our mission to build technology that aids in providing meaningful connections – giving customers access to safe, convenient services, and home service providers access to decent work opportunities under dignified conditions.”  

If this is the case for you, you need not worry – here are fast and effective tips from Awazi Angbalaga, Country Manager for cleaning services company, SweepSouth on how  your domestic workers can give your home a sparkly facelift.

Kitchen cleaning tricks

Give coffee and tea mugs a refresh by removing old stains. Fill the mug halfway with white vinegar, then top up with boiling water. Allow to sit for at least 15 minutes, before washing well.

Rid your microwave of old food splatters by placing a microwavable bowl filled with one third vinegar and two thirds water inside the microwave. Heat for five minutes until the microwave is steamed up. Baked-on food splatters will now be soft enough to remove with a quick wipe. If not, simply repeat the process.

Add gleam to stainless steel kitchen appliances like fridges and dishwashers by rubbing coconut oil or baby oil onto them with a soft cloth. And, if your dishwasher smells funky, fill a mug with vinegar, place it in the top rack of an empty dishwasher, then run it for a normal cycle.

Kitchen cupboards and cabinets are real dirt traps, and we often don’t realise how much dust and dirt is building up inside them, says Awazi. “When you’re cleaning them, the trickiest bits are often the corners and areas around hinges. To reach them, use an old toothbrush dipped into the cleaning solution and, for really tight spots, try an ear bud moistened with cleaner to help remove grime,” she advises.

Lounge reviver

Vacuum cleaners often have a stale smell. Give yours a refresh by cleaning the hoses, filter and canister with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water. Rinse with water, then allow to dry. Next, pop a ball of cotton wool that’s been dipped into a fresh-smelling essential oil, like lemon or eucalyptus, into the vacuum bag for a fresh smell every time you vacuum.

A clever tip to remove any old chewing gum stuck to the carpet by drenching it with a through spritz of hairspray. The gum will harden, and you’ll be able to scrape it off with a knife. 

Get rid of water stains on wooden coffee tables by applying Vaseline and leaving it overnight, says Awazi. “The next day, wipe the mark away using Vaseline. You can also try mixing equal parts vinegar and olive oil, then, using a cloth and moving with the wood grain, applying the mixture to the area. Use another dry soft cloth to buff it up.”

Bathroom cleanse

Refresh your shower and get rid of soap scum and mould with a natural shower scrub. Mix three cups of water with three teaspoons of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Spray on the shower walls and floor, leave for half an hour, spray again, then scrub to remove residue and rinse.

Banish black spots of mould or mildew in your bathroom basin’s sealant by applying a paste made with one part lemon juice to one part bicarbonate of soda. Leave the paste on for two hours, then rinse off.

To rid your drain of smells, mix half a cup of bicarbonate of soda with a quarter cup of salt. Sprinkle the mixture down the drain, followed by a cup of warm white vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then pour hot water down the drain.

Bedroom freshener

Bedroom curtains and pelmets are dust and allergen traps. Wipe down the pelmets, then use your vacuum cleaner on a low setting to give your curtains a quick once over. If you have a clothes steamer, use it on your curtains once they’re dusted, to refresh them.

Give your wardrobe a good clean before you pack your winter clothes away. Take out all the clothing inside the cupboard, vacuum up any dust then wipe down the inside with a mild water and soap solution to get rid of dust and dirty marks Once your clothes are packed back into the cupboard, place blocks of cedar wood on the shelves to repel moths. Sachets filled with fresh lavender or rosemary and hung from the clothing rail will also act as a moth deterrent, plus add a fresh scent to your wardrobe.

Giving your home a thorough clean from top to bottom can be tiring, but it’s definitely worth it in how fresh your space will feel afterwards. If you don’t have the time to do a deep clean, get a professional cleaner from SweepSouth to help with intensive chores. That way you will have a sparkling clean home, plus you’ll have free time to focus on other responsibilities in your life.

Overhead expenses, which take up a significant chunk of revenue, are an obvious place to start, but your most significant cost savings could come from making a series of smaller cuts and implementing innovative solutions. 

1. Go paperless
The cost of paper and ink may seem insignificant, but it can add up to a big business expense over the course of a year.

It’s a commonly recurring business cost that you can reduce by encouraging employees to be mindful of paper wastage and to stick to the following rules: Reuse waste paper for notes instead of throwing it away; set all work computers to print double-sided by default; print documents in a smaller font, and file important documents on your computer instead of in a portable file.

2. Flexible working arrangement 

The cost involved in renting an office, coupled with furnishing and other daily and monthly overheads, is such an expensive affair, especially during these tough times.

To help manage these costs, you may consider adopting a flexible working style where your team can either work remotely or in a hybrid model with frequent virtual meetings to keep the human interaction going.

Using co-shared working spaces is another option where you only pay for the day that you need to be in an office environment. This way, you will not have to worry about office running costs as these spaces cater to all your office needs.

Some even have an unlimited supply of coffee! Lastly, move to a smaller office and have your team come on a scheduled basis. For instance, have each department come in on a specific day of the week. This way, you get to maximise the small office efficiently.

3. Reconsider traditional services
A long-term contract for cleaning can result in expensive monthly bills and may not suit your small business’s needs. A cost-efficient alternative is to hire cleaners only when you need them to come in once or twice a week with pre-vetted, trustworthy cleaners. 

Doing what you can to keep staff healthy makes good financial sense, too, as sick workers can slow down productivity. With August being Nigeria’s coldest month, Awazi Angbalaga, SweepSouth’s Country Manager, suggests a weekly clean of keyboards and desk phones to stop your office from becoming a germ-filled battleground. “Our hands and the surfaces we touch are the superhighways for germs, and because we touch our phones and keyboards so often, they top the list of the dirtiest items on our desks.

