So what happens when you get pregnant and suddenly you can see the telltale signs that you will not be coming back to work after having your baby? Knowing the uncertainties that come with getting pregnant, your boss tells you that you will need enough rest so that you may only work up to the eighth month and take as much time as you need. It may come off as an extended maternity leave, but not always; sometimes, it could mean it’s time to move on.Those are the circumstances that pushed Sophy Osano to open her shop. She had been doing the business for some time but only as a side hustle. She didn’t have a shop, so most of the time, she would run her business online and do deliveries on weekends or after working hours.
The impending loss of her job meant that she had to take her side hustle seriously because soon, it would be her main hustle.“I knew I had to find a way to make ends meet, especially now that I was expecting a baby. Also, as women, we have powerful intuition, and my intuition was telling me I was going to be a single parent to this baby, so it was either I swim or drown bringing along my baby. I couldn’t see myself doing that, so I swam.”The mother of one found a shop in the capital city along a busy street and used her savings to set it up. She also hired someone to sell for her as she continued working, awaiting the eighth month that her boss had given her.
She sells various female products, from bags to women’s clothes. She discovered This market when she was still in college, selling clothes to students in hostels. She sells second-hand clothes, well known as mitumba because she feels they are affordable and unique, making it easier for her to meet the needs of many clients.In terms of a support system, her family members have been very supportive even though her mother still asks her when she will get a job. “I come from a place where they believe that for someone to be successful, they need to have a job and a corner office. So they don’t understand how I can be contented with what I do. I don’t let that get to me; I channel all my energy to my business and clients, and hopefully, they will get on board eventually. They will realise that business works, and this is where I am supposed to be and not at some corner office.”
The very talkative lady says she may be doing well now but has also faced her fair share of challenges. “There was a time when things got so tough for me to the extent that I almost went into depression. The 2017 and repeat elections affected my business since I had to close the shop during most of those days. I was not making money but then still had bills to pay. From the hospital bill since I got my baby around that time to rent for the shop. Overall, I am grateful I got back on my feet and forged on because of my passion for my business.Sophy has the business to thank for some of the attributes she has gained over the years.
She states that one of the impact entrepreneurship has had in her life is that she has grown. The maturity with which she handles her clients is something she could only get through experience. Another would be that she has always been a jovial and talkative person, but she has had to take it a notch higher with her business.“Customer care is my selling point. I have clients that I have never even met. Some are out of Nairobi. They order through our Facebook page, Sophy wa Mtumba Collections. I talk to my clients like they are my friends. You wouldn’t want your friend looking funny, so I also advise clients on what looks best on them, and I believe that this is what sets me apart.”
Her advice to people who want to be entrepreneurs is to look up to other entrepreneurs who have already made it. They should remember that their idols also started from scratch. They should be willing to do the work and do something they are passionate about. It may seem so hard, but it’s doable.“Entrepreneurship is a challenging journey but very fulfilling. I wake up every morning knowing I am building my empire and I can pay my bills. What could be better than that?” Most people are shy to venture into the mitumba business. They think it’s saturated, but there are a lot of profits in it. Surprisingly, if you have Ksh.5,000, you can start selling mitumba clothes.With Ksh.5,000 starting capital in this kind of business, you can be assured of at least 500 shillings in profit at the end of the day. Isn’t it better than just sitting at home waiting for someone to notice your application letter on their desk?Remember, nothing good comes on a silver platter.Don’t just sit there; start small and dream big.