From application to measurable results
A closer look at how four South African small businesses used their free website to grow.
Thandi's Braids & Beauty
Soweto, Gauteng
The challenge
Thandi's braiding salon in Soweto ran entirely on word of mouth and a WhatsApp status. New customers outside her existing network had no way to find her, see her style gallery, or book a slot without a personal referral.
What we built
Our team designed a mobile-first site anchored around a one-tap WhatsApp booking button, a scrollable style gallery shot on Thandi's own phone, and a Google Maps embed so first-time clients could find the salon with confidence.
The result
Within a month, Thandi was fielding bookings from entirely new suburbs, and now keeps a two-week waitlist for popular styles — something that never happened before the site launched.
40+
new bookings in month one
“I didn't pay a cent and I still can't believe how professional it looks. My bookings have honestly never been busier.”— Thandi Nkosi, Thandi's Braids & Beauty
Karoo Bean Co.
Stellenbosch, Western Cape
The challenge
Karoo Bean Co. roasted excellent small-batch coffee but sold almost exclusively at weekend markets. Local cafés and delis had no easy way to learn about wholesale pricing or place an order.
What we built
We built a warm, story-led site with a dedicated wholesale enquiry page, origin stories for each roast, and a contact form routed straight to Aisha's inbox — turning curious visitors into leads automatically.
The result
Cafés across the Winelands began reaching out directly through the site, and wholesale enquiries roughly tripled within the first quarter after launch.
3x
increase in wholesale enquiries
“They actually took the time to understand our brand instead of dropping us into a generic template.”— Aisha Patel, Karoo Bean Co.
Nomvula's Kitchen
Pretoria, Gauteng
The challenge
Nomvula built a loyal following catering for family events and neighbours in Pretoria, but had never catered a corporate event — and had no professional presence to reassure a business client that she could.
What we built
Our team built a menu-led site with a polished catering gallery, clear packages, and an event enquiry form designed to capture the details corporate clients ask for first: guest counts, dietary needs, and dates.
The result
Two months after launch, a local business booked Nomvula's Kitchen for a 60-person year-end function — her first-ever corporate contract.
60 days
to first corporate contract
“I still can't quite believe it was free. It changed what my business is able to do.”— Nomvula Dlamini, Nomvula's Kitchen
CapeFix Plumbing & Electrical
Cape Town, Western Cape
The challenge
CapeFix had fifteen years of hands-on plumbing and electrical experience but relied entirely on a van decal and word of mouth. New customers outside their existing network had no way to check credentials or request an emergency call-out.
What we built
We built a trust-first site leading with a 24/7 emergency banner, an upfront services breakdown, a service-area list, and a one-tap quote request form — everything a first-time customer needs before they'll pick up the phone.
The result
Call-out enquiries from new suburbs picked up within weeks of launch, and Johan now points every new customer to the site first to show them exactly what's included before a job starts.
2x
increase in new customer call-outs
“The site looks better than sites I've seen agencies charge R30,000 for.”— Johan Botha, CapeFix Plumbing & Electrical
Your business deserves to be found online.
Applications are reviewed within 48 hours. There's no fee to apply, no obligation, and nothing to lose.