Stocks for december sales

Samson

Nairobi, Kenya

16% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Samson

Member since

May 2013

On-time repayments

261 installments  •  70%

About Me

I WAS BORN IN KISUMU IN THE YEAR 1970, I WENT TO SCHOOL AT CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL, FROM 1979 TO 1989 WHERE I DID MY KCPE, FROM THERE I PROCEEDED TO HIGH SCHOOL, NYANGOMA SECONDARY SCHOOL. I DID MY O LEVEL IN 1992, FROM THERE I WENT TO NAIROBI WHERE I BEGAN WORKING WITH AFRICAN HERITAGE AS AFRICAN ART PAINTER FOR ABOUT ONE AND HALF YEAR, IN 1995 I JOINED BESMO HANDICRAFT IN INDUSTRIAL AREA NAIROBI, IN 1998 I WENT BLACK ART, A KOREAN CRAFT COMPANY IN LANG'ATA, WHERE THEY INVITED ME TO PERFORM IN SOUTH KOREA, WHERE I STAYED FOR SIX MONTHS, AND CAME BACK AFTER WHICH WE BEGAN OUR OWN STUDIO IN MATHARE NORTH AREA 3, I'M MARRIED TO MRS REGINA AKINYI, WE TWO CHILDREN , REHEMA NYOMBONGO 7YRS OLD, SHE IN CLASS 2, TUMAINI JUMA 3YRS OLD, HE IS IN NURSERY.

My Business

ABOUT OUR BUSINESS, WE DEAL WITH, SOAP STONE SCULPTURES, FABRICS PRINTING, MOLDING, JEWELLERY, AND WOOD CARVINGS. WE ARE MAJORLY EXPERT IN PAINTING ARTS, IE PAINTING ON SOAP STONES SUCH AS BOWLS, CANDLE HOLDERS, FLOWER VASES, CARD HOLDERS ETC. ON PAINTING WE USE IMPORTED PAINTS WHICH IS CALLED ACRYLIC, THIS MAKES OUR WORK ATTRACTIVE TO OUR CUSTOMERS BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING ARE, TRANSPORTATION, MARKETING, EXPOSURE, AND MANPOWER. ON MARKETING: WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CAPITAL BASE (MONEY) TO STOCK OUR STUFFS, HENCE IT MAKES IT EASY FOR MIDDLE MEN TO COME AND EXPLOIT US, THEY COME AND BUY OUR STUFFS FOR A SMALLER AMOUNT KEEPING US NOT EXPOSED TO THE MARKET. OUR VISION IS TO SELL OUR STUFFS DIRECTLY INTO THE MARKET BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, BY DOING THESE WE ALSO ARE PLANNING TO CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS.

Loan Proposal

This how I want to use the loan, I will take $100 to buy 100pcs of 6" round wooden bowls for painting @$1 each, I will again take $150 to buy 130 pairs of wooden salad servers (wooden spoon) @ $1.1 each, I will take $ 220 to buy 50 sets of oval wooden bowls @ $4.4 per set.

Feedback

9

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$608.00

Date disbursed

Oct 20, 2017

Repayment status

Late

Projected term

20 months

Lenders

YM

Yelka Mikolji

United States

PG

Paul Graham

United States

Paul Buchheit

Mountain View, United States

A

Anonymous

United States

JG

Jake Gibson and Beverly Picardo

San Francisco, United States

Ask Samson 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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  • Samson    Oct 17, 2017

    I'm great full for the timely loan you've given me,thanks to all my lenders. Now I've ordered wooden bowls and spoons, immediately I receive the money, I'll send to my supplies they have ready stock.I'll also stock acrylic paints to make work easy and quick.I know by mid November, I'll be harvesting from the loan,thanks again.

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  • Samson    Oct 10, 2017

    First and foremost I would like to appreciate all my lenders for supporting and helping me grow business, I have added my stock and this has made it possible for me to get more customers abroad and locally, the stock has grown and have added more artists to help meet the demand of my customers.

