Delivery bicycle for local grain sales

Wairimu

Nakuru Rhonda Estate, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Wairimu

Member since

October 2014

On-time repayments

411 installments  •  83%

About Me

I am Wairimu Gathii, a second born in a family of 4.I am now 31 years old, and my son is 9 years old.

I graduated from University in the year 2014, and enrolled for a series of short courses to prepare me for life as a business lady.

Having completed schooling, I now have more time to focus on my business, which thanks to Zidisha, I was able to start, and grow to the successful enterprise it now is. For that, I shall remain forever grateful.

My story is that of inspiration and hope that one can rise from nothing and make something out of themselves with determination and selfless help from a few individuals, such as Zidisha did, and has continued assisting me with finances and encouragement.

I hail from a single parent background and it is my mother who has single handedly worked to bring up my siblings and i and give us an education. She recently acquired a diploma in community service.

I have continuously striven to raise my son with the values that my mother and indeed my donors in Zidisha have inculcated in me. That selflessly assisting each other in our own small ways can help make this world a better place, by assisting one determined and driven individual at a time. Thank you Zidisha for helping this one girl from a remote part of the world make a difference for herself and her community.

The idea to get into business is in order to raise my family's living standards having been brought up in an environment of apparent lack though not permanent lack.

In order to start my business in the formative stages, i had to approach a local community leader to give me a boost for a start up small scale business, and food being a basic need, was the most viable kind of business for me. The community
leader therefore gave me a few kilograms of cereals to start with, before i could figure out a way to get on my feet. I remain grateful for the kindness of that particular community leader.

What is unique about the land where i live is the fact that the land is fertile and arable and the landscape is simply breathtaking.

I love nature and taking in the Beauty of God's handiwork is simply phenomenal. I take long walks just to appreciate the beauty in almost everything I see. I love doing retreats with friends and take lots of pictures. I also love interacting with people and i do not pass by an opportunity to make new friends. I love dancing, am not a good dancer though, and dance moves especially the new and upcoming, which i am forever trying to nail, have proved quite elusive. I am also quite recently trying to learn a new language.

Did i also mention that i love books?, a good book can keep me hooked all day long, a hobby i like to believe significantly alters my vocabulary for the better. My current read is 'The river between' by Ngugi wa Thiong'o.

I always strive to encourage my son and indeed my younger siblings to apply their best efforts to any task they set their minds to, and to claim success against all odds. My son claims he wants to be a pilot when he grows up, i told him he can be anything he wants to be, but he gotta keep his grades up. I got him a kite, just to keep his goals and aspirations in sight, i mean, gotta start with a kite before graduating to a pilot, right?

I am a bubbly person, highly motivated and self driven.

My Business

I am a medium scale cereals trader(though not so medium now, thanks to zidisha) mostly selling to the ultimate consumer as my business has not expanded enough to make me a supplier.

I mostly trade in dry grains namely maize, rice, beans, green grams, lentils, to name but a few.

I conducted market research and did due diligence whereby I discovered that food products are very unlikely to lack a market because they are basic necessities.

The target group for such kind of commodities is virtually everyone. Another motivation is that I wanted to contribute to food security (albeit in a small way), and ensure it`s done by ensuring that my customers are always well supplied.

As previously explained in my former applications, operating costs of this business comes with the fact that I have to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar by paying what is due from me to the local government authorities(you know what they say, the only thing as sure as death are taxes). I also need to operate with a license and the backing of the health sector, seeing as the handling of food items is a matter of public concern.

My monthly revenue has stagnated at an average of $ 175 and comes purely from selling the grains. My monthly costs go up to averagely $100 or more given the current Covid Situation, leaving me with a profit around the neighborhood of $ 75-80 per month. The profits I get to glean from my business go my son's education, and towards meeting my family's expenses.

I am grateful that through my small business I have been able to uplift both myself and those around me.

Loan Proposal

Notice that i was previously just a retailer whereby customers had to come to my 'kibanda' (shed), to buy from my stocked choices of cereal or dry grains depending on their needs. Notice also that with my funding from zidisha, i was able to stock a wide array of cereal to avoid a scenario of a customer needind a type of grain that i did not have, which was a common occurence previously as some items are expensive to stock, for a small scale trader, as it were.
This instant loan will therefore work towards the business also becoming a supplier to the small restaurants all over town as i can be able to deliver right to my customers doorsteps, this will help give a major boost and keep me way above the competition. the loan will therfore be used to buy a bicycle which will be used to deliver the supplies within town and short distances, preferably a shimano or a BMX, which goes for roughly $255. this is keeping in mind the durability and the quality of the said models, making the same fit for purpose.
This will be of tremendous benefit not only to myself, but more so to my customers and the person i intend to employ to handle the deliveries.
My profits will literally hit the roof seeing as i will has expanded my customer base, and the fact that supply connotes bulk, meaning that the customers i get to supply will be ordering a higher quantity as compared to limiting my customer base to only those who show up at my shed. My profit margin will most certainly improve from the previous $100 a month to estimatedly $157 a month after deducting the expenses.

