My names are Bernard Kipkemboy Korir and am 30 years old and a Kenyan citizen am an English and Literature teacher at Shiners Girls a private high school in Nakuru Kenya. Am a first born in a family of five in Baringo county an arid area, where I went through my primary school education then high school in Kabarak high school after which I joined the university of Nairobi where I took a course in Bachelor of Education in English Literature and I finished my course in April the year 2011 due to lack of employment opportunities in the public schools I took on a teaching job in a high school in Nakuru where I have worked since December 2011 till now.

I live 1km away from the school in a rented house in Free Area Estate Nakuru, which is near to the school; the location enables me to walk to work easily without spending any cash on transport.

After joining Shiners Girls High School I decided to start a business of buying and selling imported second hand clothes on April 2012 to supplement the little earnings from the school this because I previously had difficulties in meeting my expenses e.g. Rent and other personal expenses and also helping out my family back at home which includes my mother and my five siblings whom three of them are in Primary school and two of them in high school. I also have a small piece of land of size three-quarters of an acre where I plant maize and beans and harvest them at the end of the year, meeting these expenditures and others were the challenges that pushed me towards starting the clothes business.

Since I didn’t have any capital to start a business I approached the school manager and asked him to lend me some money inform of a loan to start the business. He gave me Kshs10000 at which he lend me at 2% p.a. and which he was to deduct in installments of one thousand at the end of every month. And since the loan given was not enough to rent a stall I build a small shade at the road side which is a common feature in this area. The shade’s position was strategic because it was open except the roof this provided a good view of the merchandise from all the sides as opposed to a stall which is usually enclosed. I had to hire one employee to work for me since during the day I was working at the school and I would regularly check on him whenever I had free lesson to observe the progress.

By December 2012 I had repaid the whole amount since my business was doing well and the manager was satisfied with my repayment discipline. I approached him for a second loan of Kshs15000 in January 2013, expanded my shade and bought additional stock. Initially I used o sell trousers, shirts and ties that is men wear but getting the second loan I decided to venture into women wear: tops, skirts, bras and blouses.

This additional stock boomed my business since I had many customers flocking my place of business due to my excellent selection and a wide variety of clothes to choose from. Am happy to report that I have completely paid my second loan. My friend and colleague Henry Kanyora introduced me to this service called Zidisha that had helped him boost his printing business and that it offered loans in attractive interest rates and the amount increased as the loan is successfully repaid.

If I get this loan am planning to purchase additional stock in preparation to the ongoing December festive season when people buy a lot of clothes in preparation for the celebrations and am planning to sell bigger. Am also planning to repay this loan as fast as possible so as to benefit from bigger amounts to enable me open a second shade.

Am a teacher at Shiners Girls high school in Nakuru Kenya and the objective behind starting this business was to help me back up my little salary. I will be able to pay the loan through the business proceeds and more importantly through my salary

My business; I buy and sell imported second hand clothes, I purchase my stock in Nakuru town from a middleman/dealer who owns warehouse in town, I then take them to a tailor for ironing and repair for those that are in bad shape. This is done to ensure that they are in their best of shape, this is one of my marketing strategies plus this unique act has really made my customers like my merchandise

Demand; firstly clothes are human basic necessity, secondly there is a very big demand of clothes especially in the month of December which is a festive season, families buy their clothes in large quantities in preparation for Christmas celebrations therefore this is a month I have previously sold in large quantities and that am also expecting to sell in bigger than last year. Second hand clothes are in very high demand this estate since Free Area is an estate lived by low earning class or even the lowest earners. These are people who cannot afford to buy their clothes in boutiques because of the cost involved, such that their only choice is second hand clothes therefore this translates to high demand

Preference: I buy my clothes from a trusted dealer and who offers the best choice and variety and as I indicated earlier after the purchase I take them to a tailor for ironing and repair to place them in their best shape, so that when the customer even from afar will be attracted to them. Secondly my display is quite fantastic; I do this to catch the attention of the passersby and who are the potential customers. I also offer a variety of clothes designs and am always conscious with the prevailing fashion of clothes which I always offer so that my customers are never disappointed. If a customer makes an order of an unavailable clothes I make sure its availed within the shortest time possible.

Profitability; taking into account hat clothes are a basic need and also that they aren’t perishable the sales I make are good, especially the end of year and during school holidays. The fact that I sell both men’s and women’s clothes this gives a wide range of customer base because I sell to everyone, the fashionable clothes mostly worn by the youths price higher than others and I capitalize mostly on them, therefore boosting my profits.

Risks; like any other business there risks involved, firstly there are other traders involved in the same business as I am and so the competition is quite stiff. Secondly my employee might not be devoted to the venture as I would which would lead to decreased sales. Others include delayed payments and bad debts

Costs; For example last month’s total sales was US352 the profit was US200 and the cost US152 am foreseeing December’s sales going up to US400 and the signs of the increased sales have already manifested themselves since December the first and I can confidently report that we have made sales amounting to US110, this is a positive thing to me and my business.

The uniforms are going to be purchased in wholesale from a local tailor Patricia Kanyora who recently received her Zidisha loan, this is a lucrative trade right now since new entrants in class one and form one in high school are currently reporting school till late February. the other half of the amount will purchase 2 bales of second hand clothes to replenish and add stock.

I would like to appreciate my lenders for your confidence in my business. the last loan has helped me a big deal i rarely depend on my salary to settle my expenses and for savings. i would say that my pay grade in business is higher. May God bless you abundantly for helping talented people in starting their businesses. i owe my success to you