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  • Samson    Aug 30, 2017

    I have adjusted to fit my November exhibition which will be held by 23rd November. I have a lot to buy then decorate before time elapse.

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  • Samson    Aug 16, 2017

    Hi zudisha,my business has been good, though during national election ,there were some hiccup, the business was too slow. No I've start consignment with a small shops in village Market, Sarova and Galleria Mall. Currently I have Uganda and South Africa orders,I hope my next loan will boost me on improving my stock

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  • Samson    Jul 6, 2016

    Hi zidisha,I've come up with more samples such as pen holders the one on photo. Now I'm targeting S Africa market, not yet exhausted. Still I'm coming up with more ideas.

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    • Colin Marks    Jul 6, 2016

      Another stunning product,very creative..
      SA the way to go ..
      Wondering if there was a market for creative memory stick covers.
      Good luck.

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  • Samson    Jun 13, 2016

    Dear zidisha, im happy i have suceede in making new samples:i have animal coat hungers ,curved,animal pen cups and candles.already i have send photos to my diferent clients

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    • Colin Marks    Jun 13, 2016

      Hi Samson..
      Now those animal coat hangers look great..
      Never seen anything quite like it..
      Clever and useful ..
      Good luck..

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  • Samson    May 16, 2016

    my last loan was very successful,mostly during this time when the season is low.my stuff sales better during low season most of customers purchase unique items and this is what i have.my next loan i will use mostly in buying wooden bowls for the stock and salad spoons ,all these to be painted and decorated with beads and bones

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  • Samson    May 12, 2016

    Helo zidisha,it has been grate since november when i receive this money,i have managed to penetrate through even now supplyng serious customers like Gloria at The West Gate, Banana Box at the Sarit Center.Season is very low ,thus customers look for unique items,i have alot and thats how i sucede. I have quite big orders,i have to train two more young youth.

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  • Samson    Feb 27, 2016

    Hi zidisha,im happy the loan i took realy helped me in creating new samples,marketing and increasing my stock.i made more than tripple the amount.The south Africa bowls orders realy boosted me,i made 46,000 ksh .Now the season is low,now i'm concetrating in new samples and will start sending to my clients from 5th march for the easter orders.Thanks to zidisha team for being healpful.

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  • Samson    Jan 24, 2016

    Hi Zidisha,
    Long time since I last wrote a comment. November and December were very busy months, a festive season. I supplied more than one thousand bowls to different customers. Uganda and South Africa were leading in demand. Now I'm expand my studio and I have added two more artists to increase manpower. I still hope that one day I will go myself to the customers instead of involving brokers.

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  • Samson    Nov 11, 2015

    Helo my dear lenders, i'm happy i have receive the cash , i have just gone to my supplier to buy bowls.I got more than what ordered, its good , it's good because now i gave something to supply locally before i start working on orders. I prefer buying my own stock, than depending on down payment where the middle men control me on the prices. Thanks

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  • Samson    Nov 5, 2015

    Dear lenders , im glad loan is now fully funded and accept, now only waiting to start buyng bowls for decoration , i will work more harder to increase my limit. The market is large and i need more funds to expand it.

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  • Samson    Nov 3, 2015

    Helo zidisha, i am happy the loan i applied is fully funde, im ready and has ordered the bowls , ready for finishing,my worry is will i be able to get the whole amount 17117 shillings after , the suppliera have already brought the bowls.
    Thanks yous Samson

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  • Samson    Oct 23, 2015

    Helow zidisha,im glad for the place i have reach.zidisha has supported me.i have made a step , from six to nine distributors.the market has expand to Dubai,Quatar and even to Angola.i have also introduce my items ti calliopes in Angola,Ema in Qatar to mrs Ngina who has a shop in Dubai.i have orders for bowls 125 pcs sets Qatar and 120 ,Angola order,the due date for the order is 15th of november. Also locally ,i steel supply Banana Box in Westlands and in Calabash Village market.Also i supply Masai Markets for local sales.For my next loan ,i ll concentrate on oval bowls set which are hot cake and a little negativity for December festive.Thanks zidisha ,assist.
    me to expand through ideas and more funds.Expose me more to the world so that i make more customers,tanks

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  • Samson    Aug 23, 2015

    hallow zidisha ,it has been a great time for this season since i took zidisha loan.i have build a stock for the wooden bowls and salad spoons.i have supplied my rwanda customer,south africa more than 200 bowls6' @ 3dolars. the bowls are responding very well compared to soapstone.still looking for a space in westlands in nairobi.i bilive i ll do much beter because we are on high season.

