This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
With over seven years of experience in the beauty industry, musician Wahu Kagwi has established herself as a successful entrepreneur, running Afrosiri Salon in Nairobi County.
Wahu's salon offers a range of services, including hair, manicure, pedicure, and spa treatments, and she emphasizes the importance of being original in a competitive market.
“Copycat mentality is bound to fail. If you start something, do it because you believe in it and have a strategy,” she advises.
According to Wahu, the size and location of the salon can significantly impact the capital required to start the business, and she recommends seeking investment partners, loans from banks and microfinance institutions, or borrowing from friends to cover startup costs.
Wahu also stresses the importance of client satisfaction, saying, “The client is always right. Yes, this may sound like a cliché, but it is the truth. You can have everything in place, but if it is not working out for the client, they won't come. Be ready to listen to your clients, they will tell you what they want.”
She also highlights the significance of having a solid plan and strategy in place, saying, “Sticking to the plan is important. Success depends on how well you have planned and largely lies on your relationship with your team. Your team is going to be there for eight hours, how you relate with them matters.”
Wahu's salon has also leveraged the power of social media to stay competitive, and she advises business owners to do the same, saying, “Social media is everything to us because we cannot afford to be on mainstream media. It is expensive to advertise on TV.”
Published on June 26, 2021.
