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Falling in love with the laundry

Guaranteed you’ve probably never actually WANTED to do laundry, and certainly you’ve never raced down to the laundromat with great excitement! But Clayton Howard & Mico Botha have decided to change all that. They’ve made laundry fun.

In April this year the dynamic and creative pair opened the doors of I LOVE MY LAUNDRY in Cape Town, giving life to South Africa’s one and only destination laundry! I LOVE MY LAUNDRY is not just a laundry you see. It’s also a quirky coffee and Dim Sum Bar and entertainment venue.

We chatted to Mico about this unique business.

Xtra: What kind of menu can customers expect at I love my laundry?
Mico: We are a Coffee Bar & Dim Sum Bar specializing in Korean Dim Sum and we offer vegetarian and meat flavours on our ever-changing Dim Sum menu. I LOVE MY LAUNDRY also caters for private functions and events around our 14-seater dining table and on Thursday evenings we host our popular fondue evenings. It’s an off-the-wall and unique venue offering a personal touch and client specific service.

X: What factors do/did you consider regarding your business location?
M: Definitely visibility for the brand.

X: Would you say you have a defined target market?
M: We attract like-minded creatives, people who understand great value and appreciate style.

X: As far as the laundry side goes, what kind of services do you offer?
M: We wash dry and fold your laundry at only R10 per kg. Ironing, alterations and dry-cleaning services is also available but what really defines our service is the fact that we only use organic top quality chemicals on all your fabrics and we package and fold your process parcels in our eye -catching orange wrapping paper. A “gift” to all our loyal clients and a mark of our caring attention to detail when it comes to your laundry needs. Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, Business, Cape Town, Food & Wine, Restaurants, Services

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Gorgeous Garden – Love your Lawns

We all dream of having a beautiful, peaceful oasis of a garden, a place where we can lounge in the Summer drinking Pimms and frolick in the Springtime, listening to the cheeping of the birds and marvelling at the blossoms (before the allergies kick in).

But it’s never that simple. Creating and maintaining a garden can be a painful and disheartening experience – not to mention expensive!

This collection is about giving you more choices – whether you’ve got those green fingers, but are lacking in time or whether you’re a hopeless horiculturalist and simply want someone else to sort it out, you should find someone nearby who’s willing to get down & dirty with your greenery.

Filed under: Collections, Places, Environmental, Home & Garden, Services, South Africa

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Car Trouble – the Day the Motor Died

There are few things in life that can invoke such extreme emotion in people as car trouble. The disruption, inconvenience and costs involved can throw your life into turmoil and leave you cowering in your home sans transport.

The sad thing is that this in an almost unavoidable curse. Certainly if you take care of your wheels, you’re going to have less hassles in the long run, but sometimes things just blow up for no good reason!

Our philosophy is, ‘Be Prepared’. If you don’t have a repair person or centre that you regularly use and trust, then speak to your friends and find one.

Our Car Trouble collection contains a selection of motor specialists in various fields with a range of expertise that might just be able to help you with a more specific issue or simply help you pimp your ride.

Filed under: Collections, Places, Business, Cars, Services, South Africa

iFix lets uFix your own Apple

Founded by Alex Fourie in 2006 in a Stellenbosch University dorm, iFix has grown significantly in the last six years. Today, iFix has branches in Durban, Cape Town, Sandton and Pretoria but the business maintains true to its’ original purpose – to provide Apple product users with a superior and convenient servicing and repair option.

Recently iFix launched uFix. A first for the local market, the uFix kit allows Mac users to make basic repairs to their own products with minimal hassle and cost.

We spoke to iFix Business Manager, Simon Van der Merwe about the latest developments.

S: What makes iFix unique?
SV: What makes iFix unique is the emphasis on customer service and giving clients the best possible experience when having an iDevice repaired. Before iFix came along people had to go to dodgy little repair shops and never knew if they will ever get there devices back. iFix saw this and also relised that Apple customers are not the kind of customers that likes going to dodgy little shops. iFix offers a sleek and efficient way of looking at iDevice repairs. Also we have free cool drinks and beers for our customers when they come to our shops.

