William Anguka, a former banker at Kenya Commercial Bank, transitioned from the corporate world to becoming the owner of a booming parcel delivery business.
It all started after when Anguka received a phone call from his childhood friend, Wlliam Brian while working as an engineer at the bank.
William requested his help in delivering a gift from America to someone in Kenya.
Little did Anguka know that this favor would be the catalyst for his venture into the parcel delivery industry.
A mutually beneficial agreement was reached, allowing Kenyans residing in the US to utilize Mr. Anguka’s services to send items back home for a fee.
During his break from the bank, Anguka initially dealt with a small number of gifts and earned a moderate income.
“I took leave on December (2015) and I handled so many gifts, earning Ksh50,000. And all it took me was to make calls for people to pick up their parcels at an agreed point or hotel within Nairobi. I also did door-to-door deliveries,” Anguka recalled during an Interview with Business Daily.
This opportunity provided him with valuable insights into the possibilities of providing delivery services to Kenyans residing overseas.
He recognized the need for a reliable and efficient system that would allow Kenyans to purchase items from US stores and have them delivered to their doorsteps in Kenya.
This realization led him to establish an online platform called Statesduka.com in 2016.
Statesduka.com quickly gained popularity as it provided a convenient and trustworthy solution for Kenyans living abroad who wanted to send various items back home.
From baby clothes to watches, laptops to mobile phones, Anguka’s platform became a go-to service for quick and reliable deliveries.
What set Anguka’s business apart was his commitment to providing excellent customer service. He ensured that items were delivered promptly and safely, building trust with clients ranging from luxury shops to individual customers.
His professionalism and attention to detail earned him a loyal customer base.
With his educational background in Economics and Business Administration, William Anguka made the bold decision to leave the banking industry behind and focus entirely on his parcel delivery business.
He established an office in Nairobi’s Parklands area and hired a secretary to handle incoming parcels, while he and another employee took care of deliveries within the city.
Anguka’s dedication to his business paid off. He experienced rapid growth, attracting clients not only from Kenya but also from neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Beauty products became a significant part of his business, as luxury shops and individual clients relied on Statesduka.com to deliver specific brands from America.
In 2017, he was entrusted with an order of 100 laptops, generating a revenue of Ksh600,000 before deducting taxes and shipping expenses.
His most substantial consignment to date involved a collection of pharmaceutical drugs, which earned him a staggering Ksh1 million.
“I have built trust with cosmetic and local drugstores as I fulfil their orders within set timelines. For clients around Kenya, I use the client’s preferred courier service. I have also delivered parcels to clients in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda,” he recalled.
Looking ahead, William Anguka planned to expand his business further by opening offices across East Africa to meet the growing demand.
His vision was to assist businesses in sourcing items from America, offering a reliable and efficient service that met their unique needs.
