How shopping gone sour gave birth to thriving Nairobi furniture firm
By Gladys chepkemoi - 2022-12-27 05:04:39 - [General]
For Rajesh Kerai, furniture has always been a central part of comfortable living — at home and workplace.
But as the Dignity Furniture CEO sourced furniture for his office and home about six years ago, he discovered that what he was looking for was either not readily available or was too expensive for his liking. That triggered an idea.
And that idea became a reality when he opened Dignity Furniture to supply homes and offices with imported furniture at affordable prices.
The start-up established relations with suppliers in China developed a business plan and embarked on sourcing for capital.
Together with his business partner, they borrowed loans from friends and added their savings to raise Sh3 million — the initial capital they required to set up their first showroom in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
Dignity Furniture store in Nairobi. The furniture enterprise was founded by Rajesh Kerai. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIRU | NMG
That first shop—2000 square feet in size — was a holding area for customers that wanted to view the furniture in stock. Their main target was supplying supermarkets that would pay after 90 days, a conversion period that did not work well for the startup.
“We didn’t have the money to start in the beginning, we asked friends and family for loans and added whatever we had saved from our salaries and opened our first shop in Lang’ata. We were able to convert the inventory in a week selling to offices and corporates as we had a waiting market. This earned us trust from our suppliers overseas,” says Mr Rajesh.
share on
Kindly Login or Register to comment and like and earn
Comments (0)
Others are reading
You should be compassionate and forgiving When I am afraid I put my trust in God Five things successful people do before 8am Success is something you attract by the person you become Christian Ronaldo threatens to break word history ever been made in sport word The most common Beaches in Yimbo West Ward in Bondo sub county The only dispensary in Bunyala south ward in Busia County Do the right thing when it’s hard If you don’t love someone neither use nor take things from them And a number of nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and will become my people; and I will be living among you, and you will see that the Lord of armies has sent me to you.