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The Analytics of THE MARKET

Photo: Courtesy
2017 has been an interesting year, I can't describe it better. Yes, interesting like, it's only the other day we were celebrating the New Year (1.Jan.2017), then we had campaigns, followed by elections, then a repeat of the presidential elections, and just yesterday, we called it wraps. Bye 2017, just like that!

Few days to December 25th, my employer grants us a leave as its the Christmas Custom. Time to spend with family, friends, visit relatives, take a holiday trip and see the beauty of the earth etc., So I had enough time on my hands to do either of the above.

At our annual end year party, I am seated in one table sipping my cappuccino slowly with few other colleagues, when a colleague joins our table, the events of the day were over and people had begun leaving, and he wasn't ready to leave yet, so he joins and we remain behind for a cup of coffee and just to unwind as we reflect on different events throughout the year and have some banter talks.

Discussions go on as we share our plans for Christmas, most of the talk being on an article I had written previously, THE PAIN OF A MOTHER, where I shared the pain our Mothers go through, throughout their lifetime just to ensure we are all safe and sound. And sadly, YES, we never get to remember them, at least wipe their tears and tell them, "Hey, Mom, for all the sacrifices you have made, your reward is here" instead "We unashamedly Forget them"

So the talk is centered on congratulatory notes from all colleagues at the top, with each one promising to get their mom a Christmas gift and forever make sure, their mom is never in worry. A few of us decide to visit the local Market and see what gifts we could get our Moms for the holidays. Lucky enough, the next day was Market day, so wake up so early and we are in the Market.

And that remains to be one of the best Christmas Experiences I have ever had. That, the mtumba shirt I get from my supplier costs between Ksh. 200 - Ksh. 300. He sells the same shirt to between Ksh. 500 - Ksh. 1200. "I felt nimekuwa nikiibiwa hii miaka yote" anyway I will be sorting this with him later. I also discovered that Money is in plenty in the Marketplace, that making Money is very easy in this place.

And this is how: One only needs to become a broker, develop a good rapport with the Mamas who deal with Mitumba bails. This is crucial because you need to be granted the first opportunity to pick the best shirts "Camera" before the rest of us are allowed to "either go on with the purchase or leave"

Market Analytics: So I noticed the broker guy would come with Ksh. 1500, pick 5 best shirts and hawk them not far from the bail at a price range of Ksh. 500 - Ksh. 1500. Believe you me, these shirts sell like hot cakes, at that price range. The dude then comes back and picks like 10 more shirts once the Mama opens the second bail.

Mathematically speaking: This dude got out of his place with Only Ksh. 1500, purchases 5 shirts at Ksh. 300 and sells them at Ksh. 800 each. This is a profit of Ksh. 500 per shirt which would translate to Ksh. 2500. With a total sum of Ksh. 4,000 in his pocket, assume he plows back Ksh 3000 into the business and picks 10 shirts at the initial Ksh. 300 costs, sell them at the same price which he sold the first batch, making the same profit margin of Ksh. 500 per shirt, this gentlemen/lady would walk away with a Ksh. 4,500 as a profit from his Ksh. 1500 which they walked into the market with.

Imagine; this gentleman/lady does this twice a week during the market days, they would be making a total profit of Ksh.9000, multiply this by 4 weeks in a month, you will realize that they make a whooping Ksh. 36,000 as a profit. Assume they decide to save Ksh. 20,000 per Month, the remain Ksh. 16,000 being left for expenditures, in one year, they would have saved a total sum of Ksh. 240,000. Enough money for them to become bosses and bring in their own Mtumba bails. I am told a bail goes for Ksh.. 20,000 - Ksh.30,000

"Buda, wewe hata ungezaliwa Msapere" one of my colleagues whom we had gone to the market shouted as I finished explaining how the Mtumba Market works.

So we walk across the Market and making lots of purchases, goods were very cheap here, from grains to fresh veggies, to beddings, to Kitchen items, everything was super cheap. And I kept on wondering whether I should terminate all my relationship with all traders "Juu nimekuwa nikiibiwa" hahah.

So we spent close to Five hours in the market sampling various items, and I promised myself to at least visit the market once in a Month to replenish my food stuff. Its here in the market that I noticed

  • We have fresh Veggies,
  • Very Cheap Items,
  • Easy to make quick Money,
  • Everyone is friendly, 
  • You need to be a great negotiator to survive, and
  • That 70% of this place had women, all struggling to make sure their families are well fed
I also noticed that the market demands
  • Patience
  • Openness and talkativeness
  • Great negotiation skills
  • Courage to be hit by scourging sun and,
  • Being friendly

So we finish up with our purchases before one of the colleagues remarks "By the way, the mutumba business could be a great side hustle" We all agree and wish each of us a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

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