Vincy Wairimu: After many failures, I found my business footing

Vinjosh Cleaning Services founder Vincy Wairimu during a cleaning at one of her clients' houses. [Paul Kariuki, Standard]

The blow from the loss saw her engaging in snacks making. She dealt homemade samosas, mandazis, smokies, and eggs and would be selling them in the evenings in her home estate.

The savings from this business served as capital seed to start a mitumba (thrift) ladies' wear that dealt in tops, innerwear, tights, and skirts.

She used to have a kibanda which was demolished by county authorities.

She was introduced by a friend to e-book business. "I was reluctant since I didn't know how to trust clients to pay but it paid off after a while. I used to sell internationally and that's how I got my first dollars." The hustles took between six months to one year and helped raise capital of her next foray and present services business.

"I started Vinjosh Cleaning Services after the pandemic hit," she says, adding she was looking for something to complement her income.

The business is three years old currently and offers upholstery cleaning, commercial and residential cleaning as well as pest control services.

"My target clients are anyone who owns a house, or residential areas but I am packaging myself to into commercial cleaning though I have some clients."

Her first client was from social media after six months of marketing business, and her highest number of clients are from social media. She markets on platforms like Facebook, Instagram as well as Tiktok and gets referrals.

Vinjosh Cleaning Services founder Vincy Wairimu during a cleaning at one of her clients' houses. [Paul Kariuki, Standard]

"My daily challenges are getting committed employees. The other challenge is getting potential clients to commit to bookings. for some to pay commitment or deposit does not sit well with them."

When a client is not satisfied with their services, they agree to either refund a certain percentage of money or have the job re-done.

She has no permanent employees but a number of temporary employees.

How does she get ones that can work better given a temporary employee may not be that skilled if they had not been exposed to a similar job?

"When hiring I look at your skills. Do you have the knowledge to properly clean? Are you a timekeeper and a team player since our job involves teamwork?"

She never regrets the path she followed and says when a professional quits employment for business, it is because they have identified their potential elsewhere or employment is not that rewarding.

"Not everyone is cut for employment and they may be dissatisfied as they look for an exit plan," she notes.

She reinvests profits in the business with sights in expanding and offering more services.