Local businesses help flatten the curve

Desperate times call for creative measures…and we are inspired to see how these seven, local businesses have adapted to the pandemic and joined the fight against coronavirus in their own way:

1. Stay safe with HOPE packs 

In proudly local style, The Creativity Lab has branched out to source, organise and deliver Hygiene Office Protection Exercise, or simply, HOPE kits to help keep you and your colleagues safe. The kits are created to promote efficient and effective hygiene in the name of user safety and consist of specially sourced, local products of the highest quality that are readily available in large quantities. Their aim is to support the local community economically, as well as keep individuals safe.

Details: Website: The Creativity Lab, Facebook: @creativitylab10 or Instagram: @thecreativity.lab

2. ZAP coronavirus and guard your staff

Protect your front-line staff with the innovative Sneeze Guard – a perspex product that is 100% designed and manufactured by the Ballito-based company, Zap Signs. The screens are supplied with double-sided tape on the base tabs to secure them to counters or desk tops. Along with the Sneeze Guards, they also produce full colour, social distancing, non-slip, floor decals to assist customers in retail outlets to ensure that the correct social distancing is maintained.

Lyall Berkeley, who started Zap Signs in 2008 with his wife, Stacey, says they have all the necessary permits and documentation to manufacture and supply PPE equipment during the lockdown. “We have six full-time staff who will produce them. These screens will allow us to survive the pandemic. Our main priority at the moment is to do everything we can to remain in a position where we can continue to pay our employees,” he says.

Details: Website: Zap Sings Ballito Facebook:@zapsingsballito , Instagram: @zapsingsballito

3. Extreme sanitizing…

Extreme Events have gone from event planning to sanitizing as a solution to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Their Extreme Sanitizing Tunnel is a purpose built, walk-through tunnel that sprays the perfect recommended dose of non-alcohol based disinfectant ensuring that you are virus free from head to toe.

Watch the sanitizing tunnel in action:

Details: Website: Extreme Events Facebook: @extremeeventsza Instagram: @extremeeventsza Email: [email protected]

4. Buy one, donate one with Casey Jeanne

Passionate to help keep people safe in an environmentally friendly way during this pandemic, local bridal couture designer, Casey, took to her sewing machine and started making masks. “We have come so far with reducing waste, and disposable face masks just take us 10 steps backwards. So a mask for the general public that can be reused is key. Also, the medical masks are in such short supply, they NEED to be reserved for medical professionals.” She offers curved, shaped masks for adults and children in three sizes. Taking it a step further, Casey started the Buy One, Donate One campaign – for every mask purchased, they are donating a mask to organisations in need, with a focus on the elderly and cancer children.

Details: Instagram: designer_casey_jeanne or start shopping.

5. Planting a garden of giving

Since the beginning of lockdown, Sugar Rush Park, Living Earth Compost, Holla Trails and Fairview Estates have been hard at work to construct and plant a 10,000 square meter non-profit community garden. They have planted 10,000 seedlings which will grow into healthy vegetables to be given at no cost to the elderly in need and the unemployed in the community. The first steps are done and the seedlings are getting bigger every day, but the green thumb team want to do more…they have the land available to grow the garden of giving to 40,000 square meters, but they need your help. All funds raised will go directly into expanding the vegetable garden. Join them by donating here: Go Get Funding

Details: Donate

6. Trendy masks for everyone 

We love their towels…and now we are loving their fabric face masks! The Bobums factory is hard at work to produce fabric masks made from their high quality microfibre – the fast drying, lightweight fabric with anti-bacterial properties that they use to make their colourful towels. These masks are machine washable and available in single ply or triple ply. Thanks to this initiative, they are able to maintain local jobs and support families.

Details: Facebook: Bobums, Website: www.bobums.co.za or email: [email protected]

7. Take a SaniStep against COVID-19

Ballito-based WOWCutting has changed tack completely going from making unique furniture, signage and engraving personalised gifts, to the The SaniStep. This clever machine dispenses hand sanitizer with a simple, light-pressured foot step. Simply place the little machine at the entrance of your home, retail store, pharmacy or business and have peace of mind that your hands are germ-free.