SUCCESS STORIES

Business Owner: PATRICK KANAMPIU
Business Name: PARAGON COMMUNICATIONS
Business Location: MERU MATATU TERMINUS
Branch: MERU

The Meru matatu terminus is as busy as a bees nest and would be a prime location to have a business owing to its strategic location. Patrick Kanampiu is one of the lucky businessmen to have their business located here. Paragon Communications was started in Nairobi in 2008 but relocated to Meru when the entire family moved to Meru. Paragon Communications is one of the leading mobile phones and accessories providers in Meru town and owing to its strategic location; it serves quite a number of clients. Patrick is quite the businessman as he has diversified into other things. He has a photocopier, computers to offer typesetting services, Mpesa shop and he also sells fast moving commodities that commuters usually buy for a long trip or from a long trip such as water, soda and confectionery. Patrick got to know about Real People through Eric Munene his loan officer who marketed to him and subsequently processed for him a loan of Kes.200,000/=. Patrick is yet another beneficiary of the relatively new individual lending product which is new to the Meru clients. He usually gets his stock from Nairobi but once in a while he will team up with other business friends and order for stock from Dubai. With the money he was able to boost his stock levels as well as add onto the Mpesa float. He states that the Mpesa business is quite viable for him because many people do not want to carry a lot of money with them and would prefer if they withdrew the amount when they reach Meru. This means that if he doesn’t have float, it is a sure loss of customers. He plans to diversify further and venture into the sale of computer accessories which he says has started getting a good market. If he is able to tap into that pool, he will be sure to make more profits. He currently enjoys profits of Kes.80, 000/= to 100,000 per month which is an improvement from what he was previously getting. The one thing he would like Real People to do for him is to reduce the interest rates and increase the grace period for those taking a loan for the first time. He also says with a lot of conviction that he would definitely recommend the services at Real People to his business friends.