Youthful architects Karugu Maina, Anne Mwariri, Brian Nyabuti are co-founders behind design company Erregatti, whose flagship product is handmade leather journals.
Their business which is still at the start-up stage has so far managed to ship to five continents. Their marketing strategy relies heavily on social media platforms.
Speaking to Alex Chamwada's ChamsMedia TV, Anne Mwariri, Brian Nyabuti and Mang'u high school alumni Karugu Maina narrated that they were studying architecture together at a local university. Each one was independently looking for locally made journals to use in their classes.
In the midst of things, the trio discovered their similar interest in design and decided to delve deeper into their passion while still in school.
Anne Mwariri shared that their monthly market consumption is currently at 150 pieces, estimated to bring in between Ksh225,000 and Ksh810,000. The company has partnered with DHL for export.
“Most of our business operates online whether it’s from the Instagram shop or WhatsApp. People place their orders from any digital platform, then DHL ship out the product to any location in the world,” comments she added.
Apart from the Kenyan market demand for their products, they receive enquiries from distributors internationally to stock their products.
“Besides that, we do have some people who get our products and distribute them. For example, we have someone that gets our products specifically for the Rwandese market,” mentions Anne.
Anne mentions the company’s products have transcended the East African space from Rwanda to Uganda. “Outside of this region, we’ve been able to do the South African region...we’ve been able to do Germany, South Korea, the United States, Australia andChina…”
They source leather from Leather Industries of Kenya in Kariokor, Nairobi and paper from River Road, Nairobi. Brian Nyabuti further states that after the paper is sourced, it is then taken for branding where customizations also take place. After that, the leather goes to the workstation to be sewn on the the paper.
George Karugu also shared about the company’s touch in the architectural industry. “ We work on a few design projects, we have our fit in the architectural space but the main product we’re currently known for is the handmade leather journals.”
