I will use this loan to prepare a plate for printing covers

Denis

Kisumu, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Denis

Member since

July 2018

On-time repayments

24 installments  •  63%

About Me

I am Denis Aloo, a man aged 43 years. I grew up in the rural set up as an orphan after the death of my parents when I was nine years old.
My life was full of hardship so I worked very hard in school so as to overcome poverty through education.
My efforts bore fruits when I graduated from Kenyatta university in 1999 with bachelor of education degree, after which I was employed as a high school teacher in 2001.
I have always had a desire to avail fast consumer goods which is of higher quality but lower price, so that it can move very fast and grow to become a very big company. That is why I did a lot of research on how to make bar soaps and after getting a breakthrough, I started production in the year 2016. So I have been making and selling bar soaps in Kisumu Town and its environs.

My Business

My business is about manufacture of bar soaps then I sell to other traders, these are wholesalers, retailers, and even consumers.
I use used cooking oil from the restaurants, which is a waste product in the restaurant but a very high quality oil for making bar soap.
This makes it possible for me to make very high quality soap at a lower cost of production hence my soap is very competitive in the market.
In a monthly basis, I spend ksh 52000 to buy used cooking oil,
Ksh 7500 to buy other chemicals
and Ksh 15000 to pay wages for casual workers. So I spend a total of Ksh 74500.
With this I make a total of 1440
1Kg bar soaps which I sell at ksh 80 each, making total sales of ksh 115200
This leaves me with a profit of Ksh 40700
I spend this money to expand the business and also to do more research on the business.
I have a dream of expanding the business so that it can produce more bars and have a very big company that can supply not only the whole country but the entire East and Central Africa.
That would require capital to buy machines and to import other raw materials. That is why I rely on Zidisha to help me raise the funds in the form of loans.

Loan Proposal

I buy used cooking oil from hotels and other chemicals from the shops then I use them to make bar soaps.
The soaps I make are of higher quality and relatively cheaper hence there is higher demand for my products.
The profit margin is between 20% to 30% depending on the cost of used cooking oil and the other chemicals.
Since I make my sales everyday, I am comfortable to repay my loans weekly.
The main challenge I have now is with regard to cash flow. I need some money to buy enough stock so as to meet the demand for my products, and it is in this regard that I make an application for a loan from Zidisha.

Feedback

2

None

1

  • Johannes    Mar 3, 2019

    Mr Denis Aloo has been in arrears with his payment for several weeks.
    Also, he did not respond to my request for information.

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  • William Edwards    Nov 27, 2018

    Denis has repaid his loan early and keeps his community updated with his business and how he uses the funds. I would be more than happy to support him in the future!

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  • Don Williams    Nov 24, 2018

    Dennis has been consistent in his repayments and I wish him well.

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$58.00

Date disbursed

Oct 18, 2018

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

1 week

Lenders

Ask Denis 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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  • Johannes    Feb 24, 2019

    Hello Mr. Denis Aloo
    You have been with your repayments for some time
    late.
    What are the problems and when can I expect further payments?
    Please send me an appropriate answer.
    Yours sincerely
    John

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  • Denis    Jan 16, 2019

    To my dear lenders,
    I want to thank you so much for the support you have given me so far. My business has made great progress because of you.
    I confirm to you that I received the latest loan amount of ksh 14000 which I used to buy 200 litres of the used cooking oil. I will use that to make 360 pieces of bar soaps, which when sold I get ksh 28800.
    Looking forward to working with again and again.
    Warm regards,
    Denis Aloo

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  • Denis    Jan 16, 2019

    To my dear lenders,
    I want to thank you so much for the support you have given me so far. My business has made great progress because of you.
    I confirm to you that I received the latest loan amount of ksh 14000 which I used to buy 200 litres of the used cooking oil. I will use that to make 360 pieces of bar soaps, which when sold I get ksh 28800.
    Looking forward to working with again and again.
    Warm regards,
    Denis Aloo

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  • Denis    Jan 16, 2019

    To my dear lenders,
    I want to thank you so much for the support you have given me so far. My business has made great progress because of you.
    I confirm to you that I received the latest loan amount of ksh 14000 which I used to buy 200 litres of the used cooking oil. I will use that to make 360 pieces of bar soaps, which when sold I get ksh 28800.
    Looking forward to working with again and again.
    Warm regards,
    Denis Aloo

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  • Denis    Dec 20, 2018

    I would like to inform my dear lenders that today I managed to make 300 pieces of bar soaps.
    Thanks a lot for your continued support.
    Kind regards,
    Denis Aloo

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    • J    Dec 20, 2018

      Dear Denis,

      Please don’t ever upload an image of your National Id. Card to this public screen! That puts you at high risk for identity theft!

