In a world of dreams and aspirations, success often seems like an elusive mirage. But for Timothy Mbaluka, success is a tangible reality he achieved through sheer determination, unwavering hope, and a relentless drive to follow his dreams.
From a humble start selling stationery with just Ksh10,000 as capital, Timothy’s journey to becoming the proprietor of Mwisaf Limited, a thriving stationery and document-binding firm, is nothing short of inspiring.
“I started selling stationery to schools as a part time job in 2003 with only Sh10, 000 as capital’ ’ he told the Business Daily in an interview at his office in Nairobi.
From an early age, Timothy nurtured a passion for “doing serious business.”
The seed of entrepreneurship was sown in his heart as a teenager, and he carried that dream with him through the years.
Even as a full-time employee at Spinknit Dairy, where he earned a modest salary of Ksh18,000 per month, his dreams never wavered.
Armed with courage and conviction, Timothy took a pay cut and switched jobs, which allowed him to dedicate time to his side business.
He began selling stationery to schools in his home county of Machakos and later expanded to the bustling city of Nairobi.
The journey was far from easy; in fact, it was riddled with challenges and uncertainties.
The initial earnings of Sh5,000 per month were hardly enough to sustain his vision, and he knew he needed to find additional sources of income.
Undeterred by setbacks, Timothy persevered, believing that hard work and unwavering support from those who believed in his potential would eventually lead to success.
In 2005, Timothy took a leap of faith and registered Mwisaf Stationery and Book Binding Company, with a vision to attract corporate clients.
Yet, even with a registered business, success remained elusive, and securing clients was an uphill battle.
Rather than giving in to frustration, Timothy saw an opportunity to make the most of his free time.
He decided to work as a bus driver at a local primary school, a job that allowed him to focus on growing his business during his spare hours.
A year later, Timothy made the bold decision to quit his job as a bus driver and move to Nairobi to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams full-time.
Armed with savings of Sh40,000, he rented a small office, bought second-hand furniture and an old computer through hire purchase, and hired a secretary to help with operations.
It was a modest start, but he had a burning determination to succeed.
With three clients, one employee, and a computer, Timothy embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign to win corporate firms.
He diversified his services from stationery to bulk binding for larger companies, identifying an untapped opportunity in the market.
Timothy’s research and strategic quotations paid off, earning him more business and gradually establishing his company’s credibility in the industry.
In 2006, Timothy approached Equity Bank with a proposal to bind their documents, and this marked a turning point for Mwisaf Limited.
‘“Through the Equity Bank job, Mwisaf gained credibility and used the acknowledgement to bring more institutions on board. They included the Kenya Technical Training College (KTTC), Catholic University and Mwalimu Co-operative Society Limited,’’ said Mr Mbaluka
As the business grew, he seized yet another opportunity in 2007 by venturing into printing books and journals.
This decision further fuelled the company’s expansion, leading him to purchase his first printing machine worth Sh6 million.
Mwisaf Limited outgrew its initial office space and shifted to a more spacious location in Gatkim Complex along Temple Road in Nairobi, accommodating the growing printing facilities.
As pf 2013, Mwisaf Limited had employed 35 workers, and Timothy had ambitious plans to open offices in Mombasa and Nakuru, reaching even greater heights of success.
He took s pride in having corporate customers and offered a diverse array of services, including branding corporate attire, retailing office supplies, and providing document binding.
Timothy Mbaluka asserted that these ventures generate no less than Sh3 million per month.
His particular expertise lies in embroidering corporate logos on a wide range of garments.