S: What are some of the differences between repairing & maintaining Apple devices as opposed toother devices?
SV: When one just looks at the smartphone market there are not that many differences between maintaining an Apple device to another smartphone manufacturer. I would say the standard no-no’s applies across the board – Things like don’t drop the phone, keep the software updated, keep the device far away from water and keep the device backed up.

S: What would you say are the most common problems you deal with with Apple devices?
SV: The most common problem we deal with is screen replacements. After that it will be battery and back cover replacement.

S: Do you have any quick tips for people using Apple products that would maybe help them to avoid problems later?
SV: As I said earlier keeping the phone backed up on iTunes is very important. This way none of your data will ever be lost again. The iCloud service that Apple offers is a God send to people that can’t afford to lose any of their data. Another tip is to get a proper case for the device. That is why iFix stocks a wide range of accessories for iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac. Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, Apple, Business, Services, South Africa, Tech

The old barn that became beautiful

Magdel Brink loves nothing more than to creating unforgettable dream weddings for her clients at Groenrivier Function Center in the picturesque Riebeek Valley.

Today the popular venue encompasses three gorgeous venues, suitable for weddings or corporate functions and the main function centre boasts a 250m stoep with panoramic views of the Cape’s fruit-growing region.

But it wasn’t always the sophisticated space it is today. “In 1979 we built a barn to store our farm implements and vehicles,” remembered Magdel.

“Little did we know that the same rustic building would serve as my very own wedding venue in 1987. In 1999 we celebrated my father in law’s 70th birthday party in similar style, once again facing the tedious task of moving farm implements and vehicles out of the barn on the Friday and back in on the Monday. Following the success of both functions, my husband suggested that we transform “The Barn” into a function centre. With the help of my close friend Malita Joubert who successfully heads up the catering side of my business, we hosted our first wedding in the new Groenrivier Function Centre in December 1999.” Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, Accommodation, Cape Town, Events, Food & Wine, Services, Wedding

Solving the puzzles of the past

Anne Lehmkuhl has a fascinating job that lovers of the history channel & detective novels might well envy. As a historical researcher and genealogist, Anne’s work is a daily puzzle that can often lead to some exciting and surprising discoveries. We talked to Anne about her business, South African Family History and Genealogy.

Safindit: How did you come to be in this line of work?
Anne: I started in 1984 by looking for my family history and the origins of the surnames. I was curious as to who the first immigrants were and when they arrived here. It took about a year to get a comprehensive history and by then, friends started asking me to help them with their histories. In 1996 I started looking at turning it into a business and offered my services as a researcher.

S: Did you train/ study in this field?
A: Unfortunately, there aren’t any specific courses for family history researchers in South Africa. There are courses and degrees overseas, but they do not deal with the South African context. I’ve been very interested in history since my high school days, and that has helped a lot. I also do a lot of reading about the subject and stay up to date with developments in this field.

S: Is this a full time job for you or more of a sideline?
A: At times it has been a full-time job, and at others a part-time job. I have lived on three different continents, and sometimes have had to take on a full-time job.

S: What is it about genealogy that interests/ excites you?
A: Giving people their family history going back a number of generations, and seeing their reactions, is what makes it interesting for me. In many cases, people know very little about their ancestors and how they came to be here. It’s also exciting to reunite long-lost families across the world. Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, History, Research, Services, South Africa

How to: Create an Safindit Listing

We spend a lot of time online and so we know that sometimes the internet can be a dark and confusing place, particularly for the technologically timid. Our new blog feature aims to help those folk with phobias to quickly and easily sign up, login, build, locate and create all sorts of things online that may benefit you and your business.

We’re going to start with an easy one and one that is close to our own hearts! We’re going to show you how to create your very own Safindit Listing.

 

Step 1:
Go to http://safindit.co.za and look on the far right-hand side of the home page. Click on the tab that says, “ADD YOURS +“.

