Wahu’s tips on how to run successful upmarket salon
MONEY & MARKET
Singer and entrepreneur Wahu Kagwi. [Instagram]
Musician Wahu Kagwi is not only an accomplished singer, but also an entrepreneur running a salon business in Nairobi County.
Wahu runs Afrosiri Salon that offers hair, manicure, pedicure and spa services. She shares gems on running salon business in an upmarket area.
Be original
Having been in the business for more than seven years, Wahu has learnt the value of being original. “Copycat mentality is bound to fail. If you start something, do it because you believe in it and have a strategy. Salon and beauty is a competitive venture so have a solid strategy,” she says.
Size and location of the salon will highly influence the capital injected into the business. There is no set standard for a salon; there are those who want to start a salon in a house. Others want it in an estate while some prefer malls. All these factors affect the amount of capital needed to start the business.
Capital
To hack this, you can seek investment partners, loans from banks and micro finance institutions that target women and the youth. One can also borrow from friends. “For me, I did partial financing from a financial partner. I also have a business partner and we took a loan together and injected it into the business, she says.