Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/853981
W EEKLY EDITION JULY 26, 2017 Company Spotlight: Lemon Trees Toilet Hire ...continued "Neither of us had any background in this business," they explained when I asked about the origins of the company. Coming out of school, Hanlie was well prepared for a career in sales and marketing; she was basically looking for a job where she could use her skills. The position Hanlie eventually took was with Sanitech – a PSAI Member company located in nearby Johannesburg – and she worked with them for many years. As th e company grew, it expanded its portable sanitation locations throughout South Africa. At one point, Sanitech needed help providing service for a distant client. That's when Hanlie's husband Pieter seized the opportunity that brought him into the portable sanitation industry. "I founded Long Distance Sanitation (LDS) in 1996 as a service - only company," says Pieter. LDS didn't own the restroom units; it was a contractor providing pump outs and cleaning services for other companies. "Providing service was a great way to get involved in the industry with a comparatively small capital investment. Meantime, I got to learn the business and deliver a quality experience to users." In 2010, Pieter and Hanlie decided to become a full service portable sanitation comp any when they founded Lemon Trees Toilet Hire. By this time the Jamnecks had seen the needs in the industry and the ways that companies usually met those needs. Believing they could offer something unique in their market, the couple bought equipment, set u p their operation in Pretoria, and started selling a value proposition based on cleanliness. For the past 7 years the Jamnecks have been working hard to grow the company on the basis of providing an exceptional portable restroom experience through the use of top quality equipment and ongoing janitorial support. Pieter says, "Our reputation is built on our units always being clean." Indeed, the Jamnecks have been successful in marketing their units for public events and festivals with on site janitorial ser vice built into the contract. "The janitorial service is not negotiable for Lemon Trees customers," they say. While the Jamnecks may occasionally get push back from new customers, Pieter – who handles operations in the field – and Hanlie – who leads the ma rketing function - have both found creative ways to help customers see the value in the on site service. Together they've been highly successful in showing event planners the value in their attendees walking into a perfectly clean restroom. Much like a res troom attendant in more posh permanent restroom settings, the janitorial service Lemon Trees provides ensures every user experiences pristine conditions. "Our staff check the units after every user, picking up trash, wiping down messes, and making sure the deodorizers are effective. We aim to provide the best possible conditions in a portable restroom, regardless of how busy the festival may be." Lemon Trees also rents portable restroom trailers. While their portable restrooms are supplied by a US - based co mpany, the trailers are manufactured by a firm in Capetown. This has allowed Lemon Trees to experiment with the interior design, and several of their trailers have scenery inside. The designs range from outdoor scenes to cityscapes, and the public seems to love the options. Pieter says, ""Everyone has to use the restroom. Why not give people them something fun to look at?" PAGE 5 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6