So you want to make recyclable bags?

With the ban of single-use plastic bags, recyclable bags are getting their day in the sun. The availability of cheap raw materials and the natural demand for bags make this a good business to invest in.

What you need

Capital

Business name/ Company registration

You’ll need to have a brand name to differentiate your products from those of your competitors. You will, therefore, need to register a business name, which will cost you less than Sh1,000 inclusive of lawyer’s fees. You might further need to register a company, especially, if you intend to expand to the international market.

Licensing

Having a county trading license for your shop will allow you to operate the business smoothly. The cost of a county trading license varies from one county to another.

Raw materials

The bags are made from recycled fabrics. If you are based in Nairobi, you’ll get the fabrics from second hands clothes like jeans, jackets, shirts from Gikomba Market. Another source of raw materials is from African print fabric (kitenge) cutouts sourced from tailor shops.

Display shop

You can start with selling your merchandise purely online, but a display shop in an ideal location will help attract prospective customers who are offline. Moreover, some customers may demand proof of a physical shop.

Designers/Tailors

If you don’t know how to sew or lack a sewing machine, you can hire tailors and designers on a freelance basis. However, as the demand for the bags picks up, you’ll need to employ in-house tailors, who you’ll pay on a commission basis.

What you don’t need

You don’t need to be a tailor or have a sewing machine. You can hire the services of a tailor to design the bags for you and acquire yours as the business grows. Just make sure that you build a good rapport with the tailors