HUSTLE MAG MARCH 2020 FINAL

SUCCESS STORIES
Esther Mwangi, businesswoman.
Aiming for the sky
With Jawabu Biashara as her financial pillar, former sales
supervisor hopes to build a small empire, one shop at a time
By Amos Wachira
There are two hallmarks of
entrepreneurship; ability to spot
an unmet need, and the agility
to provide a practical solution.
Esther Mwangi, an enterprising
woman from Kimbo, Ruiru subcounty
has both. When she was working as
a supervisor with one of the leading
tobacco manufacturers in the country,
she couldn’t fail to notice an unmet need
in her home area, Kimbo. At the time, the
small town was expanding fast, partly due
to the growth of several tertiary institutions
that had settled in the area. Kimbo’s
population was growing astronomically,
and the demand for household goods like
mattresses, sufurias and plastic ware was
rising.
Sniffing an opportunity, she quit a
well-paying job to try her hand in the
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HUSTLE EAST AFRICA
Jawabu Biashara
business relationship
officers are readily
available to listen to my
challenges. They provide
help when I need them
world of business.
That was six years ago, when she
launched “Walucy For Quality Products,” a
fledgling company in the heart of Kimbo
town. Her merchandise includes mattresses,
bedding, household items, cookware,
cutlery and other associated household
items. Her target market is the burgeoning
student population of Kimbo as well
as the public.
“I always wanted to start a business that
could allow me to unleash my potential as
a sales person.”
Looking back, Esther says she made the
right decision to quit formal employment.
The fruits of her work are clearly evident.
“I started with one shop, now I have two
shops,” she says.
For her, she realized business growth
after she partnered with Jawabu Biashara,
a credit only microfinannce institution.
One of her friends introduced her
to Jawabu Biashara in 2018. Once she
learned about their innovative business
products, she decided to partner with
them in her bid to expand the business.
“It was the best decision for my business.
I needed to grow my inventory as
I prepared for the next phase of growth.
Jawabu Biashara came through for me.”
One of the things that have allowed her
to sustain a thriving relationship with her
financial partner is her determination to
repay her loans on time.
“You should be disciplinied. Loans
should only be used for the purposes they
were meant for,” she advises.
When it comes to financial loans, speed
of disbursement can make a lot of difference.
Most entrepreneurs need urgent
cash to fix their cashflow problems. That’s
where Jawabu Biashara comes in. It scores
its customers in real-time, advancing the
much-needed funding in the nick of time.
Because of this speed and reliability,
entrepreneurs like Esther are able to address
their financial needs in good time.
“Jawabu Biashara business relationaship
officers are readily available to listen
to my challenges. They provide help when
I need them.”
She also likes the convenience that the
financial institution brings to the table.
She uses a mobile app to get credit services
on the go. It also helps that the loans
are quickly disbursed through mobile
money.
She adds that the financial institution
has perfected the art of relationship
banking.
“They always come to you. My previous
financial partner could never do that.
Through this model, I’m able to work on
the business without wasting time.”
Having laid the groundwork for growth,
Esther has fixed her eyes on the sky. From
the current two shops, she intends to
grow the business to a network of shops
spread across different localities.
What does it take to succeed in this
kind of business? “You need passion, good
customer care skills and the determination
to succeed.”
Although she has steered her business
to a smooth tide, she says that the business
has its fair share of challenges.
“It’s a seasonal business. When schools
close, business is down.”
Despite the challenges, Esther is raring
to build a business empire in the near
future. So far, she has created one fulltime
job and is optimistic of creating even
more job opportunities in the near future.