A cleaner can wipe down frequently-touched objects with a disinfectant on a weekly basis to keep them clean,” she advises.

4. Leverage social media advertising
Truth be told, traditional advertising is so expensive that many small businesses can’t afford it.

Paid social media advertising is much cheaper and will provide a savings opportunity, but if even that is too much for you to afford right now, you can build your company’s social media following organically on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

It is a much slower process, but it won’t cost you anything. You will also be able to authentically express your brand’s personality and build trust with your audience. The only cost will be your time, and a firm commitment to be regularly active and proactive on the accounts you’ve created. 

5. Use freelancers and contractors for non-core work
Contracting out the jobs in your company that don’t require full-time employees can help cut overhead costs. Freelancers and interns are useful for one-off projects and non-core activities, such as data entry or document processing.

They’re easier to hire and cheaper to employ, as you’re not expected to provide them with costly benefits like medical aid or leave. Make sure though, that you have proper contracts in place to set expectations and mitigate risks, for both parties.

Bear in mind that freelancers may not share the same loyalty and passion for your business as full-time employees, so it makes for sound business practice to balance your staff complement by hiring a combination of both full-time employees and freelancers.

6. Switch off lights, machines and computers after hours

To help keep energy costs under control, make it a company policy to switch off air-conditioners, non-essentials lights, gadgets and equipment before staff head off home each day. Putting computer monitors into sleep mode will also cut down on unnecessary energy consumption and save money.

If you run your business from a home office, make the switch to LED bulbs and opt for energy-efficient appliances to help reduce your monthly electricity costs. For a longer-term solution, consider a hybrid solar system that includes batteries for backup, while keeping a lifeline connection to the grid.

This will make it possible to use essential appliances, such as a laptop and routers, in case of a power outage ; with minimal disruption to your business.

7. When in doubt, go without
If you’re struggling to allay costs, make it a practice to constantly ask: Do we really need to buy this? Do we really need to replace something?

Think every purchase through instead of just spending the money on buying bigger and newer things.

Even when times aren’t tough, it’s prudent to use what you already have until you are certain you need something new.

Cutting costs shouldn’t just be a periodic exercise to improve your bottom line. Good business practice dictates that you should regularly evaluate all operational expenditure.

This will assist you in growing your bottom line and reducing the risk of cash-flow trouble in the future, as well as helping you become a more efficient business overall.

This became more apparent during the pandemic where children (and adults) – confined to their homes because of lockdowns and restrictions – added more screen time to their days.

For many parents, screen time for children offers a break, some relief and a distraction as adults try to juggle work, life and other responsibilities.

With the ongoing school holidays, children of all ages have more time on their hands to be attached to phones, tablets, computers and televisions. However, you can decrease the amount of time your child spends staring at screens and, instead, get them out and about. 

Here are fun and creative ways to get your children outside over these holidays. 

1. Plan nature walks and hikes

Depending on how old your child is and what their fitness level is, you can plan for mild to moderate walks and hikes.

If you are in an area that is close to a park, like The Dreamworld Africana, you can head out as a family for regular walks. Alternatively, a walk around your neighbourhood will do wonders for all of you and give your child some fresh air and a break from screens. 

2. Go on a family trip

If you have the means, plan a holiday out of town for the family. There’s no better way to keep kids off their devices than to physically take them to an area that encourages disconnecting.

Kainji Lake and Yankari National Parks are excellent choices for families, as kids and adults alike will be captivated by the animals, the smell of the outdoors and the wide open spaces.

Game drives, nature walks, and bird watching are just a few of the activities available there. 

3. Relieve your house manager

Consider giving your live-in house manager some time off to see her family, rest and recharge. Assign some light tasks around the home to keep the kids occupied while she’s away. Have the older ones help with meal preparation or cleaning the outdoors while the younger ones can tidy up the living room area.

Also, keep in mind that it’s the school holidays, and you don’t want to put yourself or your children under too much pressure with house chores.

Engage a vetted and trustworthy cleaner from SweepSouth to come in once or twice a week to help you thoroughly clean the house.

One of the advantages of hiring a domestic worker from SweepSouth is that they conduct criminal and reference checks on all the domestic workers on the platform, giving the customers the much-needed peace of mind while their cleaning is being done.

4. Involve them in different  activities

Despite their ages, look around for activities within and outside the home to engage them in. Teenagers can take up volunteer opportunities in children’s homes, or you can also take them upcountry to help their grandparents or other elderly relatives. This fosters responsibility in them.

For younger children, plan activities around the home that they can engage in with ease. If you have an outdoor area, whether it’s a backyard or a balcony, consider getting potted plants or a pet that they can tend to.

This not only gets children outside, but also gets them excited about doing their part for nature. Activities like baking, reading, or arts and crafts are great indoor ideas.

Alen Ribic, Co-founder of SweepSouth and dad of three, notes that even if your outdoor space is small, you can make it a fun and enjoyable space for the whole family if you have the right type of help.

5. Set up outdoor play dates with other parents 

The great thing about school holidays and being a parent is knowing that there are hundreds and thousands of other parents going through the same thing as you. Most parents out there are wondering what on earth to do with their children over the holidays.

So, why not set up outdoor play dates and activities together? Each day could be a different parent’s responsibility to come up with something fun. And it doesn’t have to be the whole day, either.

It could be an afternoon visit to Freedom Park, a picnic at Lekki Conservation Centre, an evening walk with other parents and children, or even a creative play day where children get to engage in their hobbies.  

School holidays can be fun for both parent and child – you just have to plan ahead of time. This not only ensures that you have enough activities to keep your child busy and off their screens for a while, but it also gives you time to adequately prepare for all the games and activities.