This archive report was first published on 24 October 2021.
On October 24, 2021, Uganda's Wina Classic Leather Care expanded its operations to Nairobi, Kenya, by opening three retail stores at Junction Mall, Village Market, and Galeria Mall.
The stores will offer a range of leather services and products, catering to the growing demand for quality leather goods in Kenya.
Speaking at the launch, Wina Classic Regional Managing Director Elvin Isiko attributed the company's decision to expand to Kenya to a market gap and global trends.
"We found a big gap in Kenya. There are hardly any stores that look after your leather apparel, and we felt there was a need to come in and provide this service," Isiko said.
Isiko emphasized that Kenyan consumers are increasingly exposed to global trends and are looking for quality leather work and better services.
As part of its expansion, Wina Classic has employed and trained Kenyan female cobblers in leather management, recognizing the importance of appreciating the craft.
"We have trained over 10 people in leather work. We took them to Uganda to learn for a period of 10 months," Isiko explained.
The opening of the stores comes at a time when Kenya is working towards becoming an industrialized middle-income country by 2030, with the leather and leather products sector offering significant opportunities for industrialization and diversification of exports.