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  • Samson    May 30, 2015

    hallow zidisha,im glad for the support ,loan you have provided me.i have bought peaces of wood and ply wood to make my jewel display structure.on Tuesday next week,ill start collecting jewel accessories from massai market.i ll inform on progress as i continue.

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  • Samson    May 18, 2015

    Dear zidisha ,the last loan of eight thousand shillings i used mostly in buying raw materials ,these include wooden bowls,spoons and some soapstone candles.i divided in to two,the first group ,thus candles and some bowls i preserved as samples which each item i took photos then send to my customers through what apps .the second lot i displayed in my show room/studio after doing decoration .Till now i have a good order from Zanzibar and Rwanda .Thanks to zidisha.

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  • Samson    Apr 28, 2015

    my business is doeing very well,i have double increase my stock.now we have more buyers mostly ffrom western world and from south africa.the market is now exparnding,what i need mostly is manpower to meet my turget of 1000 items per month.now i"m turgeting USA toureasts as Obama is viciting Kenya in jully.i bellive that i will make it

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  • Samson    Mar 19, 2015

    Hallow zidisha, im grateful for the loan you gave me 8000 ksh. I have already bought some bowls, I have painted and already sent to my Uganda customer for Kampala Easter buzzer .The exhibition will start on 30th of this month .I believe my next loan will be double so that I buy more for next exhibition on June in Daresalam.There is enough demand, I have only to increase supply ,Thank you.

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  • Kerry Tiedeman    Mar 9, 2015

    My name is Kerry Tiedeman and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Nairobi, Kenya. Today I had the opportunity of meeting Samson at his art studio just outside of Nairobi County.

    Samson has worked as an artist for over twenty years. He moved to Nairobi in 1993 to look for work from Kisumu, which is city in Western Kenya. When Samson moved he found a job painting at African Heritage, which began in 1973 as a producer and seller of African handicraft and artwork. Samson found the job through his brother and after years of working for different outlets painting and constructing different types of handicrafts, he finally opened his own studio partnering with a friend he met at African Heritage.

    Samson and his partner Joshua's studio is on the roof of an apartment building in the outskirts of Nairobi. It has an incredible view of the surrounding neighborhood. It's a small shed and walking in there are olive tree and sandstone bowls, giraffe pencil holders, spoons, vases and many other handicrafts all either already painted or awaiting for either Samson, Joshua, or Samson's cousin to paint them with incredible designs of animals and African sunsets.

    Normally Samson and his partner receive orders from art brokers which then sell the items at local and international markets to tourists. In order to finance the purchase of the bowls or spoons, Samson would have had to depend on advances from the brokers, which made it easier for brokers to pay them lower prices for the items. Fortunately with the help of Zidisha lenders, Samson can purchase the items beforehand and have more control over setting prices. This is leading him and his partner to think of cutting out the middlemen and head to the markets on their own, as well as find international buyers. (So if anyone is interested) Their pieces can be custom made and are truly beautiful. Before I left the studio I had ordered two bowls and asked them to paint a specific design I had seen on their other pieces and they happily obliged. They also have a blog and facebook page to attract buyers.

    I asked Samson how he feels having his own studio after years of working for different companies, one which even took him to Korea for four months. He said Korea was interesting, but cold and he had other great experiences, but he enjoys the freedom even if it can be quite challenging. He is able to employ his cousin and support his wife and four children. He is thankful to Zidisha for the materials he needs to paint. When I asked him what his favorite thing to paint was, he told me the Masai men with the sunset in the background. Of course I asked for that for both of my bowls!

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