Ann Wangui: Honesty is the currency of my import trade

Ann Wangui: Honesty is the currency of my import trade (Photo: Ann W)

In the heart of Nairobi, Ann Wangui is building a global supply network, one shipment at a time. As founder of Reign Imports, her drop-shipping business links Kenyan consumers to goods from Turkey, China and Tanzania. She shares the inspiration behind her growing empire, the hurdles she's overcome and the lessons along the way.

Let's start with the basics. What exactly does your drop-shipping business entail?

Drop-shipping involves sourcing goods either locally or internationally and delivering them directly to consumers. I mainly work with suppliers in China, Turkey, and Tanzania. What I do is bring interested buyers together to pool resources and meet the minimum order quantities required by wholesalers. Once the goods arrive in Kenya, we split shipping costs, and customers collect their items from designated outlets.