Loan to expand my cereals business

Ibrahim

Kisumu, Kenya

19% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Ibrahim

Member since

December 2014

On-time repayments

242 installments  •  15%

About Me

My names are Ibrahim Otieno Okuro.Kenyan by birth and currently residing in Mbeme Estate in Kisumu City.
I am a trained Accounts Technician with CPA part two. I am a born again Christian and holds Godliness and Integrity as my core values both in business and in life.
On family matters, am married to one wife with two children Esther Adoyo (4) and Ephraim Mor (2) and also a guardian of two children; Brian Hope (13) and Teresa Anyango (8).
I worked in a supermarket for two years then joined another organisation for five years but because the work was contract based, it came to an end and then after searching for jobs without getting any, I decided to venture into business of selling groceries and grains in the Estate where i live here in Kisumu. Ogango upto August 2014.But due to small margin i was getting which could not allow me to pay the rent, I decided to move to Mbeme Estate where am still running the business and hope to get more funds and increase the Quantity and the stock variety that I sell.

The reason that prompted me to start a grocery and cereals business was to enable first to earn a living and get the best way of supporting my family, secondly was to attend to constant food shortage which was a consistent problem in the area with most traders changing very high prices.But with mine, having the fact that i get the stock from other counties, i was and have always been able to sell these to consumers at affordable rates thereby helping to alleviate hunger in our area here in mbeme.Note that Kisumu City and county as a whole is an importing county.It imports food products from other counties such as kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Nandi just to mension but a few.
As a young entrepreneur, I have avision of establishing a dynamic and successful businesses in my county as well as other counties within the Nation Kenya and other parts of Eastern Africa.This will also enable me to teach other people on how to make it in business.

My Business

My business name is PUR BER KELO BER EMPORIUM.It deals in food products, that is Groceries and grains which i sell to people in the estate.The reason as to why I ventured into this business as i mension above was to have a source of income, make food products- cereals and groceries available at affordable rates and support the weak that cant afford such products at all.
Through my humble financial input to this business and by the fact that i buy these stocks direct from farmers in other counties, where maize, beans, green grams and other groceries are plenty, i have been able to make these products available to the estate populace at affordable prises.For example, I have been getting maize from kitale at USD 0.33 per two kg and sell it at USD 0.65 when other traders sell the same at USD 0.82.
In addition to cereals and groceries, I also make ventilation concrete product which i sell to the local hardware shops at Whole prices and make a 50% profit return.For example I do make Ventilation concrete products - I use one bag of cement which costs me kshs.730 ($ 8.39) which produces one hundred pcs which when i sell each @ kshs.35 ($0.402) I make more than kshs.2000 ( $0.22.988850) of profit.But the product is not a fast moving product so its only done twice a fortnight.
I appreciate zidisha loans since it will boost my business in terms of stock and hence meet the rising demands from my customers.The first Zidisha loan helped me to stabilize my business, introduce more products and also take my children to school.

Loan Proposal

Dear esteemed lenders and zidisha team, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as volunteer mentor for zidisha community.I appreciate the cooperation from my assigned members so far.
Again I wish to thank you for my previus loan which enabled me to buy more stock and stabilize my business, pay school fee for my children and support my family.As a result of that loan my sales went up by 30% and the applied with the profits.
Enough stock has always been the main challenge .
I granted this loan, I intend to use it as follows
1) Purchase 12bags of assorted Cereals = USD 550
2)Purchase other food retails products = USD 300
3)Purchase laptop for business =USD 200
4) Use the balance for transporting the stock and for the business float
This will increase my profit margin by approximately 50% and enable me to employ one person to help me in the business.
I call for Zidisha lenders to sacrifice and fund my business and promise not fail in arrears and based on my past record of 100% on time repayment, you will be persuaded to offer me the required amount.

Thanks in advance.

Feedback

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$1,050.00

Date disbursed

Mar 11, 2015

Repayment status

Late

Projected term

80 months

Other loans

Lenders

AWOL

USA, United States

JG

Jake Gibson and Beverly Picardo

San Francisco, United States

Ask Ibrahim a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

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  • Ibrahim    Jul 13, 2021

    The year has been a little tough economically but I hope to clear my loan balance this year and be in a position to move to the next level.Shalom

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  • Ibrahim    May 7, 2021

    Its been tough and am still searching for more cash to finish my loan arrears.Thanks for your understanding.

