Expansion of my second hand clothes business

Immaculate

Kisumu, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Immaculate

Member since

September 2015

On-time repayments

125 installments  •  62%

About Me

I grew up in a rural setting and partly, that has been part of my life all through. Rustic, and literally, down to earth. I helped my grandmother till her land over weekends during school terms and subconsciously, I was being prepared to make farming an integral part of my life yet I didn't know it then.

The climate in my area is generally wet and sunny, and that makes it ideal for farming. With vast lands that is easily accessible through leasing, I opted to make farming part of my life. I raise beans, and sunflower, and some occasional sweet potatoes when the season is right. Besides farming, and making edible oil, I have a clothes business.

When I am not farming, I like travelling and speaking to young students about believing in themselves and pursuing their dreams. Whenever I can, I like making an impact for poor people by buying them household provisions and encouraging them to pick themselves up and transform their lives.

My Business

SInce 2016, I started experimenting with producing sunflower seeds, and later pressing them for oil, which I used, and sold extra to my friends and family. Many people realize the health and nutritional value of sunflower oil and that has inadvertently spiked the demand of this highly valuable oil, and I have experienced the benefits firsthand.

Besides being a substance that helps people stay away from the doctor, it is highly loaded in essential oils that enhance healthy and good living. The inquiries about the oil started flowing in and I realized I could take this venture up and make it work. Unlike the clothes venture that had me employing just 3 people directly, this sunflower oil processing was making me link up directly with over 20 farmers directly. The women in my village plant and sell the seeds to me and this is impacting on families in a big way.

The costs of producing the seeds are modest, with at least $100 going into tilling, planting, weeding and harvesting an acre of the sunflower crop. Some $20 to $100 goes into inputs like seeds and fertilizers for the same size. After processing and the oil and cake is ready for the market, the revenue is about $500.

The profits I have been getting have been used to prop up the venture further, like acquisition of more farming acreage and training potential farmers to embrace the crop. I have been able to also support a kids football team from the proceeds of the business, have my children in school and guarantee flour for one needy and widowed lady around my neighbourhood.

Loan Proposal

With this loan, I intend to acquire at least one more bale, besides my usual, and with the increased procurement, my supplier will have the confidence of adding one more bale to be paid later. With three bales that I will be opening at a go, instead of my usual one, I will guarantee my customers a wide variety of clothing, and will definitely increase my sales as word will spread of my new status. Besides, I will be able to sell my merchandise at lower prices, in the process clothe the less fortunate, and easily break even while increasing sales and profits.

I expect to make profits in excess of USD 150 per bale, and cumulatively, over (at least) USD 450 for the three bales I expect to be acquiring at least once a month, and possibly twice month! So this will be a life changer.

Feedback

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$298.00

Date disbursed

Feb 15, 2016

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

3 months

Lenders

Craig Newmark

United States

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  • Immaculate    Dec 28, 2022

    Hello. I am readjusting as I am yet to clear the sales. I look to regularize the repayment as soon as possible.

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  • Immaculate    Dec 18, 2022

    Hello Zidisha family. Thanks for funding my project. I am already moving about looking for the sunflower seeds so that I can get to start pressing the oil. Merry Christmas to you all, and may the joys of this season fill your hearts now and always. Thank you.

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  • Jesus Figueres    Dec 10, 2022

    Good luck!

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  • Immaculate    Feb 9, 2022

    I have been diligent in repaying before and made strides in growing the business and will strive to repay on time again.

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  • Powered by me    Jun 30, 2018

    Hi Imma,

    Any updates on progress?

    Thanks

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    • Immaculate    Jul 6, 2018

      Jambo! I have cleared the loan, thank you very much! The dry, harvest season is here and I hope to get a good number of farmers to supply me with the seeds for processing the oil. The sky is not even the limit for me. Thank you so much for your kind support, and concern. Your impact on my community is phenomenal!

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  • Immaculate    Mar 15, 2018

    Readjustment for now. Will resume back to regular repayments in not so lobg

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  • Immaculate    Feb 13, 2018

    Thank you so much 'Powered by me'. I will make it happen

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  • Powered by me    Feb 13, 2018

    Imma,

    Let's make it happen.

    PbM

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  • Immaculate    Feb 3, 2018

    Dearest all, I have posted a new application. Please support me

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  • Immaculate    Feb 3, 2018

    Already wonderful farmers are preparing the fields ready for the planting season. Please fund me! :-)

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  • Powered by me    Feb 2, 2018

    Keep me posted at [email protected]

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    • J    Feb 2, 2018

      No keep all of us posted here. This is important for Immaculates next loan.

      If you want to receive a mail you could set up your account preferences to receive emails when Immaculate posts a comment

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  • Immaculate    Jan 23, 2018

    Filtering the oil, ready for packaging and selling

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  • Immaculate    Jan 19, 2018

    Dearest lenders, we can make it. 4 hours left. Please

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  • Immaculate    Jan 6, 2018

    Here I am with the processed oil.

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  • Immaculate    Jan 5, 2018

    Hello Family. I have just completed the previous loan and I feel I am very ready for the next challenge. With the completed loan, I was able to grow the clothes business, saw an increase in profits, and lay the ground to get into the sunflower oil processing that I had been planning all along. I even gained weight! :-) In spite of the challenging political situation in the country, I was able to save up, had a wonderful Christmas for my staff, their family and mine, and set everything for the oil pressing venture. Thank you so much

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  • Immaculate    Jan 5, 2018

    The sunflower oil pressing is highly promising

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  • Immaculate    Jan 5, 2018

    Thank you

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  • Immaculate    Jan 5, 2018

    I look forward to your support as we aim for greater things

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  • Immaculate    Jan 4, 2018

    Happy new year family. I have finally cleared the loan and look forward to a brighter future. Thank you all for your support and patience. May God bless you abundantly.

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  • Immaculate    May 31, 2017

    Unprecedented financial changes in the economy has slowed down business. High cost of transport has eaten into my operating costs.

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