Step 2:
You’ll see you have the option to add a place, event, special or story. To create a business listing, you need to tick ‘Place’.

Step 3:
Add your business’s name under Listing Title. If your business has more than one name, or operates under the banner of another company, try to use the name that is most closely associated with your line of work. If your business doesn’t have a specific name, but provides a service eg: Tree Felling, you might want to think about specifying a bit more, for example, writing, “Tree Felling Service – Western Cape.

Step 4:
Add a description of your business and/or services. If you already have a website that has a full description of your business, you can simply copy and paste it into the space provided. If, however, you don’t have anything written down, you’ll need to try and be specific about what your company does and how. Think about how you would describe your business to a friend or new client. You can also simply list the services you provide.

Step 5:
Add your full address where possible, including province. We will use this information to plot your location using Google Maps. If you don’t have an office or work from home & prefer not to use the address publicly, simply add the area; eg. Durban North. If you are an online-based business, just state South Africa. Continue reading →

Filed under: Online DIY, Online, Services, South Africa, Tech

Pam will help your pooch

Having a healthy, happy relationship with your dogs is not always a given. Sometimes, no matter how much love and attention you give them, it can feel like your canine companions are beset on ruining your life and/or home.

In these situations Pam Naude of K9 Communications -Doggyminds can be a lifeline that ultimately repairs the relationship and brings harmony to your house!
“I have always instinctively understood the way dogs think and communicate. Even as a child, it was observed that when I was around dogs they were calmer. Dogs constantly fascinate me with their individually and the ability to surprise and I spend all my days around these beautiful creatures that give us such joy, entertainment and companionship,” the canine behaviourist says.

Pam spent three years studying ‘Applied Animal Ethology’, which is the scientific study of animal behaviour, with Professor Odendaal at Pretoria University.

Pam has now been practicing full-time for six years and part-time since 2001, teaching social skills, puppy and dog training and even has kennels in the Durban area.
“I have passion for animals, especially dogs and to see results and happy pets makes me very happy,” she says, “Some behaviour in dogs is normal but is not acceptable to humans, so correcting of modifying the behaviour helps the dogs to be calm and allows humans and dogs to live in harmony together.” Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, Animals, Durban, Education, Services

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Instant Office – Just bring your laptop

It’s a craze that’s been sweeping the globe. In a world where small businesses have been forced to cut overheads and Startups are the new black, an instant office is the perfect solution!
Recently we’ve seen more and more of these venues popping up around the country, each offering more support and fun extras than the next.

For those with more simple requirements, there’s the desk, chair, internet connection and phone line option. Then there are the more deluxe options that include meeting rooms, trendy wall art, a receptionist and even… pot plants! What more do you need to make your office feel warm & inviting?

For so many business people, the internet has made working a completely mobile experience, making their large & fancy offices seem bulky & expensive. With an instant office, you can still have an address and a place to park your briefcase, without the big bills.

Plus, you could meet someone cute at the coffee machine?

Filed under: Collections, Places, Business, Design, Entrepreneur, Office, Services

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Suit Up – Look Legendary on your Big Day

Whether its’ a gala evening, business event, Matric Dance or your wedding day, a good suit (or tux) is imperative in order to not only fit the dress code, but also make an excellent impression.

As Barney Stinson once said, “Suits are full of joy. They’re the sartorial equivalent of a baby’s smile.” The prefect suit for an important occasion can make you feel like a superhero, equipped to deal with any challenge.

Not every man can afford to, or is inclined to buy a suit just for special occasions. That’s why we’ve rounded up as many South African suit hire businesses as we could in this collection. This way, you can easily find the outfitter that…ahem… suits you.

Filed under: Collections, Places, Clothing & Accessories, Events, Fashion, Men, Services, South Africa, Wedding

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Fix my Apple – for the love of Mac

For those who exclusively use Apple products, South Africa can sometimes be a frustrating place to live. The country are fairly new to the technology, compared with the US and Europe and often we don’t have the support to back it up.

