Gikomba Mitumba Trader, Who Previously Served as Team Australia Ltd Manager, Sheds Light on Viability of Second-Hand Clothing Business

Mitumba is one of Kenya’s most lucrative businesses. According to Reuters, 100,000 tonnes of mitumba clothing are shipped from China to Kenya each year. These tonnes of imported mitumba create hundreds of millions in cash and jobs for most Kenyans, particularly young people.

A Small Beginning

Alex Aduol, a trader at Gikomba Market, founded his mitumba company seven years ago. He began with a KES 300,000 investment soon after he left an accountant and team manager job at Team Australia LTD.

When he first started the business, the mitumba market was not as broad as it is now. Huge areas of the national market that he is now able to tap were previously untapped. This was mostly due to misunderstanding and prejudices regarding used clothing, as well as a preference for new clothes and shoes.

Online Marketing

But, with time, Alex was able to bridge this gap. The advancement of technology has also been beneficial to his thriving company. In addition to selling from his home, he can promote and sell online.

He has developed a client base and yet he has never met in person with who he sells because of the trust they have built over time. He submits orders and makes payments as he arranges for more deliveries.

Re-Investment

Oduol’s company is constantly increasing its operational capital. He has been doing this by reinvesting sales and earnings in new shares. This has allowed him to always have ready supplies whenever fresh shipments arrive. In addition, he has been able to minimize his disposable income, which has allowed him to control his impulse purchases.

Alex came a long way before his company becomes the empire he owns today. Nonetheless, he feels he should be more vigilant and assertive than he has previously been. He has also realized that it takes more than just getting clients to build a business.

Final Thoughts

He opines that customer requirements change over time. They alter as time passes, and one must stay up to survive and defeat the competition. The best sport is business. Keep your mind and body in shape, be patient, and chances to score will come your way. Enthusiasm for making things work nearly always works.

Source: Nation