How Mitumba Business Made a Former Thika-Based Hawker to become a Successful High-End Car Dealer in Mombasa

When Patrick Mwangi left his Nyahururu family to engage in the Mitumba business, he didn’t know he would grow to become a famous luxurious car dealer in Mombasa. Today, he sells both brand-new high-end autos and used vehicles.

A Small Beginning

Now known as Mwangi Wa Mercedes, the young man escaped to Thika to allow the dust to settle after a serious altercation with his home friends. Things began to change for good when he met a guy who was a mitumba supplier.

On his first day, he requested the supplier to get him ten KES 100 jumpers worn by ladies. He was able to sell all of the jumpers in one day and made a profit.

The urge to survive was quickly surpassed by the need to flourish. Mwangi opted to buy his supply from Nairobi’s Gikomba market, which he delivered in small quantities.

Fate Gotta have it All

As he went about his business, he hoped to find a better deal, and fate provided him with one. He was invited to Malindi to work for a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

However, things were not perfect for him and the other applicants. Mwangi had gone up to seven months without income and was just scraping by.

Fortunately, another window of opportunity opened up.
“In one of the hotels, I found a job as a driver. The employment lasted three months, and I saved KES 25,000.” He said.

Tenacity and hard work

The tenacious entrepreneur utilized the funds to launch his mitumba company in Mombasa. He’d start as a hawker, selling clothes on the streets, before a well-wisher helped him secure a little stand.

He sold women’s clothing and shoes here, and with the money he earned, he established his first shop, followed by two more.
Soon after, a unique request from his father-in-law arrived and that inspired him to start a new firm.
“He handed to me his car and logbook and said he needed money,” he explained.

Opportunity comes Once

He wanted him to help in selling the vehicle. With no previous experience selling cars, it took him about a month and a half to sell the car, and the KES 50,000 commission was an unexpected bonus.

He became more interested in the automobile trade at that moment. He began to flourish in the company, becoming a point of contact for everyone in his hometown looking to sell or purchase a used automobile.

The vehicle dealership had highs and lows, as is typical of any fledgling enterprise. Despite this, he was able to save some money from the commission he earned.

Mwangi got an excellent deal on his first automobile, a Toyota Vitz, for KES 270,000. He eventually sold it for KES 380,000, which was an even better deal.

He met a Pakistani citizen who urged him to start selling new vehicles, which had larger profits, as he extended his network. He followed the advice without question.

Mwangi imported the Mercedes Benz C200 as his first new vehicle. Although he was able to recover his investment, he only made a little profit.

He returned to his friend for further advice, which he should have sought earlier. He reaped the fruits of his effort when he imported the same model of car a few months later.

Final Thoughts

Because many individuals choose to acquire personal automobiles, the car sales business is a profitable venture. However, the location of your business and the quality of the vehicles you sell will influence its success.

Source: Kenyans. co. ke