When Paul Wambugu ventured into the planters business, it all started with an experiment - recycling everyday items into containers to grow flowers. Old tins, wooden crates and even discarded ceramics found a new purpose in his hands.
He had seen his father make a living out of selling planters and it became an easy entrepreneurial path to follow.
“I started the flower business in Dagoretti Corner on Ngong Road in 2018, selling flowers in black polythene bags. My inspiration for this business came from my father. When we were young, my brothers and I often helped him after school and during holidays, and that's how we gained experience," Mr Wambugu recalls, "Through the business, we never lacked basic necessities like school fees, food..."
At his flower shop, he makes three different types of planters: clay, fibre and rattan (woven). The clay pots are made from local materials from Murang'a and Kiambu.
Variety of plants in fiber pots at World flower shop and creative arts in Runda on December 5, 2024.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
"I started alone but after four months, I hired someone to look after the plants as I concentrated on the pots. Soon I expanded to the Northern Bypass with two employees and about five people who helped us design and mould the pots," he says.
It takes them about three days to make one pot. The production process includes moulding, kiln drying, and finishing.
"We spend between Sh400 and Sh500 to produce medium-sized pots, which we sell from Sh800 depending on the size," he says. For rattan planters, which he sells from Sh6,500 to Sh15,000, he imports raw materials from China and Germany, but the frames are designed and made locally.
“The rattan weaving rope costs about Sh80,000 to Sh90,000, and this can make about 100 of the planters,” he says.
Rattan planters, he says are all-weather and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Fibre pots, on the other hand, should be placed in a shaded area away from direct sunlight to preserve their colour. Clay and plastic pots are suitable for both indoors and outdoors and work well on balconies.
His customer base includes landscapers, homeowners, and hiring out potted plants for events.
Understanding the needs of gardening enthusiasts, he has expanded his product range to include self-watering pots, vertical gardening solutions, and planters. On average, he sells three planters a week.
A wide view of potted plants at Gracious plants vending shop in Ruiru on December 5th 2024.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
However, there are challenges to running the business, including water shortages, security issues, and the fragility of the pots. His advice for flower entrepreneurs?
For someone trying to venture into the business of selling planters, he says passion and being creative are key to standing out. Introducing unique varieties also gives one an edge.
"This business has changed my life forever. The journey from financial dependence to stability has been both humbling and empowering," says the 33-year-old.
Besides personal growth, the business has created employment opportunities. He has employed two people at the shop and has another team that helps with moulding and crafting.
"Looking ahead, I envision a future where I have set up a production unit on own my land, with a permanent garden that minimises the current operational challenges. I have already taken steps towards this dream by planting a small garden in Nyeri, which I hope to expand in the coming years," he says.
