In the bustling township of Ongata Rongai, there’s a remarkable woman named Winfridah Mukhwaya, affectionately known as Mama Mandazi.
For the past nine years, she has defied the odds by transforming her humble mandazi and chapati business into a thriving venture, all while being a devoted stay-at-home mom.
In this article, WoK delves into Winfridah’s inspiring journey, highlighting the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to turn her small-scale operation into a profitable enterprise.
Starting the Mandazis Business
As a stay-at-home mom, Winfridah felt the need to generate income and improve her financial independence. She wanted to contribute to the household and raise her children without excessive pressure.
With a passion for cooking and the necessary equipment at hand, starting a mandazi business seemed like a natural choice for her.
In early 2014, she began making mandazis from her home kitchen.
Scaling Up with Determination
With just one packet of 2kg wheat flour, Winfridah could make around 80 mandazis, selling them at Ksh5 each and grossing Ksh400. Her profit per packet was Ksh150, and she aimed to grow her customer base.
She told Daily Nation Lifestyle segment how she would wake up at 3am to cook and by 5am she had packed the mandazis into a hot pot to sell to school going children and people going to work.
By 10am, she would be done.
Her goal was to increase production to five packets of wheat flour, which would have resulted in a profit of more than Kshh750 per day, totaling to Ksh22,500 per month.
Balancing Motherhood and Business
However, breaking even wasn’t easy for Winfridah. The profit margins weren’t sufficient to transform her business into a fully self-reliant bakery. Plus, being a mother of two small babies at the time, she had to juggle between motherhood and running her business. It was quite a challenge for her.
Challenges and Growth
Initially, it wasn’t easy for Winfridah to break even and make a profit. The profit margins were narrow, and gaining customer confidence took time. Balancing motherhood and the business was also a challenge. However, as her customer base grew, Winfridah expanded her offerings to include chapatis as well. It wasn’t until 2017 that her venture began to break even.
Learning the Ropes
Being new to running a business, Winfridah had to learn the basics on the job. Financial management was a particular struggle, as she found it difficult to save and reinvest in the business. However, she persevered and sought ways to improve her networking, marketing, and customer base.
Operating from Home and Meeting Demand
Nowadays, Winfridah operates her business from home, taking orders from offices, events, and retail shops. She even offers house cooking calls, where she prepares delicious chapatis and mandazis for her customers.
Expanding the Business
Winfridah’s goal was to grow beyond the traditional kiosk setup and take her mandazis to events and offices. Through networking and word-of-mouth referrals, she started receiving orders from offices, events, and retail shops. This breakthrough opportunity enabled her to increase her profits, gain a good reputation, and establish valuable contacts.
Challenges Faced
Despite the success, Winfridah has faced challenges, including rising costs of cooking oil and wheat flour. Competition and customers’ purchasing power limit the prices she can charge for mandazis and chapatis. Nevertheless, she remains determined and appreciates the freedom and satisfaction of being her own boss.
The Joys of Entrepreneurship
Winfridah’s business journey has taught her valuable lessons. She believes that it is never too late to start something, regardless of the stage of life you are in. She encourages stay-at-home moms to explore small ventures that generate income and contribute to their financial independence. By utilizing the resources available and leveraging networking opportunities, one can turn a small idea into a profitable venture.
A Smart Financial Strategy
To improve her financial situation, Winfridah joined a chama, where she contributes 50% of her profits in savings. The remaining money goes towards her financial needs and reinvesting in her business. It’s a smart move to secure her financial future and fuel the growth of her venture.
It’s Never Too Late to Start
Looking back at her journey, Winfridah believes that it’s never too late to start something, regardless of your current situation. You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment or start with a big business. Use the resources and space you have right now, and with determination and persistence, turn it into a money-making venture.
