dcembrola    Dec 5, 2012

December 5, 2012

Hello, my name is Dan Cembrola, one of Zidisha’s Kenya Client Relationship Managers. I am currently visiting Zidisha borrowers in Nakuru and its outskirts.

Today I visited Jane at her shop in Karunga, a small village north of Nakuru. Jane works here as a tailor. Her shop is spacious and the walls are draped with locally made cloths and fabrics of all colors. Jane has occupied her current shop for the past six months but she has been working as a tailor for the past five years. In 2007, Jane spent a year working as an apprentice to a local tailor. After learning her trade, Jane purchased a manually powered sewing machine, bought fabric, and began creating her own clothing, table cloths, curtains, and school uniforms.

Jane does not have a contract per say with any of the local schools. She does however provide thirty uniforms to three local schools three times per year. The Kenyan school year is divided into three terms, between normal wear and tear on the children's uniforms and new students moving to the area it is necessary for Jane to provide new uniforms at the beginning of each term. She makes a profit of 200 Kenyan Schillings on each uniform she sells.

Though the school uniforms are a steady and reliable source of income, Jane says that the most profitable item she sells are her custom made dresses. Any woman in Karunga can walk into Jane's shop, have her measurements taken, and return in a few days with a custom made dress. She makes a profit of about 600 Schillings on each dress. Three times a month, Jane travels to Nakuru where she buys fabric, buttons, and any other materials she needs. She also offered to make me a custom fitted suit for 2,500 Schillings (about $30 USD) which I'm very seriously considering.

Though Jane only uses her Zidisha loan on her tailoring business, she also has a secondary source of income. She owns three acres of land outside of the village center. She grows maize and beans on her farm and employs to people to tend to it during the day while she is at her shop. With her next loan, Jane is planning to continue to expand her business and is considering purchasing an electric sewing machine which would allow her to increase her output.

Hope2012    Jun 26, 2012

Thanks for your repayment so far

Hope2012    May 1, 2012

Best wishes for your business. Do you sell on etsy or eBay?

Oliver    Mar 1, 2012

The fabrics in your profile picture look wonderful. I wish you a lot of success for your clothing and farming businesses. Good luck.

lorrymac    Mar 1, 2012

Good luck with your business.

lorrymac    Mar 1, 2012

Good luck with your business.