Enterprise

Meru salonist weaves thriving business one small step at a time

ERIC

Eric Omondi, proprietor of Meru Dreadlocks attends to a client. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL

Eric Njau Omondi, had a dream of becoming a beauty consultant and to achieve it, he had to start small.

He engaged in casual jobs like baby-sitting, harvesting maize in people’s farm and even road construction work.

Today Mr Omondi is an influential dreadlocks salonist in Meru town and is often consulted by other others wishing to venture into the business.

Upon graduation, he opted to start his own business. He borrowed Sh10,000 from a friend for a start-up but it was not enough to buy all the equipment he required.

Currently his business, Meru Dreadlocks earns him a profit of about Sh80,000 per month. He has employed three youth who are paid on commission.

Before he got a premises, the 32-year-old used to visit peoples’ homes sourcing clients. This enthusiasm endeared him to his clients.

He was born in Nyeri County and brought up in Meru but his original home is in Siaya County. Erico, as he is popularly known by his clients, had difficulty starting the business after a stint as a gospel musician.

“I was a gospel musician and I used to have clients around the country. I would move from school to school to sell my music CDs to teachers and even students.

“My business destabilised after I was attacked by robbers who took every penny from me leaving me with nothing,” said Mr Omondi who recalls the events of that day with bitterness.

To sustain himself, he decided to apply for a baby-sitting job in a nearby daycare. The pay was poor but he was forced to stay because he did not have another source of income.

“I had to do that because I felt through interacting with people I would get a platform to have my goals achieved,” he explained.

After a few years of hardships, Mr Omondi decided to quit all casual jobs to work out his dream of becoming a beauty consultant and specialist in dreadlocks.

Though he faced challenges in sourcing his school fees, he eventually joined Mountain View College of hair dressing.

“I had a tough time sourcing my school fees but through the help of my parents and relatives I completed my studies and graduated. I was from then on a professional,” Mr Omondi said.

“I borrowed Sh10,000 from a friend to set up my own salon. Another helped me with a dryer and the landlord was generous enough not to ask for deposit for the first three months,” he said.

For the first two months he had no customers, but business started to pick up in the third month. He then started borrowing money from banks to boost his capital.

“The first month I was able to attend to only two clients but I never gave up. I remember my landlord telling me that he is going to take my rent, but after three months I will eventually close down because I will not have customers,” he recalled.

Besides braiding hair, he also offers African print merchandise products which he acquires from Lamu and Ethiopia because of their proven quality, something that his clientele is keen on.

“I appreciate the natural beauty of Africans and that is why I provide typical African products for my clients,” he said.

His rising popularity in Meru town has seen his client base expand and today his salon attends to about 30 clients per day. Due to many clients he receives daily, he said he is forced to expand the working space because the current venue cannot accommodate such a huge number comfortably.

“I have plans to expand my business because the room is becoming small for the increasing number of clients I attend to daily,” he said.

Mr Omondi’s client base varies from ward representatives, to prominent business people in town, teachers and even house helps.

“I offer services at affordable prices that can favour both the rich and the poor so that I can accommodate everyone no matter their social status,” he added.

His advice to anyone interested in venturing in such business is to think big, but always start small. “Have good relationship with your clients and make sure they get the best service so they remain loyal and keep seeking your services,” said Mr Omondi.

He plans to set up several branches in all major towns in the country to attend to clients from every part of Kenya. “Since I started the business, social media has been my most efficient communication channel to reach my clients who are out of Meru.”

“Early next year I will be opening my first branch in Nairobi due to high demand from my clients who are in the city,” said Mr Omondi.