Feedback

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$272.00

Date disbursed

Apr 17, 2015

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

24 months

Lenders

Tavin

Ottawa, Canada

Namaste250

Pittsford, United States

Franmiguel

Perth, Australia

C

Conner

United States

Ask Wairimu a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

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  • Wairimu    Sep 5, 2023

    Its been tough, but we are managing.

    We shall get back on track soon.

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  • Wairimu    Dec 14, 2022

    Dear Zidisha,

    The current install is quite high at the moment as the funds are still held up in the business.

    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Dec 13, 2022

    Hello,

    The funds have been recently invested and held up in the project.

    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Dec 1, 2022

    Hi,

    I just received the loan amounts and they are all still invested in the business.

    Wairimu.

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  • Wairimu    Nov 13, 2022

    Hello guys,

    Thank you most sincerely. What a good way to start my day. These funds will get me rented premises to cater for security deposit and a few months rent.

    Thank you very much.

    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Aug 2, 2022

    Hello Zidisha,

    Thank you for supporting my small-scale cereals business. Thank you for helping me secure rental premises from which to carry out y trade. I am very grateful to all of you. Thank you very much. I am excited to walk the next phase of my business together with you.

    Regards,
    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Jul 12, 2022

    Hello,

    Funds are all tied up in the business at the moment.

    Wairimu Gathii

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  • Wairimu    Apr 4, 2022

    Hello,

    The current amount at the moment is beyond my reach given the present economic crisis. I will revise up the moment I am ready.

    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Mar 7, 2022

    I am struggling a little bit with the current schedule. I will revise up should the situation stabilize.


    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Jan 19, 2022

    Hello,
    The repayments sum was a bit steep for me and i was struggling with it for the past couple of weeks.

    Regards,
    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Jan 11, 2022

    Hello Zidisha,

    It was amazing to receive the requested funding and very refreshing to see my funders also include my country people through the pay it forward option. My heart is full you guys. Thank you, everybody!

    Regards,
    Wairimu Gathii

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  • Wairimu    Dec 22, 2021

    See?

    This is what a community comes together to achieve a purpose can accomplish. My gratitude knows no bounds. Thank you.

    Happy holidays to you all.

    Regards,
    Wairimu Gathii

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  • Alfred    Dec 21, 2021

    Hello good evening, wish you all the best.

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  • Eunice Gyanwaa    Dec 18, 2021

    Move high!!!

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  • James    Dec 9, 2021

    All the best Wairimu.

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  • Wairimu    Oct 5, 2021

    Hello Zidisha,

    So, I have finally completed this loan. I am so excited because with its completion comes the opportunity to begin/expand something.

    I have taken a really long time with this loan. We all know what happened. Just after I had invested the funds and I was yet to realize a tangible return, Corona started, and with it, a wave of uncertainty and fear.

    To contain it, we had to close shop and stay home, and the requirement for technology to step in so that customers could order remotely and delivery streamlined.

    This was not possible for me as I did not have the resources and had to completely close shop for an extended period. Fearing difficult times ahead, prudence dictated that i reduce my expenses, forcing me to close my shop to save on rent and instead, opt for selling my wares on foot from door to door.

    Of course, things have eased up and the economy is picking up pace. The blow was huge, but we soldier on. I am ready to pick up the pieces and rebuild again.

    The funds will therefore be used to source for rental premises pay a deposit and several months of rent, and for building up the premise with shelves and other fixtures.

    Best,
    Wairimu Gathii

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  • Wairimu    Jul 12, 2021

    Hello,

    I am reducing my installment amount to enable me to meet my repayments comfortably without defalt.

    Wairimu.

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  • Wairimu    Jun 2, 2021

    Hello,

    The current amount is currently too high for me to comfortably meet.

    Kindly do bear with me.

    Wairimu

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  • Wairimu    Apr 20, 2021

    In order to deal with installments that i can comfortably repay without struggle, and without missing on any given installment.

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  • Wairimu    Apr 9, 2021

    Hello Zidisha,

    Was going through my discussion page and noticed that we have had quite the journey. Thank you for walking it with me.

    In these hard times, it means a lot to have a whole community standing with you.

    I am grateful.

    With love,
    Wairimu

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