My hustle into the interior design business

After I graduated with a diploma in interior design, I realised, like many other graduates, that getting a job is difficult. I started out working as a secretary at my father’s company, Massad Security. It helped tide me over as I worked on setting up an interior design business. My father is from the school of thought that believes one must work his or her out, so I saved every penny I could to earn enough capital for my business.

After I saved about Sh50,000, I bought draperies and curtains and stored them in the house. I then set up a Facebook page and aggressively began marketing the products. In the beginning, all I got were likes and comments, but no serious buyers. However, with time, people began showing interest, thanks in part to my friends sharing the page on their various platforms. When a buyer placed an order, I would personally deliver the curtains to them as I didn’t have an actual shop. However, as the demand increased, I quit my secretarial position and rented my own space in a building along Mburu Gichua Road in Nakuru. I’m now in my third year of business.

Interior design isn’t a walk in the park – some clients will make purchases based on the appeal of the colours of my products only to come back complaining that the colours do not match the furniture or carpets in their homes. There is also quite a bit of competition in this industry.