Mitumba is a Kenyan street name for second-hand clothes, bags, curtains, bed sheets and shoes. A mitumba business is one of the most profitable businesses you can start with as little capital as you can afford. Mitumba bales range from ksh 5,000 and above- unless you are smart to but one piece at a time from a mitumba vendor.
The sale of mitumba has changed many people’s lives, especially the youth who fail to secure formal employment. For a successful “Okoa Jahazi” business , as middle class Kenyans like to refer to it, in Kenya, you need to make informed decisions on the following factors.
- Capital
Hawking is the best idea for this mitumba business since you require very little capital to start. It will save you several expenses, such as business license, rent and electricity bills. However, one setback to hawking is that you will have to stick to business on a small scale since carrying around huge bales is tiresome. The size of the mitumba business you want to set up will determine the capital. Starting a small business, especially if you’ve chosen hawking, requires as low as Kshs 500 while a large business needs more than Kshs 100, 000.
2. Mitumba Bale Supplier
Canada, Australia, European countries, and China, among other countries are well known for the importation of second-hand clothes (mitumba) in Kenya. Identifying a good supplier is an essential factor if you want to start a successful business.
For small scale mitumba business, you need to find a supplier who specializes in the product you have in mind. You can visit popular suppliers in Kenyan open markets like Gikomba, Muthurwa, Mtindwa, Eastleigh, and Kong For a mitumba business on a large scale, you can either import items from developed countries or buy bales from second-hand clothing markets in the country.
3. Know Your Target Market
The most important factor is knowing your customers and their needs- remember a customer is always right. Start by assessing your neighbors: Know their style preferences- different clothing types do well in different places based on factors such as weather and age, know how far they are willing to dig into their pockets- there’s too expensive in this business, its mitumba.
4. Pricing
Overpricing items will scare away your customers, and at the same time, under pricing will lead to losses. Mitumba clothes comes in different grades:
- Grade A: clothes in this category are in near-new condition and high quality
- Grade B: second-hand clothes that have been used slightly, but are in good condition
- Grade C: clothes in this grade have minor defects that can be adjusted
- Grade D: clothes with major defects
Clothes in each grade have different prices. Do proper sorting and price your items according to their quality, while considering your target market too.
5. Location
Different locations call for different bales of mitumba,especially considering weather as a key factor. There are places where opening a jackets, sweaters and trousers bale will do better, whereas, places like the Coastal region with such a bale will make your business run at a loss.
Also with different places comes different people with different preferences. If you are running a business where your audience are Muslims, you might want to consider going for a buibui or dera mitumba bale and avoid short dresses and crop tops.
Popular Mitumba Markets In Kenya
Nairobi popular markets include:
- Gikomba
- Muthurwa
- Ngara
- Kasarani
- Embakasi- Mtindwa
- Umoja
Mombasa popular markets include:
- Kongowea market
- Buxton market
- Mackinnon market
- Kisauni
- Chaani market
- Sega market
Kisumu popular markets include:
- Kondele
- Kibuye
- Kisumu Main Market
With mitumba business, people are trying different strategies. It’s not all about just setting up a shop or starting your hawking, you can also try theses methods too:
- Social media platforms. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp are excellent marketing platforms for your mitumba business. These platforms will help you reach many potential target audience and location.
- Websites. A website will help increase your credibility. Customers will have the confidence to buy from you since they know where to find you in case of any problem. However, maintaining a website requires more capital.
- Online shops. Some online shops are entirely online without physical locations. Here, you negotiate prices, the customer can pay through M-Pesa or any other supported payment method, and you arrange delivery services. This can be expensive for the customer since most retailers charge some delivery fees, but it is reliable because you won’t need to pay for a business license or rent or electricity. You work from the comfort of your home.