traciyoshiyama    May 23, 2013

Dear lenders,

Unfortunately, Alex had to close Alexis Shop and is currently saving up money to purchase a motorbike. He intends to start a new business as a boda boda driver. His payments may be a bit sporadic, but he hopes once he starts his new business, he can make consistent payments once again.

Alex, we hope that you are able to start your new business soon and receive a lot of customers in the busy estate of Pipeline.

Best to you,
Traci

traciyoshiyama    Mar 7, 2013

Dear lenders,

My name is Traci Yoshiyama and I am a Client Relationship Manager in Kenya.

I have recently spoken with Alex and although his business is carrying on, customers are not as plentiful as before due to the uncertainty of the elections. Like many businessmen in Kenya, Alex is hopeful that after elections are through, business will pick up. He hopes to be able to make a payment soon. He thanks you for your patience thus far.

I wish him and his wonderful family the best during these stressful times.

Best regards,
Traci

traciyoshiyama    Aug 14, 2012

August 13, 2012

Hello, my name is Traci Yoshiyama, Zidisha’s Kenya Client Relationship Manager. I am currently visiting Zidisha borrowers in and around Nairobi.

To say that the town of Pipeline Estate is crowded would be an understatement. The dilapidated dirt roads are cramped with leering apartment buildings and overflowing with businesses of all kinds. Everyone here appears to be an entrepreneur. Lost in this maze of organized chaos sits Alexis Mini Shop, a modest general store owned by Zidisha member, Alex Edward. With school out of session for a few weeks, Alex’s two children happily play along the sidewalk, popping in and out of the store, curious as to what their father is doing. At one point during our meeting, Alex’s little girl, full of energy, stuffs a candy wrapper in his mouth. Alex jokingly eats it. As Alex and I talk, his wife prepares small bags of charcoal to sell to their customers, the newest and most popular item sold at Alexis. Neatly arranged, the walls of Alexis are lined with various food and household items, most meant for one-time consumption.

A man walks in with a request for sugar, but with Alexis only selling quart-sized bags, he goes in search of larger quantities and better deals. Alex says this is a common occurrence and the biggest contributor to his business hardships. A shortage of stock inevitably means a shortage of customers. With meager wages, a majority of Alex’s income is spent on basic necessities, school fees, and paying for rent on his apartment and shop. With the recent addition of charcoal and sukama wiki (kale), Alex is hoping sales will improve. I was happy to see customers buying coal during my visit.

The creation of Alex’s general shop was made possible because of Zidisha, and although facing financial challenges, having the opportunity to change businesses and most importantly, the location, has proven to be beneficial to his daughter’s health. Previously being situated in a makeshift stall along a dusty road, Alex’s daughter suffered from bouts of asthma attacks. With the loan, Alex was able to find a shop with minimal traffic and refuge from the dust. He even managed to put in shelves and buy stock.

The pressures of daily responsibilities, coupled with the fear of unknown consequences for late payments have caused Alex to remain silent for some time. Having the opportunity to visit Alex, meet his family, and discuss the best way forward, I am confident that he will not shy away any longer. He has asked that I tell his lenders the following message:

“I, Alex Edward, wish to reschedule my loan repayment due to low income as per my business. I have to feed, clothe, and shelter my family. I had to add some of the commodities like selling charcoal and a bit of sukama wiki. As per the income, the currency is very low, and the income per the shop is low due to lack of enough stock. I wish to pay 2000 KES each month, half on the 17th of each month and the other at the end of the month.”

Before I leave his shop, Alex’s timid wife gives me a big Kenyan hug (a hug and kisses on both cheeks), takes ahold of my hands, and says, “Thank you, thank you so much.” Repeating this several times, the look in her eyes read so much more than this simple expression can offer. She welcomes me to her home any time. Alex and his son, hand in hand, walk me to the highway, refusing to leave my side until I am safely on a bus heading towards home.

James    Jun 1, 2012

Alex had rescheduled his loan this month due to what he says hard Economics in Kenya.Its a good idea that borrowers have a chance to reschedule the payment for any challenges they face in their business .This is what makes zidisha different from any other organizations in the world .Others sets to harass you to repay not bothering whether you have to close your business or not. When i spoke with Alex he explained how hard it has become doing business in Nairobi and the High inflation rates has kept the cost of doing business especially for small entrepreneurs. They are not able to increase the prices of their goods as they rely on routine customers daily. Alex promised to pay his loan in small installments until his business improves .

