Raw materials for natural beauty products

Mercy

Nairobi, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Mercy

Member since

January 2019

On-time repayments

37 installments  •  65%

About Me

My name is Mercy Kariuki, I like to use my ethnic name Nyauci as it is a rare name in my country. It is from an almost extinct tribe from The Rift Valley called Dorobo. I am the eldest in my family of four siblings.
As a child, I suffered from a heart condition that required me to be medication for life. However, a miracle happened and I got healed of the condition. Needless to say, I disliked medicine and injections, having had them as a lifestyle for nearly twenty years.
My father was a Naturopathist and when helping him, I picked a few natural remedies for common ailments. These I carried on into my adulthood and developed a liking for natural remedies rather than medicine. In my circle of friends, I was referred to as "The Queen of Concoctions"! Many of my friends would consult me for a concoction for one ailment or another.
With time, I developed a real interest and started researching on making concoctions and even came up with a few of my own. I also gained interest in making natural cosmetics, which I now intend to pursue perfection.

My Business

Natural products for wellness, health and beauty is the business I am in.
The market is now appreciating natural products and making a gradual shift from chemical-based products to natural products. The demand is now growing for natural remedies and cosmetics as well.
Currently, the business is in its infancy so costs and revenues are low but gradually growing. I am supporting this venture with income from my other businesses (home baking and corporate training) and the funds I have been getting from Zidisha. I reinvest the small earnings I get from sales as there is a need to grow the business.

Loan Proposal

I need to buy Shea Butter and Coconut oil as part of my raw materials.
Cost of Shea butter - $20 per kilogramme
Cost of Coconut Oil - $15 per kilogramme

I purchase most of my raw materials from organized women groups in the Coastal and Rift Valley areas of Kenya to boost their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Feedback

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$36.00

Date disbursed

May 3, 2019

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

4 weeks

Lenders

World Centric

Sonoma County, California, United States

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  • Walter    Feb 20, 2020

    I reach mercy through the phone we talked unfornatly mercy told me that she was sick and she is requesting zidisha if they can hold his loan repayment until next month for her to start paying.thats the request she make.

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  • Mercy    Jan 22, 2020

    Dear Lenders,
    It has been a difficult few months of grappling with illness and inability to carry on with business as usual. Unfortunately, this has made it impossible to service my loan as I have no income coming through due to inability to work.
    I am requesting that you please hold off my weekly repayments for the next month as I organize myself financially and clear the outstanding amount by the end of February 2020. I will appreciate your understanding and kind consideration as I strive to clear the amount.

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  • Mercy    Dec 3, 2019

    In the last two months, I have been of ill health and unable to carry out business as usual. I have also had other personal challenges (I'm not in a position to disclose) which have affected my normal productivity. Please allow me to reduce my monthly instalments for the time being as I get back on my feet.

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  • Mercy    Oct 3, 2019

    Dear lenders,
    Thank you so very much for financing my loan. The loan will enable me to set up my small shop. I will keep you posted on the progress.
    Once again, I thank you all very much and may God bless each one of you abundantly.

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  • Mark Dunphy    Oct 1, 2019

    God bless you in the name of Jesus

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  • Isabella    Oct 1, 2019

    I hope your business goes very well, Mercy

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    • Mercy    Oct 2, 2019

      Thank you Isabella. It is my prayer that it goes very well.

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  • Mercy    Sep 30, 2019

    Dear lenders,
    I am happy to report that I was able to secure a small shop through which I intend to sell my natural products. I managed to pay the first and last (deposit) rent for the shop and have it painted.
    I am now seeking more funding to stock the shop, buy a weighing scale and packaging materials.
    It will be a great stride in building my sales to have a retail outlet and to have a central position where clients will come. Having a shop will also build a clientele from walk-in customers and provide me with an opportunity to upsell when a customer comes to the shop.

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    • (Comment deleted by author)

  • Mercy    Sep 9, 2019

    I received my current loan with much appreciation. It is part of the funds I have raised to set up a small shop to sell my natural products. I have identified a shop space and we're working on the shelving. Unfortunately, the price of wood is very high and putting up this shop is becoming quite a stretch. I however trust and believe that I will be able to do it to completion.
    Thank you very much for facilitating this loan.

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  • Mercy    Aug 8, 2019

    Dear Lenders,
    I thank you for your support through lending the loan amount to me. This loan will be a part of the financing I need to open a small outlet for retailing my natural beauty and wellness product. This is in response to many requests from my clients to have a store where they can purchase the products. I believe this outlet will also attract walk-in customers.
    Thank you once again for your support.

