Inventory of school sports shoes

Entrepreneur

About Me

My name is James Manji born in Nakuru County of Rift Valley of Kenya. I come from a family of farmers where my parents’ (both deceased) occupation was small scale farming. I am the third born out of 8 siblings.

I grew up in a typical rural area where there were very few amenities and my normal day was just going to school and helping my parents with their farming activities. We didn’t have luxuries such as TVs, phones, electricity or even tap water. This routine went on until when I cleared my secondary education and joined college where I did a technical course in machine mechanics.

After my college education, I got a job at big cement factory where I was employed as a machine operator. I worked there for three years and life was going on very well. I was young and full of energy but then disaster struck! I got injured when I fell from a tall machine that I was working on. I got spinal injuries that kept me in the hospital for three months.

Unfortunately, I could not continue working because the accident affected my mobility a lot. I was given some money by the employer and advised to start a business. As a greenhorn, I burned my fingers in my initial venture but I finally settled for a shoe selling business which is what I am doing till now.

I am married with two children aged 14 and 12 years.

My Business

I have done this business for the last 12 years and with time, I have created a good network of suppliers and customers. I occasionally supply shoes to schools and other institutions. I specialize in low cost shoes since most people in this neighbourhood operate on very low budgets. A pair of shoe for an adult costs about $8 and that of a child $6.

I get a flow of clients throughout the year but the business normally picks during festive season and beginning of the year when the schools reopen. I make an average profit of about $350 per month which is what supports my family.

Loan Proposal

We are now heading to second term in our school calendar. This is the period where school play ball games like soccer, volleyball, netball etc. The traders who stock sports shoes are always assured of good sales due to the high demand for these sportswear.

I want to catch this wave by stocking 15 pairs of soccer boots at a total cost of $180 and a further dozen pairs of volleyball boots at a total cost of $150. I have made contacts with two schools and they have agreed that I supply them with the boots in readiness for games.

This is deal that will be a game changer in my business because I want to use it to penetrate into other schools.

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