Alex    May 29, 2012

Dear Lender,

My business is not doing well and the stock of my shoi I lost some of my old customer and making new customer is a bite slow. I use the shop to feed my family and pay school fees and the cash flow is not enough to pay the loan currently but I will pay as things improves.

Alex    May 29, 2012

My business is not doing well my stock of the shop is gone down and am struggling to survive.I am requesting lenders to bear with me a make arrangement to pay the loan. Paying school fee for my child is also a problem and I will take him to Government School which is free so that a may be able to pay the loan and feed my family.

Alex    May 21, 2012

Dear lender,

Sorry for the delay of paying my loan, business is very low and my stock has gone down. I managed to pay some thing small and I if you may extend my repayment period.

johan    May 4, 2012

Hi Alex,

I hope you and your family are doing well.
Can you give us an update on Alexis Mini Shop?

Kind regards,
Johan

Alex    Mar 22, 2012

Hi Jakub,

Sorry am late in paying my 1st loan repayment by business is abite slow because I had to shift it to a new location. I will be making my loan payment on 5th of April I hope you will bear with me.

Jakub    Mar 17, 2012

Hi Alex,

how is your business doing? I hope fine :)

Let me ask you when do you expect to provide 1st loan repayement?

Thanks...

AchintyaRai    Mar 4, 2012

Hello lenders

My name is Achintya Rai

I visited Alex Edward Mwathi at his shop in Mbakasi area of Nairobi on Friday (2nd March). Alex has a general store, which is usually taken care of by his wife Dorcas while he works as a mason and does other odd jobs to supplement his income.

Alex earlier had a second hand garments shop in the open, next to the road. This was a make shift structure made of sheets of polythene and wood. He had to pay rent for this nevertheless and because this was not exactly a very legal setup, he also had to pay petty officials. When it rained (as it did the day I visited him) he had to pack his wares. And to top all this, his little daughter suffers from asthma and being next to the road with all the traffic and dust caused her to hurt.

Alex thus decided to rent this shop, which, with the help of Zidisha loan, he stocked. When I asked him why the shop was called ‘Alexis Mini Shop’ instead of ‘Alex Mini Shop’, he said that Alexis was more “meaningful”. This area is very crowded (and alive if I may add) and his clients all live nearby. He sells items of daily use that he buys from wholesale shops in the area. He also buys grains and sugar in bulk and repacks them in small packets to sell to his customers. He now wants to use the front of the shop to run his second hand clothes business.

Alex’s dream is to have a super market, where he can employ people and which he can run like a manager. He wants his children to study and when I asked him about this he said that he wanted them to go to college, “even university”.

I committed two tiny faux pas that I’m sure Alex wasn’t too happy about. First, I asked him if his two year old daughter was a girl or a boy (my excuse is that she was dressed in a camouflage hooded jacket and I couldn’t see her earrings) and second when I found out that his wife hadn’t changed her sir name after marriage, I showed apparent delight. Alex explained to me that she hadn’t because they hadn’t applied for the govt. certificate yet (and all this while Dorcas was shaking her head). I told her to not change it even when they do apply for the certificate. And I think she is quite determined not to. After this Alex was quite insistent that we go immediately to look at his old shop and his son’s school. No, actually he offered me a soda and I stayed a while talking to him.

Achintya
4th March 2012
Nairobi

Alex    Feb 11, 2012

Hi Lender,

I hope you are all okay my business ok but slow for month of January we hope it will pick this month.

Alex    Jan 14, 2012

Jakub,

Thanks for your comments and my business is doing okay, your such a good friend

Alex    Jan 14, 2012

Dagmarpiano,

Thanks for your generosity and I hope for long business relationship with you, this will help me in a big way

Alex    Dec 21, 2011

Zidisha and the team thanks, thanks very much am so happy for all the lenders may God bless you all

• Jakub    Dec 21, 2011

  Dear Alex,
  
  congratulations on the loan provided and I wish you the shop to boost & expand. May all your dreams come true!

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• D

  dagmarpiano    Dec 21, 2011

  Good luck with the New Year back to school sales! Merry Christmas Alex.
  
  :)

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