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  • Mercy    Aug 5, 2019

    With the last loan, I had intended to purchase glass packaging containers, but it proved unviable for small purchases due to high shipping costs. Therefore, I opted to buy additional supplies with the money and increased my stock, thus making slightly more sales.
    With the increased earnings, I have started saving in order to open a small outlet from where to sell my products.

    Mid last month, I was not too well and was grounded for about 10 days recuperating. After I got better, I needed a breath of fresh air so my two daughters and I went on a mini-vacation and took a bush safari in Samburu, a town towards the north of Kenya.
    I'll share some photos.

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  • Mercy    Jun 6, 2019

    Dear lenders,
    I received my loan of approximately net USD110 with gratitude.
    I have ordered raw materials and packaging and will share pictures once I receive them.
    Thank you so very much for partnering with me as lenders. It is much appreciated.

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  • Mercy    Jun 3, 2019

    Dear Zidisha lenders,
    Now that my loan is fully funded, once I receive it, I will purchase more raw materials and packaging for my facial products.
    This will help me to meet the increased demand for my natural products. As my clients get to use the products, they tell others and the demand is rising.
    Thank you all for your support and willingness to lend to me.
    Thank you Zidisha team for this platform that enables small businesses to grow without the usual banking constraints.
    I will forever be grateful for having stumbled on your website!

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  • Mercy    May 29, 2019

    Dear Laurie,
    Thank you so much for your partial lending. It is much appreciated. also appreciated is your suggestion to use recyclable packaging, preferably glass. I was considering biodegradable or recyclable plastic, but I will compare the prices and make a decision on what is more viable economically.

    Thanks once again for your lending and encouragement.

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  • Mercy    May 28, 2019

    Dear lenders,
    With my previous loan, I was able to buy more raw materials and packaging containers. This enabled me to increase production and service the increased demand for my products.
    I have been making skin care products on a trial basis and the response from the market has been good. I would like to buy better quality packaging for cosmetics with the loan that I am now applying for. I am excited about the response I have from the few clients who have tried the natural cosmetics.

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  • Mercy    May 3, 2019

    Hi Malte,

    Thank you very much for taking the time to read my business story. Thank you for your encouraging words.
    Indeed, we need to move away from chemical-based cosmetics and remedies as they are not only detrimental to our overall health, but also to the environment as you rightfully say.

    I wish to create awareness and to "convert" as many users as possible to natural health, wellness and beauty products. I also want to encourage women to be their sisters' keepers because when they buy our products, they help us support rural women by buying raw materials from them. I believe this creates an overall win-win situation for all those involved.

    I appreciate that you are interested in my business. I would be grateful for any support in terms of ideas, funding, and even criticism where you think I can do better or differently.
    Thank you very much for funding the current loan which I will use to buy packaging containers.

    I look forward to engaging more with you.

    With my regards,

    Mercy.

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    • (Comment deleted by author)

      • Mercy    May 12, 2019

        Hi Laurie,
        It was nice hearing from you and reading your very detailed and interesting profile! I hope we can collaborate in making the world a better place now and in the future.

        Regards and best wishes,

        Mercy

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    • Malte Horland    May 5, 2019

      Hi Mercy,

      thanks for your replies.
      I responded in more detail via E-mail and just wanted to check if you received the message.

      Best regards,
      Malte

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  • Malte Horland    May 3, 2019

    Hi Mercy,

    I like your project very much, because I think it's important to gradually get away from chemical cosmetics due to a number of reasons (health issues like allergies; environmental pollution due to microplastics; cruelty of animal testing; and so on).

    Furthermore it's nice that you try to build your business around social and ecologic responsibility by buying the raw materials from local women-led farms.

    I would be interested in hearing more about you and your venture!

    Feel free to contact me at: [email protected]

    Best regards,

    Malte

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  • Mercy    May 2, 2019

    My previous loan was used as part-payment for a hand mixer. I needed a hand mixer to quicken and ease the process of mixing raw materials for face creams. Soon, I will require to purchase a bigger mixer to enable the production of larger batches at once.

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  • Mercy    Feb 19, 2019

    Dear lenders,
    Thank you for the loan I received of Kes 2534 on 6th February 2019.
    I purchased plastic containers for packaging my products.
    Thank you so much for the support and I look forward to more growth as we continue along this journey.

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  • Mercy    Jan 14, 2019

    Dear lender,
    I am a new member and I just received my first loan of Ksh 1235 (app. US$12.35).
    I used it to purchase a bottle of olive oil, which I use to prepare natural remedies.
    Thank you so very much for the support. I look forward to greater times ahead and business growth.

    With regards,
    Mercy.

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