This archive report was first published on 22 December 2021.
Yvonne Odongo's entrepreneurial journey began in 2018, when she was expecting her daughter Dahlia. She envisioned a stylish nursery for her newborn, but the market offered cliché options. This sparked the idea of creating customised 3D interior décor and signages.
After quitting her job in July 2019, Odongo took time to research and learn about the materials and techniques required for her business. She eventually launched CasaDahlia.ke in January 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Odongo's business has thrived. She works with eco-friendly materials and creates one-of-a-kind pieces for clients. Her core business is making customised name signs for children's rooms and home décor accessories, but she has also started doing business signages for small firms.
Odongo's success can be attributed to her ability to understand each client's personality, taste, and style. She immerses herself in their thoughts, ideas, and inspiration to create unique pieces. Social media has been instrumental in her business's growth, allowing her to reach a wider audience and sell her products globally.
As an entrepreneur, Odongo notes that striking a perfect balance between being a mother, partner, and business owner has been her biggest challenge. However, she has managed to maintain brand consistency and authority, and her advice to budding entrepreneurs is to simply start and develop networks.
Organisations such as Her Hustle, which has partnered with Meta Technologies to help women acquire entrepreneurial skills, have also been instrumental in Odongo's success. The She Means Business program aims to train over 3,000 women entrepreneurs to equip them with digital, financial, and business management skills to boost their entrepreneurial resilience in the face of crises.
