Ben Gumo Priest opted for early retirement from the media firm he was working for and used the money he was paid to start a men's wear fashion business, writes ROBERT AMALEMBA.
Kindly introduce yourself.
My name is Ben Gumo Priest. I studied mass communication at the Multimedia University of Kenya. I worked with Radio Umoja as a business editor, news anchor and reporter and later moved to Ghetto Radio as head of news/editor and news anchor. I am currently the CEO and owner of men's wear fashion line, Priesthood Collections, and facilitator/trainer at the Human Resources Development Ingenuity.
Why did you venture into business/training?
I am a people person and having interacted with all manner of people, I saw a niche in the men's fashion industry as the majority of boutiques only catered for ladies and women stuff. Later on, I realised that the majority of sales-people did not have business etiquette while communicating to clients thus venturing into training business to train them on customer experience and human resources-related fields. I also felt the need to empower people to acquire the right skills not only in business-related fields but also to help them relate well with others in their day-to-day activities.
Why did you leave journalism?
The company was undergoing restructuring and I felt the reforms did not augur well with my personal growth hence decided to settle for an early retirement payment plan. So, with the money from the plan, I ventured fully into the fashion business, setting up my online store and later partnering with a friend, Oliver Wekesa, to set up a physical shop at Imenti House, Nairobi.
How do you conduct your pieces of training?
We pitch for jobs from local and international individual organisations and companies. We have developed training manuals that cater for different client needs. We do virtual training and on physical training. We have an official rate card that we use to charge clients but we also welcome tailor-made rate cards depending on what type of client I am dealing with and their economic ability.
How much do you make on a good day?
From as low as Sh5,000 to as high as Sh70,000. Right now, I am also venturing into tailor-made clothes, photography and voice-over business.
What is your parting shot? Self-employment is not a walk in the park; it needs determination, self-discipline, and connecting with the right people. Be good at what you do and provide services that give you referrals in return. Be ready to learn and acquire new skills because that's what will help you when challenges come.