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  • Ibrahim    Mar 26, 2021

    Low income and still trusting God for more income paying jobs

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  • Frank Mwenda    Jan 30, 2021

    Ibrahim said he will continue to pay his loan, just that he's facing a few financial problems but he's working to fix them

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  • Ibrahim    Jan 11, 2021

    This is what I may in a position to pay

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  • Ibrahim    Jan 11, 2021

    Upto this day am so grateful for the Zidisha family for having a heart that hears.Am still pleading for more time as I repay my loan given the source of income.I have the determination to see to it that I finish this loan and ask for another this year.Thank and Shalom

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  • Ibrahim    Dec 10, 2020

    My business collapsed and I had also received a threat of my college education being thrown away if I don't finish on time.(I had dropped out for over five years).For this reason I went back to college n had to seek scholarships to finish the degree.Currently am farming local vegetables which I will use its amount to pay the loan as I look for a job.Am kindly appealing to our lenders to have mercy on me n grant me more time(6months ) to finish the loan.

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  • Nelson    Nov 27, 2020

    I reached to Ibrahim Okuru he Respond to me that his Business faild but he will be able to Pay as Little Amout he we able to get.

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  • Ibrahim    Nov 13, 2018

    I am determined to continue paying these amounts.

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  • Ibrahim    Nov 2, 2018

    Hi, Even though am going through tough times, But from my current job which I got just in October and will run to November 2018 ,I can repay ksh.200 per installment which I plan to pay whenever I get money not just every month. I had received a tough warning and on this note I kindly ask the Zidisha team to forgive me and accord me more time that I may repay the loan.I had gone back to college, at the University of Nairobi for Bachelor of Commerce after being a drop out for 5years. I got admitted to this university in year 2010 september and dropped out in 2012 August because I did not have college fee for I had lost a job due to the end of a long contract.When my business collapsed, I went back to the village to start life afresh but with my young family in the absence of my parents at home, life was more tougher. I friend helped me to secure a casual job which helped me get my children to school and also my sisters' son to high school. Early this year in Jan 2018, I went back to the university taking just two units for ksh.26000. I have faith that I will repay this loan for the LORD GOD is faithful and will give me favor to prosper both in business and workplace.
    For these reasons, Am kindly asking for more time that I may clear the loan and also help those whom I invited to clear theirs as well.I do promise that God will give me back my financial strength to be an asset to Zidisha team.

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  • Ibrahim    Jul 21, 2018

    I have been down financially since my business collapsed but I recently got a three month job which I will use to boost my loan account here at Zidisha.Am so grateful for the team for being patient with me for all this while.

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  • Ibrahim    Nov 5, 2015

    My business is currently not doing well.And for this reason, i have decided to start a new business altogether.This deals with Concrete product making.It has started picking up and am trusting God for more capital to stabilize it.
    Thanks for your support.
    Ibrahim Okuro

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  • Ibrahim    Jul 18, 2015

    The reason is that right now food products which i sell at my groceries are many in the market.as a result of this, prices have gone down and more traders have come in to deal in the same area.This means less sales leading to less profit.But am introducing shoes and clothes for ladies which i do hope will improve my returns.
    Thanks for your understanding.

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  • Ibrahim    Jul 18, 2015

    Dear lenders, am so thankful for the hand you extended to me by giving me a loan.My business is doing well and am continuing with the repayments.Thanks and may the LORD God increase you and give me favor with you people.
    Shalom and bye
    Ibrahim Okuro, Kenya.

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  • Ibrahim    Jul 8, 2015

    Dear lenders and zidisha team, a new trading season has come in and money is flowing but the products which i sell are in excess supply in the market.Tomatoes, Onions and Irish potatoes which as been my main products have suffered a blow because hawkers are taking them to customers at their door step. Am looking forward to putting up a different strategy to absorb the shock and increase my repayment amount. It is my desire to clear this loan before the end of November 2015.Thanks for your patience.

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  • Ibrahim    Jun 16, 2015

    Dear lenders, More thanks and greatfulness for the support and lending amount.Am sorry that i have not been upto date but i trust God that as the business picks up this season, i will manage to increase my repayment amount.I have alot of hope for the season between the months of June to december and i know that come December, I should be through with this loan and apply for the next one. Thanks a lot and may the Almighty God bless you and grant me favor with you.Shalom.Ibrahim

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  • Ibrahim    May 5, 2015

    Dear lenders, am so greatful for the opportunity that you people gave me by lending me funds to increase my stock.The business is continuing at a low momentum but I trust God that from the month of June this year, business will pick up and from that time i will adjust my repayment amount.Thanks and be blessed.
    Ibrahim Okuro

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  • Ibrahim    Mar 31, 2015

    Thanks alot dear lenders and the entire zidisha community.More greatful for the loan granted to me.

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  • Ibrahim    Mar 30, 2015

    I have just increased my stock and the sales are still low.I will increase the instalment amount once the sales improves.
    Thanks for your cooperation.

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  • Ibrahim    Mar 12, 2015

    Thanks to our dear lenders fo this loan.Its my prayers that again God will use this opportunity to help me thanks alot.

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