A birthday is a momentous occasion worth celebrating with the utmost pride and joy, but in the eyes of a company, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on a journey defined by thousands of pivotal moments, all wrapped up with a bow in a single calendar year. We at SweepSouth are beaming with elation to be able to celebrate 9 years as a successful company, but even more importantly, as a happy family.
As we treasure this incredible milestone and close in on a decade of transforming homes, we’re ready to move into double digits with overflowing enthusiasm, while single-handedly setting the bar for home services of the highest quality. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane, highlighting the accomplishments, growth, and insightful messages from our leaders that perfectly sum up our remarkable 9-year journey!
Looking Back at the Very Beginning
After 9 years of successfully navigating the trials and tribulations that a booming business brings with it, it’s easy to forget how it all started. However, this is a core value that, even to this day, forms part of the foundation of who we are and where we’re headed. The cloth of our future will never be sewn without the strands of our beginnings, which is a vital component that proudly makes us SA’s #1 home services provider. Here’s a quick look back at the past in the words of our brilliant CEO, Aisha Pandor:
“When Alen and I started the company in 2014, it was because we were looking to answer a personal need. We were young professionals working 16- to 18-hour days and were frustrated with the idea of how difficult it was to find someone to help manage our household.”
However, starting the company wasn’t based solely on personal motivators, as she states here:
“Very early in the journey, however, we realised that SweepSouth needed to be about more than just helping people find someone to assist with home cleaning. As we met more and more of our SweepStars, we started to understand not only the importance of creating job opportunities through the platform, but of doing so in a way that respects the dignity of workers in the domestic space and allows them to dictate their own schedules.”
Moments Worth Celebrating
The smile on a customer’s face while thanking a SweepStar; the warm delight a SweepStar feels upon completion of another job; the fulfilment a SweepSouth employee feels after wrapping up another work day – these are all daily occurrences that are celebrated internally as they drive the company in the right direction; and while we cannot compile these into measurable statistics, there are other numbers we have looked at that are gifts worth celebrating every day, never mind once a year.
A noteworthy mention goes out to each and every SweepStar, SweepSouth employee, and customer who has helped us reach the following heights:
- 4.8 Customer rating
- 100+ Brand partners
- Over 140,000 SweepStar applications
- Over 2.1 million bookings created
- 200,000 Gardens Serviced
A Message From Our Leaders
As we move into another year of invaluable lessons, priceless moments, and the gift of happy, healthy homes, there aren’t enough notepads in the world to sum up the last 9. Who better to share a quick message, though, than our trailblazing leaders? Let’s take a look at the story of SweepSouth through each of their eyes.
1. Aisha and Alen – Founders
“We are incredibly proud of how far we’ve come after dedicating the last 9 years of our lives to building SweepSouth. SweepSouth has made huge strides on its mission of helping to revolutionise and professionalise the home services industry, as well as towards our vision of being able to connect people, on the basis of trust and care, to create happier homes.
This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible, mission-driven team, the trust of our wonderful customers, and the resilience of the home services providers we work with, and communities we serve. Together, we’ve broken barriers, served as inspiration, weathered every storm, done what many thought would be impossible, and continued to thrive.
We’re excited to see what the future holds as SweepSouth continues to create opportunities, innovate, and make a positive impact on the home services industry and tech ecosystem at large, not just in South Africa, but in many markets around the world.”
2. Luke Kannemeyer – Managing Director
“SweepSouth is so much more than just a tech platform. We’re here to disrupt the domestic work industry and to redefine what it means to be a platform company. This is the rallying cry for our diverse team.
On my first day, my office was a dining table and we had less than 40 workers on the platform. Since then, we have offices across the continent and have provided employment opportunities for over 40 000 workers and delighted over 350 000 customers. And we’re only getting started. I look forward to adding a few more zeroes behind those numbers in the years to come.”
3. Chris Basson – Chief Product Officer
“Innovation has always been at the heart of SweepSouth’s journey. Since day one, our mission has been crystal clear: to simplify home services and empower workers.
As we blow out the candles on our 9th birthday, we’re excited to be working toward the goal of making it easier for homemakers and workers to find success in their ongoing engagement, enhancing how much workers can earn in our ecosystem and creating a space to help workers get the most from their earnings. Here’s to another year of making homes happier and lives easier for all!”
4. Dean Hopf – Chief Commercial Officer
“Times have been tough for a number of our customers and providers over the past few years, yet we continue to see strong growth across our product verticals. I believe this growth is testament to the trust and value our platform brings, as well as the team’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional value and service for both sides of the marketplace.
I’m inspired by the trust our customers have placed in us during these times, and I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say we are dedicated to continually building more value to our platform for our users. This year we celebrate our 9th birthday with a full heart and a burning bright horizon; the best is yet to come for SweepSouth.”
5. Cindy Meijboom – Chief Human Resource Officer
“As we commemorate SweepSouth’s 9th birthday, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and excitement. Our operations have grown immensely, enabling us to make a lasting impact in the lives of service providers and clients alike. We have built a strong foundation of operational excellence, ensuring that each interaction with SweepSouth is efficient, reliable, and delivers exceptional value.
Looking ahead, we are focused on scaling our operations, optimising our processes, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Together, we will continue to shape the future of the home services industry and create opportunities for all.”
6. Rishka Matthews – Head of Marketing
“SweepSouth’s 9th birthday is a momentous occasion for us. It’s a time to reflect on the impact we’ve had on countless households, the lives we’ve touched, and the stories we’ve become a part of. Our marketing efforts have been driven by our commitment to authenticity, empathy, and building strong connections with our customers.
As we move forward, we will continue to amplify the voices of our community, share their experiences, and inspire others to join us on this incredible journey.”
Conclusion
What better way to sum up the reason for this celebration than “Wow!” 9 Years later and we continue to grow from strength to strength. It’s been one helluva journey, but the best is yet to come. Here’s to the tireless efforts of SweepSouth employees, the inspiring determination of SweepStars, and last, but certainly not least, the heartfelt generosity of our beloved customers. May the next 9 be filled with an abundance of reasons to celebrate, and even more moments to look back on with sincere fondness.