When you don’t live anywhere near an iStore, small glitches can become a big headache and major updates can involve a minor nervous breakdown. Even when you are near an iStore, there can be issues – waiting lists, expensive parts and red tape.

As more and more people are exposed to the magic of Apple products, the demand for people to service those products is also increasing. But we’ve noticed it can involve a fair amount of Googling and phone calls to find someone nearby.

That’s why we created this collection. We did all the searching and calling for you. Now all that’s left is for you to get your sick Apple to the nearest hospital and pray for a speedy (and cost-effective) recovery.

Filed under: Collections, Places, Services, Tech

Give Yourself a Helping Hand

We’ve all had those times where we wished we had a second pair of hands to take care of our growing to-do lists. Juggling the roles of worker, parent and home-maker can be a nightmare and for some busy people, it’s completely worth their while to hire another set of hands!
Enter the highly efficient ladies from My Life Organised – a business dedicated to helping you find more time in your busy life, for you!

Caro Fischer stumbled upon the idea for the business when a friend of hers returned to working after maternity leave.
“She had no hours left in the day to run personal errands and get the house and family admin done,” explained Caro, “After researching the concept I saw a need in the market and as word of mouth spread, the business began to grow and the concept and idea became a reality.”
With Caro holding down operations in Cape Town and Ciska Thurman & Nicky Park servicing the Johannesburg market, it’s clear to see that they’ve hit on a winning business model.

What kinds of things will your lifestyle manager take care of for you, you may ask?
“We do a lot of personal shopping (groceries, gifts etc), handling administration (mainly in the home – filing, sorting etc), de-cluttering (re-organising rooms, offices and other spaces for Clients) and other ad hoc errand running (dropping items for dry cleaning, collecting or sourcing specialised items, doing research for Clients etc),” Caro explained, though she admits the requests do vary according to the individual. Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, Cape Town, Joburg, Lifestyle, Services, Shopping, Women

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Pets & Vets – Spoil your Furry Friends

For many people, pets aren’t just furry (or not so furry) living companions. They are family members. And this means that you want to give them the absolute best, when it comes to food, grooming, vet care and even fashion!

This collection is all about doing just that. With over 40 suppliers listed, ranging from doggie parlours, catteries, exotic pet shops and breeders to trainers and pet transporters, you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for!

Services and suppliers in this collection are spread throughout the country, which means you’re likely to find something no matter where you are in SA.

Filed under: Collections, Places, Animals, Services

100 Percent Passion at Pink Peppercorn

Working within a highly competitive business landscape can be challenging but Rabea Scholtz and Candice Fortune are up for the challenge because for them, running Pink Peppercorn Catering is a total labour of love.

The two friends met while working together for a large catering company. After they teamed up to cater for a friend’s wedding one weekend, they realised they were a dynamite duo and decided to go into business together. It took just a couple of months before Pink Peppercorn was up & running.

When deciding on a base for operations, Rabea and Candice took into account several factors. The location needed to be central, affordable, the right size and not too far out for their staff to travel at irregular hours.
In the end, they found just what they were looking for in the neighbourhood of Bishop Lavis. Continue reading →

Filed under: Places, Cape Town, Events, Food & Wine, Services

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PC Panic Button – A collection for desperate times!

Not everyone was blessed with the skills that allow them to navigate the inner (and outer) workings of computers with ease and aplomb. Rather, we start to twitch uncontrollably at the first sign that the machine has abandoned reason and start pushing the ‘Reset’ button repeatedly.

We understand what it means to be frustrated & confused by your IT nightmare and how important it is to get the right person to fix the problem.

This collection was created to try and minimise the stress in PC disaster cases, giving you a chance to find help quickly and easily. Use the Map function to find the operator closest to you. Then, because our listings are so info rich, once you’ve found your preferred supplier, you can choose your method of communication, whether you want to phone email or DM them on Twitter.

Crises averted? You’re welcome!

Filed under: Collections, Places, Services, Tech