Would you quit your current job with a good monthly pay to venture into self-employment?
Caroline Kasyoka on Tuesday, April 11, detailed her journey to building Imarisha Mabati, a roof manufacturing company, from scratch years after quitting her job.
Speaking on Citizen TV's Mwanamke Bomba, Kasyoka intimated that she quit her job as a cashier in one of the leading commercial banks to delve into the murky waters of business.
After handling other people's money for years, she decided to make her own. While she did not know where to start, she had a dream; to be like a father who ran a successful business.
"At first, I decided to venture into the baking business. It picked up well and I loved the business but the profit margins were minimal," she stated.
Kasyoka partnered with her friend and they jointly started a hardware shop. They specialized in selling construction materials.
While operating the hardware, the duo noticed a gap in the market, a demand for quality yet affordable iron sheets. The entrepreneur did due diligence on how best she would fill it.
"I did my research in Kenya and East Africa to determine the kind of iron sheets that would best suit the different climatic conditions in the region.
"We also visited firms which produced iron sheets, some of which offered to share with us the skill set and part of their labour force to enable us to set up shop," she revealed.
Kasyoka bought one machine and started with 10 employees in 2016. Her clientele grew and pushed the demand for her products, forcing her to move her business to a bigger space.
She bought more machines and hired more staff to serve in several departments including manufacturing, production, and logistics.
Despite owning the business, the 35-year-old shows up to work every day to ensure that the client's needs are met. However, she noted that the business has its fair share of challenges.
"One of the major problems is the dollar shortage which forces us to pay more for raw materials. This increases the production and retail costs," Kasyoka explained.
Her bold step earned her a place in the 2022 Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya shortlist.
