From Job Hunting to Business Owner: How Charity Built a Beauty Products Shop With 100K?
From Job Hunting to Business Owner: How Charity Built a Beauty Products Shop With 100K?
For many young Kenyans, unemployment has become the motivation to create opportunities instead of waiting for them.
That was the case for Charity. After missing out on formal employment, she transformed her passion for beauty into a thriving business along Kiriri University Main Road.
Starting with KES 100,000 from a relative, she has built a growing customer base by staying consistent and focusing on long-term relationships rather than quick sales.
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What Inspired Her to Start a Beauty Products Business?
According to Charity, biz yake ilianza from her passion for beauty.
"I had passion for beauty. Nimefanya finance, vile nilikosa job nikaenda to my passion."
Instead, ya kutegea for another employment opportunity, yeye ali-decide ku-pursue something she genuinely enjoyed.
Saa hizi, hio decision ime-grown into a business yenye ina-serve customers around Kiriri University.
Cheki pia: 10 Hidden Gems for Cheap Resale Items in Nairobi.
Who Were Her First Customers?
Charity anasema ma-stude wa uni ndio walikuwa foundation ya biz yake.
She said her first customers were mainly students, especially those from Kiriri University. She started collecting their contacts, reaching out to them, and building relationships with them.
Hao customers ndio later wali-introduce her to more clients.
Read Also: What Does It Cost To Create an Online Shop In Kenya?
How Much Capital Did She Need to Start?
Charity anadaisha, ali-estimate she needed between KSh100,000 na KES 150,000 ku-launch hio business. Yenye alipata boost from a relative.
Alitumia hii doh ku:
● Kubuy stock
● Kulipa rent
● Ku-set up the business premises
How Much Does the Business Make?
Charity anasema weekly earnings hu-depend na customer traffic.
"Weekly na-make around 8K–15K."
Like many retail biz, sales zina-fluctuate depending na the season na customer demand.
How Does She Manage Business Money?
One of the biggest financial lessons Charity amejifunza ni the importance of saving.
Business has high and low seasons, and when things are doing well, saving a certain amount of money helps you get through the low periods without being stranded.
How Does She Handle Low Seasons?
Juu most of her customers ni mwa stude, school holidays ukuwa a slow business.
"Kuna low seasons kama shule wamefunga. Our main target customers they are students."
Instead, ya ku-panick, yeye utegemea on the savings zenye ame-built during busy months.
"Inanisaidiaga, wakati kulikuwa na high season ku-save na ndio wakati kuna low season, I'll not be badly off."
What Are the Biggest Challenges of Running a Beauty Products Business?
According to Charity, ile ngori kubwa ukuwa ku-meet business expenses.
"The hardest thing ya ku-run hii biashara ni maintenance cost."
Ana explains that expenses kama:
● KRA taxes
● Business licences
● Rent
Lazima bado zilipwe regardless ya how many customers wana walk in.
"Kuna KRA, license lazima ukate, kuna rent... students wakifunga unapata the cost will also be incurred whether wako ama hawako."
What Keeps Her Motivated?
Charity anasema her biggest motivation ukuwa simply doing something she loves.
"The motivation is the passion. Kitu yenye tu unapenda ndani yako you'll keep doing it consistently and being committed in it."
Was There Ever a Time She Wanted to Give Up?
Kama entrepreneurs wengi, Charity ali-faced one of her toughest moments ule time ya COVID-19 pandemic.
"Kuna situation ishanipata nika-feel like I want to give up ni hii time ya Covid. Biashara zimefungwa, shule wameambiwa wafunge shule, uko stranded hujui utafanya nini."
Despite hii challenges, alikataa ku-quit.
"But I didn't give up. Niliendelea tu kujikaza hiyo season ikapita and then we got back to normal."
What Money Mistake Did She Learn From?
Looking back, Charity anadaisha her biggest mistakes ilikuwa ku-mix doh ya biz na personal.
"That one mistake that I did ni kuweka pesa ya biashara na pesa yangu pamoja. Nikiwa na pesa nilidhania zote ni zangu natumia vile nataka."
Over time, alijifunza the importance ya ku-separate the two.
"Nili-learn kuzi-separate in such that kuna pesa ya biashara na kuna pesa yangu."
What Advice Does She Have for Anyone Starting a Beauty Business?
Charity anabelieve consistency, determination na optimism ndio essential za anyone entering the beauty industry.
"Mi naeza advice mtu mwenye anataka kuanza hii biashara ya kwanza akuwe na consistency, akuwe very determined na optimistic. Even if biashara haijipi hiyo siku, with time itajipa tu."
