Founded in December 2021 amid the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, Skhokho Fam began as a means of survival and has since grown into a thriving sneaker care business employing four people in Alexandra.

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At the heart of this journey is Alex-based entrepreneur Sfiso Brian Ngalo, whose resilience and commitment turned hardship into opportunity. “When I lost my job in 2020 during Covid, I had to find a way to survive. Since I knew how to keep sneakers clean, I started a business,” he said.

Starting small, Ngalo initially sold snacks for a while, but when the income proved insufficient, he pivoted to what he knew best – cleaning sneakers. “In the beginning, I did not charge a lot because I was more interested in building trust and getting people through the door,” he shared. “But now, customers are a lot, and we are more visible than we used to be. We have grown. We are getting new clients almost every day.”

His background in retail gave him a solid foundation in customer service, but entrepreneurship brought new challenges. “Marketing and building a customer base were the hardest parts. When people brought their shoes at the time, they did not have any guarantee that I would meet their expectations or not.”

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Still, Ngalo leaned into his skills and let his work speak for itself. Like any good entrepreneur, he made sure his customers were always satisfied with his services, and that satisfaction played a crucial role in the growth of his business. “That is what built my reputation. Word of mouth and social media helped me grow.”

While his journey from a one-man operation to a team of four is inspirational, it was also marked by hard and often costly lessons. “I have damaged a few pairs of shoes over the years. I had to pay for about five pairs. Three years ago, we lost someone’s expensive sneakers, and I had to pay for them to protect my business.”

But through trial and error, Ngalo has built more than a brand; he’s built a community. “Out of five clients whose shoes were damaged, three of them are still my loyal and happy customers. The communication is still there.”

Reflecting on his journey, Ngalo said it has been one full of lessons, from both his team and his mistakes. “Every setback taught me something.”

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