Turning passion into profit

JACKLINE CHIRCHIR, 23, is not only a gifted designer, but also a public relations professional and a photographer. She spoke to ALLAN OLINGO about her passion to custom-make jewellery to suit her customers’ tastes

How did you start making jewellery?

I got a pair of earrings from a stall in Nairobi and did not like them. I later saw many other people in similar earrings and they looked nice, but an idea occurred to me. I thought instead of wearing exactly the same, I could modify mine to look unique and different from the rest. That is how I started. I customised them to suit my style and taste and they turned out very beautiful.

How did you modify them?

I removed the beads, changed the shape and the general outlook. If you compared the new-look earrings with the original, you wouldn’t believe they are the same jewellery.

How do you come up with these creative designs?

Some of them are just on impulse, while I create others from my imagination. I get inspiration from pieces of art where I play around with designs to create my own style. I don’t make my jewellery from scratch; I recycle a lot of things. I can pick a buckle from a belt, some shoestring or an old pair of earrings and modify them to create beautiful jewellery, often totally different from their original forms.

What prompted the business angle?

When my friends saw the first pair I had made, they liked it and asked me to make them similar ones. I designed each pair to suit the owner’s tastes. The more I made them, the more referrals I got. Another factor that made the business angle outstanding was that I did not duplicate designs. Each of the customised earrings, hand bands and necklaces have a unique identity, so when you buy it, you will be the only one with the particular design. I started selling them in campus and also made them as gift items.

Do you specialise in jewellery or do you also customise other items?

I also do handbags, clutch bags, shoes and clothing. I am also thinking of expanding into interior décor on things like poufs and pillowcases.  I have realised people like homemade stuff and that’s why I want to make them using lesos, kitenges, khakis and other local materials. There is a niche and I will exploit it. If I add a touch of something African or any other design, it is certain to change the outlook of the house.

How do you customise shoes?

I buy sandals, for example, and put a thread of leso on them then take them to the fundi for sowing. The finished product will be beautiful and unique.

How has the business been so far?

It hasn’t been easy. I started when I was a student and depended on my parents for pocket money. I risked going hungry and invested my pocket money into buying items and modifying materials. I had to make a lot of sacrifices, but it paid off in the end. It also wasn’t easy get potential customers’ attention, but once people had bought them, they referred their friends to me.

 

What drives you to continue making these jewellery? 

I initially wanted to do something different and at the same time make a profit from my pocket money to enable me afford things friends did or bought. After some time, I not only managed to buy the little things I admired in my friends, but I also realised I could turn my hobby into a big business venture. It also became a stress reliever. Whenever I was down, I would find peace as I creatively customised these items.

Any other challenges?

I am a student and combining this with my studies has not been easy. I have to set aside time to look for the materials and make them. Coming up with new designs to avoid repetition is sometimes challenging. Marketing and expanding my business to reach many women is still a challenge.

What did you study in college?

After secondary in Sacho High School, I joined Daystar University in 2009 to do a double major in Public Relations Electronic Media.

You are also good in photography, tell us about it…

I love photography and I am yet to specialise in a specific genre or aspect. I take photos of nature, houses and places. I also do video shoots and edit them.

Do you also do photography commercially?

I do it for fun and I am yet to consider making it a business.

What does your full-time job entail?

I am an accounts executive at Tell-Em, a public relations firm. My job entails strategic management, event planning, public relations planning, media relations, stakeholder relations, crisis management and corporate social responsibility.

How do you balance between your full-time job and your business?

I love my job and my hobby. The joy I feel when I see someone donning what I have made is enough to make me sacrifice my free time and work hard. When you are passionate about something, you put in all your effort. Apart from the monetary reward, people also appreciate my work.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself owning a shop that exclusively sells Jackie’s Jewels and possibly have a team working for me. (I know this will not amuse my father!)

What would you tell young talented people?

My advice to young guys is that it is better to try and fail rather than not to have tried at all. A good business has to have a good foundation.