Cheers To Never Giving Up: The story of liquor store owner Dorcas

Dorcas Wambui tried employment, a kibanda, and a salon. Third time is a charm: she’s now the owner of a successful liquor store.

She still struggles through hard times, but will not give up. Here is her story, reported by Dorcas Wambui.

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Somewhere in the heart of Eastlands, at Nairobi’s Donholm Estate, there is a container joint that is always packed with youth sharing drinks.

The chill spot is opposite Greenspan Mall, where there are 7 wines and spirits shops that attract fun-loving people looking to toast the evening away.

At the corner of the container, is Dorcas Wambui’s DnD liquor shop, which she set up this year.

We catch up on a Wednesday evening at her store, where she has served me a tot of Chrome Gin, neat.

Hers is a beautiful shop, with elaborate art on every wall, and a sizeable seating area.

“Sina doh ya stock,” she says as a response when I praise the beauty of DnD.

It is a reminder that there are many factors that come in when one considers setting up a liquor store shop.

Dorcas and I catch up days later, and she dives into her journey.

“I’m trying all my best to make a life for my kids and for myself. I’m learning every day. It’s been a few struggles, but I am grateful, because at the end of the day, God hajaniacha,” she says.

The 27-year-old is a single mum of two beautiful children, a 9-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy.

Before getting into business, Dorcas had tried her hand at employment, but lost her job along with hundreds of thousands of Kenyans during the COVID19 pandemic.

She set her sights on entrepreneurship after that, setting up a kibanda to sell street food, before switching to a salon.

She says: “I thought to myself that it’s time to start a business, instead of being employed. I used to shika doh, but I didn’t know the meaning of it.”

“COVID taught me how to be independent. Not to have to work in someone’s company.”

Dorcas says that her salon-cum-clothing shop did not pick in a year, and she made the heartbreaking decision to close shop.

“Beauty is my style, make-up and fashion, but at the end of the day, I am hustler. I have to think about what I need to do for my children before what I love,” she says.

MESHERS can learn from Dorcas’s experience- she says that a wrong choice in location was one of the biggest factors that caused the salon business to close.

“It was a small place but very beautiful. I had it for like a year. My baby daddy used to pay for the rent of the shop, 12,500 bob. But nikaeka the biz in the wrong place.”

As she explored her business options, Dorcas was keen to set up another salon, but changed her mind after a friend brought up the liquor store idea to her.

The mum of two breaks down several times as she explains the quest for survival. And we share hugs- we’ve known each other about 2 years, before she set up DnD.

“In 2024 January, I needed something to do. Ata kama unapata mtu amelipa food na hao, as a mother you need something to do for your kids. You don’t sit around and wait for miracles,” she says of what drew her to the liquor store business.

She had saved up about 60,000 bob, and set out alongside her friend Tash looking for the perfect shop.

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“Tulitembea from Donholm to Pipeline tukitafuta shops (for my salon), tukipata shops haziendanishi na mfuko.”

They found a nice shop, full of people-traffic, and that’s when her friend Tash recommended a wines and spirits shop instead of the salon she was eager to restore.

“Tash looked around and said ‘lakini mamake, ukafungua hapa kama tei, inaeza enda’.”

Dorcas says: “That’s when hiyo idea ikakam to my mind. That time nilikuwa ninakunywa, where we met.”

She is talking about that chill spot in Donholm- there was already a vacant shop going for 10,000 bob for rent.

“If I take a two rooms, plus deposit, that’s 40k… plus 20k for moving and trying to decorate and everything.”

The businesswoman adds: “Funny thing, naeza kuambia niliweka counter yangu bila kujua nitatoa wapi pesa ya stock.”

Her supportive partner topped up her budget by giving her 70 more thousand Gees (70K).

She invested this amount fully in stock, she confirms. The businesswoman obtained a General Retail Alcoholic Drink License (Off License) which cost Sh18,000, as well as a kanjo license or business permit, which costs 26,500 bob.

Tip: read more about business permits

“Mimi ni hustler, so nilikua naenda uko chini kabisa, to the cheapest places, to get the materials myself. Like ndio hizi chuma, nilipishe labour pekee.”

Dorcas notes that one of the challenges she faces is managing intoxicated clients who are acting out.

“Walevi. Dealing with walevi ni kama ku deal with pastors. Hawaeleweki. Alafu this is my biz, sitaki kukufukuza, sitaki ujam, sitaki uumie."

''A fight can break out, na saa zingine mtu anaeza kuwa na ubaya atake kukuharibia biashara.”

The cops are another challenge- they expect tips on a daily basis, and this, Dorcas says is something that greatly affects liquor store owners.

“Even though you have the license and everything, karao anakuambia atapata makosa mingi sana akiangalia,” she says, noting that she has to cough up to KES 300 daily.

Dorcas’ journey continues! Are you interested in starting a business?

Check out our list of hustles MESHERS start on a small budget.