Equip and stock my salon

Alice    Jul 28, 2015

I am very sorry to adjust my payments downwards. This has been occasioned by low business volume which has persisted in the last few months. I am hoping that the business will recover once we enter the high season which begins as from November. Kindly accept my proposal as I work extra hard to resume my normal payments.

Esther    May 28, 2015

Dear lenders, I spoke to Alice yesterday and she promised to pay her overdue installments on Saturday 30th.

Lotus Flower    Mar 2, 2015

Hi, Kerry!
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Kerry Tiedeman    Mar 2, 2015

My name is Kerry Tiedeman and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. I am normally situated in Nairobi, but this week I went to the coastal town of Mombasa and that is where I had the opportunity to meet Alice.

I went outside of the city headed farther North to visit with Alice. She owns a salon in a village of Mombasa. The salon is right off the main road in a building with other stores and a petrol station. Alice welcomed me into the salon and showed off the new equipment that fortunately with Zidisha lenders she was able to buy. Alice has one employee at the store, who when I first came was dying a woman's hair. Alice told me she does everything, pedicures, manicures cuts, colors, but her speciality is braiding. While I was talking to Alice another customer came in, to get a sample braiding. Alice took part of her hair and showed her what several braid patterns would like. I have been eyeying the Kenyan style braids with estensions and have been impressed. I really like the style, so Alice sat me down and did a sample braiding as well with the extension. I don't know if it's a good look for me, but there are some photos so you can be the judge.
Alice has had the salon for 18 months. She rents out the store, but it's quite expensive for the month and the bus fare adds up since she isn't close to her home. Soon, she plans on moving to her village to start up the same salon and find somewhere less expensive.
The atmosphere in the salon is lively with women coming and going to chat about hair, their families and men. When Alice had to go back to work doing some chemcial straightening, I sat and talked with the customers for quite a while. I could have stayed there longer, and may have if I had decided to go with the braids.
Alice hopes that in the future she wiill also go into wholesale with her products and will continue to use Zidisha loans to maintain the equipment and purchase inventory. She uses the profits from her business to support her young daughter, Mary who is ten years old. Mary also enjoys spending time in the salon, where she is lucky enough to always have her mom, the expert braider, do her hair. Alice was incredibly sweet and it was wonderful to visit her shop.

Thomas    Jan 18, 2015

Good luck and stay safe ;)

• Alice    Jan 20, 2015

  Thanks Thomas, I will do my best.

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Kitty    Jan 17, 2015

Congratulations on being funded so quickly I hope the business continues to do well

• Alice    Jan 20, 2015

  Thanks Kitty, It's almost unbelievable.

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JillV    Jan 16, 2015

Congratulations on completing your loan repayment! I'm so glad it worked out for you.

• Alice    Jan 20, 2015

  Thank you JillV

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Alice    Jan 16, 2015

I used the money that was given to me to purchase a hair drier. I managed to get a new drier with the money, as mentioned elsewhere on my profile. This has increased my productivity and my customers do not have to wait for long to be served as they used to do. I take this opportunity to thank all my lenders and urge them to continue with the good work that they are doing.

JillV    Oct 15, 2014

Hi Alice, how are things going? It looks like you are repaying the loan on time. Send another picture when you can. God Bless.

• Alice    Oct 22, 2014

  Thanks JillV for acknowledging my effort. The loan has improved my business drastically after buying the new hair drier. I am very grateful for your support. These are two photos - the drier and the me working on a client.

  

  

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JillV    Aug 14, 2014

Congratulations Alice on your loan! I hope you will be very successful with the new equipment & supplies.

• Alice    Aug 16, 2014

  Thank you Jilv for your valuable contribution. I am looking forward to stimulating my business with the funds. I will keep you posted.

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Kitty    Aug 13, 2014

I hope the new machines work well

Alice    Aug 13, 2014

Thank you all.

Alice    Aug 10, 2014

Dear lenders, thank you so much for the contributions you have done so far. I am glad the loan bid has made some progress. I have 6 days to go and I appeal to other lenders to contribute something - big or small towards this loan. I have attached a photo that I took yesterday with one of my clients.