      Please remove the photo by removing your comment.

      Kind regards,
      Joost
      Team Zidisha

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  • Denis    Dec 14, 2018

    Thank you so much Lisa for that encouragement. It is refreshing to know that someone likes what you are doing, and that is exactly what you have done to me. Sincerely I love it.
    Kind regards
    Denis

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  • Lisa    Dec 14, 2018

    creative idea! the packaging looks very professional. good luck!

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  • Denis    Dec 1, 2018

    I want to thank my lenders so much for the money you have given to me as a loan.
    I have managed to buy 150 litres of used cooking oil which I will use to make 300 pieces of bar soaps.
    Thank you so much, I have managed to reach this far because of your continued support.
    I have included a photo of the used cooking oil

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  • Denis    Nov 26, 2018

    I want to take this opportunity to thank my lenders most sincerely for the support you have given me so far.
    My business has made a lot of progress because of your support.
    Thank you so much

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  • Denis    Nov 13, 2018

    Dear Don, Johannes and William,
    Thank you so much for lending your money to my business. You have lent me not once not twice, and therefore I want to dedicate the success in my business to you my beloved lenders.
    This time I have received ksh 9920, which I have used to buy 132 litres of used cooking oil, which is the main raw material I use in my soap making project. That quantity of oil will make 250 pieces of 1kg bar soaps, which is sold at ksh 25000 at retail price.
    Thank you so much,
    Denis Otieno.

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  • Denis    Nov 7, 2018

    Let me take this opportunity to thank my lenders so much for supporting my business consistently.
    William Edwards, Johannes and Don Williams.
    Through your support, I have watched my business grow form one step to another.
    I will use this money to buy raw materials for making bar soaps.

    Kind regards,
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 30, 2018

    To my respected lenders,
    I want to confirm to you that I have received the money, a total of ksh 5900, which I have used to buy 80 litres of used cooking oil.
    I will use that oil tomorrow to make soap, estimated at 150 pieces of bar soaps.
    I have included a photo of the oil that I bought.

    Kind regards
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 29, 2018

    Dear Mark Huggenberger, Johannes, Liz, Rdcmole and Don Williams,

    I want to thank you so much for this far you have brought me through your continued support.
    This loan that you have given me I will use it to buy 80 litres of used cooking oil, which is enough to make 150 pieces of 1 kg bar soaps.
    That number of bar soaps I sell at 13500 wholesale price, making a profit of 4050.
    I look forward to working together with you again.

    Kind regards,
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 20, 2018

    Dear Dave Maxted,
    How are you today? Myself I am fine.
    I have now printed the soap wrappers and ready to hit the market in a new package.
    Some customers who have seen it said it is wonderful, I feel exited to achieve this. I want to thank you so much for the support.
    I have included a photo of the soap in a new package.
    Best regards
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 18, 2018

    Dear Dave,
    I want to thank you so much for lending money to my business. I have received the money and I have used it to pay for a printing plate that I had ordered when you accepted to lend me the money.
    With that plate, I have managed to print 2000 wrappers for my soap.
    This will allow me to sell to supermarkets and other distributors who have always had a condition that I must do proper packaging.
    I expect my sales to increase by 300% within the next two months.
    I have included a photo of the wrappers.
    Kind regards,
    Denis.

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  • Denis    Oct 16, 2018

    I want to take this opportunity to thank my lender Don Williams for believing in my project and for lending money to my project.
    I will use this money to make packages for my bar soap so that I can reach more customers in bigger shops. This will increase sales volume by mare than 100% and therefore the profit will also increase.
    Once again thanks a lot to all lenders who have funded my project in the past, you have made me to reach where I am today.
    Kind regards,
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 8, 2018

    Dear Liz,
    Thank you so much for that encouragement. I have a bigger vision for this project.
    Imagine I do that without a machine. I believe one time I will be able to buy a machine so that I can produce much more.
    Kind regards
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 4, 2018

    Dear Liz and Don,
    I hope you are fine. I am equally fine.
    Today I have just finished making 495 bar soaps of 1kg each. I will stamp them after two days then I take them to the market.
    Once again I want to thank you so much for believing in my project. Through your support I know that I will go very far.
    I have included a photo of the soaps.
    Kind regards,
    Denis

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  • Denis    Oct 3, 2018

    Dear Liz and Don,
    I want to confirm to you that I received the funds you gave me in the form of a loan and I have used it to buy used cooking oil.
    Today I began the process of making soap by measuring the oil to be mixed with caustic tomorrow.
    I have included a photo of that process.

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  • Denis    Oct 2, 2018

    Dear Liz ,
    I hope you are fine. I want to appreciate you for your support. I look forward to partnering with you even more as I grow my business.
    Best regards
    Denis

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