Nancy Nkhoma: Founded Melaka Cleaning Manufacturing Company’s

Nancy Nkhoma’s desire for a clean environment has seen her venture into an eco-friendly cleaning company.

She established Melaka Cleaning Manufacturing Company to revolutionise cleaning solutions by setting new standards to blend innovation and sustainability.

Her inspiration stemmed from a desire to provide safer, more sustainable cleaning products for her family and community in a world that is grappling with various negative effects of climate change and unsustainable practices by humans.

She says: “My desire to start a cleaning company developed way back when l was working in a cleaning product manufacturing company in the United Kingdom. I worked for four years.

“When I came to Malawi, I saw a deficiency of quality in the cleaning products on the market. So, with the experience I gained in the UK, I was inspired to produce products to fill the gap.”

The mother of three, who is also a pastor’s wife, named the company Melaka in October 2021.

Nkhoma says the name comes from Exodus 31:3 which says that God anoints all manner of workmanship.

She admits that it was not an easy ride when she started off.

“The first challenge is capital because it’s not easy to raise it. Many banks prefer giving loans to established businesses,” she says.

Market penetration is another challenge she encountered.

It took long for people who were already used to other brands to shift their allegiance.

But Nkhoma pushed on. She faced the discouragements head on and strived on to keep the vision alive.

She says: “We managed to overcome these challenges through savings and raising awareness of our products on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and media interviews.

“We are penetrating the market, but we can do more because the biggest cost is marketing. As we grow, we will intensify our marketing.”

The efforts have paid off. Melaka Products has gained recognition, thanks to its consistence.

“Our greatest joy is when we received feedback from customers about our products being the best they have ever tried and when people refer us to others to try them,” says Nkhoma.

She says her joy was multiplied when Melaka Products were certified by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS).

“MBS certifying our products was undeniably the greatest milestone for our business. That is what we have been aiming for, to earn customer confidence from the consumers and the bureau,” she says.

The brand, which she says is modelled as a ministry, has created jobs for 10 permanent employees and countless temporary ones, boosting the economy.

Melaka Products also supports education programmes and women’s empowerment initiatives in the community.

“We donate laundry soap and cleaning to orphanages and we offer free training to women to produce cleaning products. We also engage women to sale our products on commission basis,” says Nkhoma.

She says they have trained 30 women in cleaning products making to make them financially independent.

Nkhoma says her distribution network has expanded to several parts of the country.

“We are distributing our products in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba, Mulanje and surrounding districts,” she says.

She and her team have now set their eyes on expanding the distribution network beyond Malawi’s borders starting with Zambia.

She says MBS has pledged to facilitate necessary procedures required in breaking into the Zambian market.

Further, the company is in contact with potential partnerships in South Africa who spotted the firm during the 2023 Malawi International Trade Fair

Their products include dish washing liquid, bleach cleaner, shower gel, foam bath, bubble bath, tile cleaner surface cleaner, window cleaner, pine gel, liquid laundry soap, car shampoo, hair shampoo, multipurpose cleaner, tablet soap, hand soap, toilet cleaner, floor cleaner, bathroom cleaner and air freshener.

The ambitious entrepreneur also envisions expanding into Europe.

With steadfast determination, she believes Melaka3 Products will eventually penetrate the European market.

“Servant leadership is one of the qualities I have. Servant leadership is where you are a leader and the people below you work as a family. That way, people are inspired and don’t find it a burden to work with you. You build teams through relationships,” she says.

She adds that Melaka was built as a family, working together with every member inspired to produce desired results.

Nkhoma says she is grateful to her biggest supporter and mentor, pastor Nkhoma, Powerhouse International Church founder.

But how does she juggle between the heavy responsibility of being a business leader, mother and pastor’s wife?

“I just ensure that when I return from work, I leave work at the warehouse and focus on the children, their homework and how their day has been. So, the balance is easy,” she says.

In her free time, Nkhoma likes cooking.

She encourages other women who would like to venture into business to take the bold step forward and not look back.

Says Nkhoma: “A business does not start because you have capital, but you must have passion for what you want to do. You can have capital and start a business, but without passion, it will not go far.

“Secondly, there is need to research. Don’t start a business from what you have simply heard. Take time to gather facts and determine how lucrative the business really is.”

She also advises prospective enterpreneurs to get the figures right as the money may not be enough to meet the needs of the business. “Ultimately, reject fear if you know and feel that this is the right business for you, go for it!,” says Nkhoma.