Jade Collections opens second store within Nairobi CBD

Fashion retailer Jade Collections is Wednesday set to open its second branch in Nairobi’s central business district as part of the eight-year store’s ongoing expansion.

The Sh40 million family fashion house dubbed ‘Jade Haile Selassie’ will stock ladies, men’s and kids wear as well as baby clothing and accessories.

The store, which covers 9,715 square feet, will be housed at the Karibu Hotel building at the junction of Tom Mboya Street and Haile Selassie Avenue. The new store brings to four Jade’s total branch count.

“This is our second branch in Nairobi,” said Jade Collections founder, Bernice Mburu, in a phone interview.

“It has cost us the highest of all our shops in terms of renovation and stocking but we are grateful for the strides we are making to place our brand among the big names in the country.”

The fashion house steps into a highly competitive clothing and apparel market whose other players include Tuskys Essentials, Deacons, Woolworths, Kings Collection, Mr Price, among other stand-alone shops.

Ms Mburu said that the new branch occupies three floors of the Karibu Hotel building customised to have the Jade family shoe collection on the first floor.

The basement will stock men’s and boys accessories, official and casual wears while the top floor will have ladies’ and girls wear.

Baby clothing and other apparel will also be found on the first floor. The fashion house has three other branches in Thika, Eldoret and one along Nairobi’s Tom Mboya Street opposite the Fire Station.

Eighty five per cent of their stock is imported from the Far East and Europe.

Kisumu branch

“Our market penetration strategy plan for 2016-2020 is to open 12 more branches in the country. Getting retail space in the CBD has not been an easy task though,” said Ms Mburu.

The retailer will be opening two other branches by end of year one at Caxton House (first floor) along Nairobi’s Kenyatta Avenue and another one in Kisumu town. They are also looking for space in Westlands and Ngong Road areas.

The proprietor said that they have already acquired about five acres of land in Thika to set up a Jade Collections factory, warehouse and distribution centre as part of their expansion plans. The factory space will also serve as the retailer’s head office.

“We have also purchased another three-acre piece of land in Lukenya where we shall be setting up a Business Leadership, Fashion and Design School,” she said adding that they are sourcing funds from their ploughed back profits and some in form of bank loans.