Startup Story
Any company or homeowner knows just how challenging it can be to organize reliable cleaning services, packing and setting up new offices and homes, and reorganizing spaces in an environmental way. In Mozambique, that’s where entrepreneur Shabana Habibo comes to the rescue with her company, Enviro Green Lda.
LoA chatted to Shabana Habibo this month to find out more.
What does your company do?
Enviro Green Lda, is a Mozambican company that provides the following services:
Cleaning Services (we do hourly, weekly and monthly cleaning)
We provide cleaning products & hygienic equipment
We do filing, pack-up homes for moving, transport and set-up either offices or homes
Re-organize space by recycling old and unused materials
“When I started my business, I realized that most of us don’t have the time for packing up or organizing - we are too busy focusing on our businesses.”
What inspired you to start your company?
When I started my business, I realized that most of us don’t have the time for packing up or organizing - we are too busy focusing on our businesses. So this came as the perfect opportunity to help companies and homes to set up, organize their storage, and most importantly educate them that they can re-use their old things and avoid wasting money by purchasing new items.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
I believe that what makes us special is that we work using our own techniques by understanding the needs of our clients. Not only that but bringing in value and quality to what we do.
Tell us a little about your team
At the moment we are a team of 3 men and 2 women. We are planning on changing this by bringing more women into the team. We work with a lot of seasonal cleaning employees especially ladies, this is also a way to help them be trained so that they can get a full time job.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I started working as a receptionist for a shipping company when I was 18 years old but I wasn't comfortable with it, it was like something was missing. I then realized I didn't like being limited, so I started to go to my colleagues and ask them how things were done, do they need any help etc. But even so it started to feel like a cycle. After 3 years I started working as a PA for another company and stayed for about 4 years. In the first two years I was a bit sceptical, but then I got into a routine. Deep down I always had this feeling that something was not right, and in my last year I decided to take a leap of faith and start something of my own. That's where Enviro Green comes into the picture.
“We work with a lot of seasonal cleaning employees especially ladies, this is also a way to help them be trained so that they can get a full time job.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans and aspirations for the company are that I want the company to be very successful and to help inspire other people, whether you're a man or lady. I want my company to be self-sustainable, so that every day when I look back all the hardships pay off.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
That it’s my sweat, my tears and my hard work. That I had to fight for it. If I don’t no one will do it for me.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The only advice I can give is - Just don’t give up. There will be days that we can't seem to handle, but believe in yourself and take that leap of faith that things will happen!
Contact or follow Enviro Green Lda
FACEBOOK | EMAIL enviro.green2018@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
What we love about Shabana’s business is that she saw a gap in the market and a customer need, and created a niche business that could successfully fill that gap. Today, her clients see her as a specialist with a track record who knows how to make their lives easier and more stress free when it comes to cleaning, moving and reorganizing spaces. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa