He cut a niche in supplying books
The desire to reach the top is what moved Samson Ndonye to get into business.
At only 27, Ndonye is a supplier for all kinds of stationery, primary, secondary schools and college books, general printing and exams. He also does branding.
When he graduated from Daystar University in 2011, Ndonye hankered for a well-paying job.
“I got what I considered to be a good job. However, after a year, I began to feel really bored,” he says.
In May last year, while working with Amicabre Travel company as a procurement officer, the business bug bit him.
Unfortunately, he did not have much capital.
He says his B.Com course in purchasing and business logistics really helped him when he took the decision to register a firm; Semange Supplies Company.
With only Sh5,000, he bought some stationery which he supplied to several schools in the city. He made a Sh3,000 profit.
“I had about Sh20,000 more in my account so I used it to buy more stationery and revision books. In a week, I had sold everything and made a profit of Sh10,000,” he says.
This motivated him more and he took another decision.
“After selling more stationery, I bought a printing machine, computers and employed someone to help in the office and manual work like printing,” he says.
For the first month, he could not operate from the office.
“I was busy creating networks with potential customers who included colleges, churches, private firms and supermarkets.
He would present his profile and write proposals on the things he would like to supply to the institution or company.
“Within two weeks, I had received 10 orders for revision books from schools. Just before the month ended, I had more orders for calendars, stationery and brochures,” he says.
Ndonye now has more than 500 regular customers. They place orders for wedding and business cards, brochures and receipt books.
He also does car and T-shirt branding and makes banners.
Ndonye says his main advertising mode is the social media.