How Saul Built a Cereals, Grocery and Spices Business Starting With Just KSh3,000
How Saul Built a Cereals, Grocery and Spices Business Starting With Just KSh3,000
Many successful businesses don't begin with huge capital or fully stocked shops.
By Kivaya Josiah
Sometimes they start with a few products, a trusted reputation and the discipline to grow one step at a time.
That's how Saul built his cereals, grocery and spices business in Kakamega. What began with selling onions and tomatoes has gradually expanded into a thriving business serving customers from his shop opposite Naivas in Kakamega town.
Prefer watching instead? Check the full 3-part series here.
What Inspired Him to Start a Cereals and Spices Business?
Saul anadaisha, his passion ya spices ilianza after ku-check different products ziki-trend on social media.
"Hauwezi anza biashara ikiwa juu, watu wengi wanaanza wakiwa chini. Mostly nilikuwa naona kwa mtandao; TikTok... hizo vitu zenye zimekuja social media zili-inspire sana."
Instead, ya ku-jump straight into the spices biz, yeye alianza small.
"Kwanza nilianza na vitu kidogo kama groceries, kama kitunguu ili ni-generate hiyo capital ndio nika-introduce spices."
How Did He Raise Capital to Start?
Unlike wasee huanza na savings, Saul anadaisha honesty ndio iilikuwa his biggest source of capital.
"Kuhusu capital kitu yenye ina-matter sana ni honesty. Nilikuwa mwanasoko so nilikuwa najulikana na watu kadhaa. Nilikuwa naenda naambia mtu nisaidie na kitunguu kama kilo ishirini hivi niende niuze nipate yangu nikurudishie yako."
Hii design na consistently kulipa suppliers on time, ilim’okolea na slowly aka-build enough capital ya ku-grow biz yake.
"Hivo hivo ndio nili-generate capital yangu kidogo kidogo ya kuanza biashara ndio hadi saa hii niko hapa."
How Much Capital Did He Need to Start?
Saul anasema his first grocery stock ilim-cost only KSh3,000.
"Grocery yangu nilianza na kitunguu na nyanya. Nilikuwa na capital ya 3K."
Ali-spend approximately:
● KSh1,000 on onions
● KSh2,000 on tomatoes
From hapa, aka reinvest his profits until akakuwa able ku-introduce spices kwa biz yake.
How Does He Grow His Business?
Saul ana-believe continuous learning ni one of the biggest reasons biz yake ina-keep growing.
"Most of the time nikipata pesa extra kwa profit yenye nimepata napenda ku-introduce spices mpya yenye sina."
Anadaisha hii design ya ku-introduce new products inaokolea ku-attract more customers while keeping existing ones interested.
What Advice Does He Have for Anyone Starting a Small Business?
Kutokana na Saul, patience ni one of the biggest ingredients ya success.
"Kila kitu inataka patience. Youth anataka kuanza biashara ndogo na anataka ku-compete na mtu mwenye alianza biashara maybe 20 years ago. Hauwezi kutana na mtu kama huyo."
Instead, ana-encourages entrepreneurs ku-grow gradually by reinvesting their profits.
"We ukianza biashara inafaa hiyo kidogo yako yenye umeanza nayo, hiyo profit kidogo yenye unapata unaongeza nayo stock pole pole."
How Much Does the Business Make?
Saul anasema earnings ziu’vary depending na customer traffic.
"In a good day nauza kitu kama 50K, ikiwa mbaya sana ni kama 20K per day."
Kama kawa ya biz, daily sales zina-fluctuate depending na market demand.
What Challenges Does He Face?
One of his biggest challenges ukuwa transporting stock kwa suppliers.
"Unaeza pata zinatoka mbali, zingine zinatoka Uganda, Nairobi. Transportation ndio inatusumbua. Umepata mali na bei poa lakini jinsi ya kuileta huku unapata ni very expensive."
Pia ana admit saa ingine biz yake upata losses.
"Kuna wakati unaeza piga mahesabu zako kwa biashara na unapata ma-losses."
Why Hasn't He Given Up?
Despite ya hizi challenges, Saul anadaisha quitting haijawahi kuwa an option.
"Hauwezi acha juu hapa ndio tunapata unga ya kila siku."
Biz yake ina provide for his family, ikifanya kuwa consistency more important than temporary setbacks.
What Business Mistake Did He Learn From?
Saul anasema ku-introduce new products bila ku-educate customers ilikuwa one of the biggest lessons ame-learn.
"Ukileta kitu mpya kwa soko ni lazima u-educate watu kuhusu hiyo product yako. Tangu wajue umuhimu wa hiyo kitu itakuwa imechukua muda."
Hii ina means doh yake ina remain tied up kwa stock longer than expected.
"...Wajua pia itakuwa imelalisha pesa yako ya stock."
Saa hizi, ana understand ku-educate customers ni just as important as stocking quality products.
What Advice Does He Have for New Entrepreneurs?
Saul ana-encourage msee yoyote anaanza biz ku-stay patient na keep pushing.
"Naeza ambia watu wenye wanaanza biashara usiwahi give up. Unaeza pata biashara sometimes inayumbayumba lakini unaendea tu. Mwisho wa siku itanyooka, hakuna kitu inaanzanga ikiwa straight."
Saul's journey inatu-show that you don't always need huge capital ku-build a successful business. Sometimes honesty, patience na willingness ku-start small inatosha.
