A new business is about to open in Strand, and its founders are already thinking beyond what customers will see when they walk through the door.
A new cleaning supplies business is opening in Strand this week, but for William Windvogel and his fiancée, Jenay Parnell, the shop is only the beginning.
I spoke to the couple who are behind The Cleaning Lady & Supplies about what they are starting at 102 Main Road and where they hope to take it.
The business is starting with cleaning products and supplies, bulk options and a refill station.
Why detergents?
For Windvogel, the decision to sell cleaning products came down to something quite simple: people will always need them.
“Detergents is one of those things that will never go,” he said. “You need it.”
He compared it to food. You need to eat, and you need detergent. It is not a winter or summer thing either.
The shop will offer products in both everyday and bulk quantities, including 25-litre products and washing powder in 5kg, 10kg and 20kg quantities.
There will also be opening specials, with product combinations available for around R200 and R300.
The bulk offering is also intended for laundries in the area that need to buy cleaning products in larger quantities.
A refill station from the start
The refill station will be available from opening day, giving customers another way to buy the cleaning products they need without having to commit to a larger quantity.
Customers can bring their own container and choose how much they want to purchase, rather than having to buy a full litre, two litres or five litres at a time. For people who may not have the money to buy cleaning products in bulk, the option means they can purchase a smaller quantity when they need it and return to refill their container later.
The bigger idea is a cleaning service
The shop is the first step towards a cleaning service that Windvogel and Parnell hope to build as the business grows.
Their plan is to offer three- to four-hour cleaning sessions, particularly for people who have hosted parties, birthday celebrations and other events and would rather leave the clean-up to someone else.
That is also where the potential for job creation comes in.
For now, the couple will run the shop themselves while they establish the business and see how demand develops. They have not set a specific employment target yet, with Windvogel saying they want to see how the business builds before deciding how many additional staff may eventually be needed.
A laundry is another idea for the future. With apartments and flats in the surrounding area, the couple sees potential for a local laundry facility, depending on whether their landlord allows them to develop that side of the premises.
Why Strand?
The location was a natural choice for the couple. They live just down the road and saw an opportunity on Main Road, where the passing traffic gives the business good visibility.
The premises will also bring together two of their businesses. Windvogel will be spending most of his time at The Cleaning Lady & Supplies, while Parnell continues with her work and runs Nays Nails, her own nail business, from the same premises.
“It’s going to be my business, so we set up here,” Parnell said.
The idea is to create something of a one-stop shop, where customers can pick up cleaning supplies while also having access to Parnell’s nail business.
The Cleaning Lady & Supplies opens at 102 Main Road, Strand, on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
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