Loan to venture into sale of school uniform

TomF925    Aug 27, 2017

Thank you very much for the update. Glad her baby is doing better. Perhaps reschedule to the loan for a smaller weekly payment.

Jane    Jun 27, 2017

Hello lenders, Ivy closed her business after her baby became very sick. The baby has been in and out of hospital for the last one year but he is now much better. She is hoping to get a job soon and start repaying her loan.

ccs36    Oct 15, 2015

Hello Ivy!

How has everything been going with your new baby and your business?

Ivy    Apr 15, 2015

To my lenders, I have decided to reduce my weekly installment to KES 500.00 As stated on my profile, I am nursing a new born baby and this has meant that I take some time off from my business. This has affected my income and the my expenses have also shot up to the little one.

I hope to be back to normal very soon and I hereby ask for your understanding. Thank you.

Kerry Tiedeman    Mar 1, 2015

My name is Kerry and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. I have been stationed in Nairobi and meeting borrowers there, but for the week I've decided to leave the capital city and head to the most important coastal city of Kenya, Mombasa. That is where I met Ivy, a young mother who specializes in selling uniforms to schools.
Ivy just gave birth to a beautiful boy three weeks ago. He was born about three weeks premmature, so when I visited Ivy she had only recently left the hospital. She said that bay Aiden could practically fit in her one hand. Now he's healty and growing fast. I was invited into her home that she shares with her mother and brother, who have both been a big help, especially since her boyfriend works in Nairobi to help support the family. She is taking a small hiatus from her business or a maternity leave, but she sat down to talk to me about how it began.
Ivy is only 22 years old and after secondary school, she began selling used clothes.It was challenging sine when you purchased inventory all you knew about the clothes before buying them was what type of article of clothing it was. They came in large bails labeled "shirts" or "trousers" and you could only see the contents after purchasing. Ivy performed well though, and with the help of Zidisha she was able to purchase the bail. The shirts that didn't sell she sold to an Aunt in the village, and with the profits was able to rent a cabana for a business location.
Ivy's mother was the one to inroduce her to Zdisha. She has had a salon in downtown Mombasa for many years. She came to the house to meet me and generously bought Fanta for the occassion. She is very well dressed and is beaming from being a proud grandmother.
With the second loan Ivy decided to branch out into selling school uniforms. She began approaching private schools and securing small contracts to provide the school uniforms for the year. I asked her how she did this, and she told me "you have to be confident." After securing contracts, Ivy then goes to a trusted local tailor to make the uniforms. With the profits she has reinvested in the business and helping to pay the medical and other costs of having a new born. Ivy is optimistic and hopes that within about three months she will be at it again, when the baby is slightly older. After getting to now her, I have complete faith that this business will expand and she had her young family will do well. She has a great support netowrk with her mother an brother. I'm looking forward to following Ivy, especially since we are now friends on facebook!

ccs36    Jan 31, 2015

Ivy,

I'm glad I can participate in your 3rd loan! I know my total amount isn't that much but I'm proud to be able to support you on your path to business success.

Ivy    Jan 31, 2015

Thank you so much dear lenders, I can now proceed with my investment plans.

Ivy    Jan 30, 2015

I am happy I have completed repaying my second loan with Zidisha. I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive when I got the money since I was trying a new venture and I was not very sure of its success. To my pleasant surprise, my uniform business did sufficiently well and this enabled me to repay the loan on time – in fact before schedule.

The business has grown exponentially and I now have many orders to supply to various schools and I am hoping to get funding again to enable me cope with the high demand. The flip-side of all this is that I have been very busy and I hardly get time to update my dear lenders on my progress. I hope to find time very soon and send you some photos of my work.

ccs36    Sep 29, 2014

Hello Ivy,

How has the uniform business been so far? Has it been as successful as you hoped?

I just wanted to make sure everything is going well for you.

Thanks.

• Ivy    Oct 28, 2014

  hi ccs36. Sorry for the late reply. I have been very busy of late hence the delay. I started my uniform business and I have already delivered 50 sets to different school in the neighborhood. I will file a comprehensive report soon. Thank you for your support and encouragement. With people like you close to me, I am confident I will take my business very far.

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    ccs36    Nov 4, 2014

    Ivy, That is wonderful news! I hope and pray your business continues to grow.

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Ivy    Aug 30, 2014

Thank you lenders for your contributions. Special thanks to razzzz0815 for his generous boost. I will keep you posted.

Sanou    Aug 30, 2014

Dear lenders, my name is Robert and I live in Bobo Dioulasso, located in the western part of the city Burkia Faso. I come to you to ask you to accompany me so that I can truly work. Right now it is a very favorable period for my mobile phone trade and support me is truly indispensable. so visit my page and you'll see the very beautiful pictures in my little shop. Please follow this link
www.zidisha.org/fr/microfin...

Alex    Aug 30, 2014

your business idea is so inspiring..hope u make it big ivy.all the best

razzzz0815    Aug 30, 2014

Hey Ivy,

Liked your business a lot and just donated the remaining amount, keep up the good work and us up to date how things work out. Good luck!

ccs36    Aug 29, 2014

Ivy,
I know it's not much so far. It's just what I have free in my lending account. Once I get more in there I'll be sure to add to your loan!

Congratulations on starting and growing your business with well thought out plans and goals!

• Ivy    Aug 30, 2014

  Hi, ccs36, I am glad to let you know that my loan is now fully funded. Thanking for showing trust in me the second time.

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Ivy    Aug 29, 2014

Thank you howard, and robdoby for contributing again.

Jushua    Aug 25, 2014

Keep up goog job Ivy. Al the best..

• Ivy    Aug 29, 2014

  Thank you Jushua

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Ivy    Aug 25, 2014

In June this year, a friend introduced me to Zidisha and this marked a major milestone in my life. I am in business of selling second hand clothes but for a long time, my business was constrained by low sales volumes due lack of adequate stock.

I needed credit badly and getting it from local banks and micro-finance was out of question because of the nature of my business and my young age. Zidisha solved my credit crunch because I was funded within a week and with this money, I was able to buy bale of clothes.

This changed my business outlook and it has attracted more clients to my business. Running this business has never been so exciting – thanks to Zidisha credit.

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  ccs36    Aug 25, 2014

  Ivy,
  
  I'm glad I could help you enhance your life. Likewise, I joined Zidisha in June. I was seeking something better than traditional micro-finance like Kiva especially once I saw what they charge in interest for people like yourself.
  
  I wish you continued success in your business and greater profits in the future!

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ccs36    Jul 25, 2014

Hello Ivy,
I hope the loan has helped your business a great deal. Have you seen the increase in sales and profit you wished for?

• Ivy    Jul 31, 2014

  Hi ccs36, The loan has helped me a great deal. I bought a bale of assorted clothes and I have managed to sell about half of it. I have made some good profit out of this as evidenced by by loan repayments. I will post a more comprehensive report soon.

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Robert D    Jun 27, 2014

Good luck in your venture, Ivy.

Ivy    Jun 27, 2014

Thank you so much robdoby for your HUGE contribution. Thanks Jeffb and all other contributors. I wish you success in what you do.