Taking Care of Business

Our surplus clothing is sent to an enterprise that’s found an innovative way to use it to make a real difference in the lives of impoverished women. Taking Care of Business not only gives some of the clothing we donate to non-profit organisations, welfare institutions and government services to distribute to the needy – it also empowers unemployed single mothers so they can build better lives for themselves and their children. 

Established in Cape Town in 2009 by Tracey Gilmore and Tracey Chambers, Taking Care of Business has created a seamless supply chain between South Africa’s retail clothing industry and disadvantaged communities. In South Africa the value of the annual clothing excess is estimated to be between R200 and R900 million. Now, thanks to some creative thinking, these excesses are being put to good use – not only through clothing donations, but as part of a training and enterprise development programme for local women. 

Taking Care of Business empowers unemployed single mothers so they can build better lives for themselves and their children. Taking Care of Business uses clothing as a tool in their empowerment programme, which assists unemployed mothers to set up and run their own businesses and support their families. Woolies donates their customer returns, store damages and end of season merchandise to the Taking Care of Business.