A Cleaning Dream Team

With ELA Solutions

From humble beginnings, ELA Solutions has become a big player in the local commercial cleaning industry, expanding both its workforce and its product range to deliver an exciting range of cleaning services to the Burdekin.

At its helm are local couple, Seb and Laura Aguirre, who are celebrating their first official year in business this year, an achievement that is backed by six years of dedication that has seen them move from domestic bond cleaning to significant commercial projects.

Overcoming challenges, including Seb’s six-month battle with his health, the couple have raised their two teenage children and grown the business from a one-man enterprise to a flourishing company which now employs 14 contractors.

It was 2018 that Seb decided to start a cleaning service as a hobby and the couple remember when the operation used to include a pull along Henry vacuum cleaner with everything transported around in their Mazda CX9.  

“We did our time doing bond cleans and residential work, working sometimes seven days a week and long hours every day,” explains Laura.

The hard work definitely paid off as the couple’s reputation for quality results spread near and far, soon big commercial partnerships were formed with Council and many other local businesses.

In 2020, the couple decided to restructure the business and became a trust.

Then, a year ago they secured a new premises, moving business operations out of the home office and into a large complex with room to grow.

Initially, they wanted to use the area for storage and lease the rest of the complex out to a third party, but they quickly realised that the local market was calling for other services that they could offer.

“We were constantly being asked about our products,” said Laura.

“A lot of our products are natural, not chemical based, and they work really well.”

Determined to bring their own revolutionary products to the region, Seb and Laura took a trip down to Brisbane where they found a supplier was prepared to manufacture their own chemical under their own brand.

“This is where we created Solutions @ ELA, and everything kind of rolled on from there,” said Laura.

“When we unloaded all of our chemical from the delivery truck and put it on the shelf, seeing it with our own branded product label on it was a really big moment for us.”

Eager to fill the gap in the market and offer customers one central place to find all cleaning products, the couple decided to use all the available space and opened a retail store on the site.

“We sell Makita products – blowers and vacuums,” said Seb.

“People don’t need to go to different shops for all their cleaning supplies and equipment anymore, they can just come to us!”

While operating a busy retail store and managing the overall operation of the business, Seb and Laura are still very much hands-on, overseeing the quality of each contract.

“That’s what makes us successful – we have a really good team, and we all clean the way we like it to be cleaned at home,” said Laura.

“All our staff clean to the same standard and we work in the business, so do our kids! It’s a real family effort and we wouldn’t have it any other way!”

“We have been very lucky to have the support of our local community as well as the Burdekin Shire Council.

“The support and encouragement as well as the introduction to the Smart Precinct has been invaluable.”

Recently the business has also diversified again, becoming the Mount Elliot water suppliers delivering everything from 600 ml bottles right through to 15 litres.

As the ELA Solutions team reach for the sky, everyone in the Burdekin benefits.

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