THE
APRIL ISSUE
Entrepreneur edition
“biashara ni biashara”
AS I SEE IT
bucci photography I have been really privileged to be able to have met these fantastic people and even be in a position to join them as they work and do their thing. I saw first hand what it means to be your own boss, and not in the ‘I’m okay, I have no one to report to so I can relax’ kinda way. Nope! The ‘I have to do this and get it done like no one else can’ kinda way. They embody hard work, courage, persistence and passion in equal measure. Their stories, which they were kind enough to share, are so insightful yet inspiring. I hope you get the inspiration you need to go forth and do what you love. In any case, they say that we should do what we love and we should do a lot of it.
Featuring: Faith Kamwere Marvin Kamande (Treadmasters Auto) Jack Karimi (Josephine Events) Director @_bucci_photography Editor @bigpatoarts Captions by Mercy Moturi (@mo_turi) Cover Image Treadmasters Auto
Consistency and desire. A sure recipe in building an empire.
Marvin
Kamande
Meet Marvin Kamande of Treadmasters Auto. This is his business that consists of a garage and auto spares shop where he deals in motor vehicle repair. As I later came to learn, his life in this industry didn’t start off this way. Here is how his interest in this field started as told by him. Q1. How did you start all this off? Did you study mechanical engineering or something of that sort? A. Well, I have always been a person who is business minded and therefore I have ventured into many side gigs/ hustles but this one of being a mechanic to having my own garage and an auto spares shop started off when I was in the transport business. I used to transport avocados to various parts of the country and sometimes to Uganda and Tanzania. During some of these trips, the cars we had would break down and I would always have no idea on how to repair them, thankfully my colleagues had the know – how.
So after several occasions I got curious and decided to learn so that in the event that I was alone, I would not have a hard time. And yes, from constantly asking questions, watching mechanics do it and a lot of practice, I finally learnt all I could and even got the confidence to leave the transport business and start my own garage, with me as the only mechanic then. Q2. And how did you get to this point, I can see a few extra guys working on various cars and you aren’t. A. Ha-ha, yes. Well as I was starting out I looked for a few guys who I met during the times I would be sent to get some spares and I asked them to join me. So I taught them all that I knew and to be honest they have taught me quite a few things too. So as the business has grown, I have let them do much of the repairing and I have been left to manage the business side of it, including sourcing for and selling the spares. Q3. How long have you been in this business and what have been some of your highs? A. Around 7 years now. My highs would be seeing how the business has steadily grown. I have been able to work on so many cars, some belonging to a few friends and some to people who have now become very good friends. Also being able to find favor with some high profile people who have come to buy auto spares from me such as the current Thika Town MP. Q4. And lastly, any advice to an up and coming entrepreneur? A. Be passionate about what you do! It is that simple. Do not venture into something that you are not passionate about because you are not going to go far with it.
His garage is called Nanazi and is located along Upper Road, just after the exit to the Thika main stage.
It starts as a dream so you talk about it, then you turn it into a possibility because you can picture it. Next you plan for it; a reality set out
Here, now. With what I have. This is what I began with
Faith
Kamwere
For her, sewing has been a passion that she has carried with her for over 50 years now! She has been at it since she was 10 years old. Meet Faith Kamwere, a wife, mother and a sewing enthusiast. Q1. Why sewing? A. Sewing is my passion, it gives me confidence and makes me feel at peace and full of joy whenever I receive positive feedback from my clients. It keeps me busy and being led by the Bible which outlines that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
Q2. How did it all begin? A. I used to sew from a young age of 10, realizing early that I had both the passion and talent for it. In school I studied Home Science in both primary and secondary school which made me become eve better at it. I would sew during the holidays so as to make money that would enable me pay for my school fees for secondary and college where I studied a secretarial course. I continued sewing part time after finishing college and getting a job. Nowadays, I do it on a full time basis where I have even been able to sell to people in Britain, Australia and the USA. Q3. What advice would you give to someone who is afraid to start small because they feel limited by capital? A. God surely blesses the work of our hands, I have seen Him do so in my work. So trust Him even in the humble beginnings and He will lift you up! Follow her on Facebook @Faith Kamwere to check out some of her work
Chasing down this passion to the edge of days
Visualize. Strategize. Realize. And through it all, never give up
A penny for my story; because what I sell to you is much more than just a product.
Jack
Karimi Meet Joseph Karimi who deals in events decorations that include weddings, graduations, traditional wedding ceremonies, dowry ceremonies, baby showers and funerals. He also provides tents and chairs to the said events. Here’s what he had to share. Q1. How did it all begin? A. My journey started way back in 2013 when I left my job as a driver to start my own event decorating business. I had some experience from my previous job so I bought a tent and that was it. I started looking for people who would hire my tent for their events. Q2. Tell us about the journey A. I did not start out with all that I have. I began with hiring out tents and chairs and then evolved to doing event decorations. After being so excited about starting my business, having bought a tent I got to a point where I wanted to sell it due to so many challenges but I was encouraged by a friend back then, Elder Paul Nduhiu, to continue with the business.
However I continued to actively look for a buyer but I couldn’t find any. But after some few months I began getting clients and later I was able to buy a few chairs to go with the tent after previously always hiring them from fellow event planners. Q3. When did you catch your real big break? A. Back in 2015, a friend enquired if I could provide him with a 100 seater tent for an event that he had. I told him that I did not have it at the moment and that I only had a few stands for it. To my surprise, he asked me how much it would cost to buy one. That evening he wired me the money and the following day I bought the tent and the following weekend during his event, I had a tent for him to use. Q4. What have been some of the challenges? A. When I began, transporting the tents and chairs was always a massive challenge. I had to look for a ‘mkokoteni’ and push it myself whenever I was transporting the tents to nearby locations. If not, I had to hire pick-ups which would always end up to be very costly. I have however been able to buy a lorry with some money I had accumulated and it has helped me cut a lot of costs. Q4. And lastly, any word of advice to fellow entrepreneurs? A. Do not give up whatsoever, keep the dream and vision alive because once the vision is gone, it will be hard for you to go on.
Follow him and on facebook @ Jack Carryme and keep tabs on his work.
Sacrificing a few years that many won’t, to live the rest of my life in a way others can’t
Inclined to fall far often than most are inclined to try; the difference between many and I
bucci photography
photosbybucci@gmail.com +254 711 964 900 Instagram: @_bucci_photography Contact us for: graduations, bridal shower, baby shower, fashion photography, conceptual photography, product photography Compiled and Edited by:
bigpatoarts
bigpatoarts@gmail.com
Bucci 2022