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The business that was inspired by my search to cure my son's eczema

Achieving Woman

After struggling to find a permanent cure for her sons' eczema, Susan Kinutha, 36, stumbled on shea butter and from then on she embarked on a journey to help other women going through such. She shares her journey to starting Ruzena Naturals.

Until 2014, I was in full time employment working as a corporate branding manager for a leading advertising firm for seven years. I'm a graphic designer by profession but my talkative nature got me into sales and marketing. I quit employment in January 2014 to start BrandVenus Design Ltd where we do graphic design, branding and signage. I then started Ruzena Naturals the following year and that has now become my full time job that I truly enjoy.

THE IDEA I got the idea of natural skin care products when I was looking for a cure for eczema for my boys. I started mixing butters and oils and my sister encouraged me to turn it into a business. Hair product inspiration came from the natural hair circles which I'm a part of. Back in 2011 when I went natural, there was a big problem finding natural haircare products locally but now there are a number of homegrown brands that have filled that gap.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT I started Ruzena Naturals in August 2015 using Sh1 million. It took me just two months to launch the business, I didn't overthink it. The idea made sense to me so I dived in head first. The reception was great and it still is. We have slowly grown our product portfolio from four products that we started with to 12 in less than two years.

I have the most wonderful customers and I find myself enjoying the interaction and sharing knowledge and tips with them. We specialise in natural handmade skin and hair products. Soaps are our core product but we also make body and hair butters from shea butter, cocoa butter and essential oils as well as crude avocado oil and unrefined black castor oil.

We only use raw/unrefined organic oils and butters that we buy locally and from Uganda. We educate women on the importance of using natural products on their hair and skin. We do not add any artificial colour or synthetic fragrance to our products because we serve a market that either has allergies or skin conditions that are easily triggered by chemicals.

RUNNING A STARTUP It's bitter sweet. The excitement of realising my dream gives me such satisfaction while the demand for money, time and fear of failure keeps me on my toes. It is more sweet than bitter, though, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd choose Ruzena Naturals over any other business I've ever started.

WHERE I AM NOW? Right now, I know this business inside out. I understand my market and there's a clear path to the future. The business has been on a steady growth path and we are thankful to God for the blessing. We have a plan to introduce more hair products in our haircare range before the year ends and we are currently working on samples of the same.

MY TIP Just start! That's what I always tell anyone who asks me how I started. Once I saw the idea was viable, I just started and learned most of what I know now on the job. Of course I researched extensively, but the best lessons come with experience.

BUSINESS IN FIGURES

LAUNCHED: August 2015

START-UP COST: Sh1 million

TURNOVER: Profits up by 300 per cent between August 2015 and July 2016.

Facebook: Ruzena Naturals

Instagram: @ruzena_naturals

Twitter: @ruzena_ke

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