This display in a small basement shop, in a Nairobi mall, caught my fancy last evening. It got me thinking how, in the formative years of my shipping business, while we were still trying to give the business a life of its own, the bulk of requests I got for discounts was from friends. It got so bad that it became unwritten “policy” that we provided the service to them at cost. But even then some still cried wolf, and called me all manner of names.Africa thrives on the wheels of small businesses. They constitute 90 percent of all business, contribute an average 40 percent towards GDP and provide 80 percent of all employment.There’s 101 reasons to support small, upcoming businesses. What’s yours?
August 9, 2021 at 8:42 pm
some friends in the same industry I know, strictly do not handle friends’ shipment
due to various reasons and some as you mentioned above.
August 9, 2021 at 8:43 pm
Sheldon, sad, isn’t it?
August 9, 2021 at 8:43 pm
Jacob Zikusooka depends how you see it. But some feels it will be a peace of mind
– credit term … chasing for payment from friend?
– some not up to expectation service and the friend go tells other friends?
The worst is family friend… Son, you remember Uncle George who always buy you ice cream？wants to import some stuff, please help him and give him a good good rate and service.
August 9, 2021 at 8:44 pm
Sheldon, many a business has seen its last days on account of the Uncle Georges of this world;-)
August 9, 2021 at 8:44 pm
Abasisi???
August 9, 2021 at 8:45 pm
Another killer of small businesses is credit sales. Someone said, “A clever thief asks for credit”, and that is spot on. What has stunted my business is friends and clients who take goods on credit, with deliberate intentions of never paying up.
August 9, 2021 at 8:45 pm
John Kisaka Yes. Credit protection in the US is much more extensive than in many place of Africa. So much so, collections is big business.
August 9, 2021 at 8:46 pm
Eric, gets a little sticky (even with credit protection arrangements) with Friends and Family;-)
August 9, 2021 at 8:46 pm
“Brother Prince, we really need this video but we don’t have a budget but you see it is ministry. And after all, you are just using your equipment so there is no cost?” Sawa basi, equipment hutoka mbinguni and I collect them behind some burning bushes ?? ??
August 9, 2021 at 8:46 pm
Prince Rufaro Makaya That is the worst, the ministry excuse. Hmm then don’t take a salary from the offering then. After all, it’s ministry, eh?
August 9, 2021 at 8:47 pm
Je Prince, hujaona the burning bush nyuma ya soko la kijiji????
August 9, 2021 at 8:47 pm
My response?
“I’d be very happy to offer you a discount. First you must establish a good history as a paying customer. Once we have that relationship well established, I may choose to offer you a discount on your next large order as appreciation for your patronage”
Or, make it a policy to offer a small percentage discount on any order over a certain amount. Or offer a portion of the service for free on a large order.
A customer service is one of give-and-take, not give and give. We do so because we treasure our mutual relationship. Friends don’t steal from one another. I agree not to charge you more than necessary, you agree not to rob me of my livilihood. I have families to feed, both my own and my employee, suppliers, the big government, etc.
Go elsewhere if you want to take advantage of our friendship that way.
August 9, 2021 at 8:48 pm
Some one tests your product and then ask you to teach them how you make it