MY HUSTLE: I get paid to spread cheer through gifts

Matabel Nseko, 24, runs a gift shop called Kelsey’s Gift House.

Her job involves helping people choose the perfect gift for their loved ones, a task she enjoys immensely.

Her key deliverables include advising her clients on the best gift choice, shopping for a gift on behalf of the client, personalizing gifts by embroidery or engraved branding and also delivering the gifts. Her job can be quite tiring what with endless hours of shopping for gifts. However, the joy of seeing faces lit up as she delivers those gifts makes her forget the weariness. The happiness makes it all worthwhile.

LOVE FOR GIFTS

“When I was growing up, my father brought us gifts frequently. He never waited for special holidays or occasions. He gifted us randomly and it brought us so much cheer. My three siblings and I always looked forward to these treats. He would have the gifts wrapped and watch on lovingly as we tore at the wrappers in ecstasy. Those remain the highlights of my childhood. When I came at a crossroads between continuing to pursue a miserable career in Environmental Science and looking for true happiness in life; I made the choice in a jiffy. I quit my job and started the gift shop. I have zero regrets.”

Matabel started her business in January 2017 right from her home after quitting a consultancy job in an environmental based organisation.

She had no capital or professional experience on how to run the business. The only solid thing she had was an idea of what she wanted to do. She wanted to bring happiness and cheer.

The job description she had in mind was that close to Santa’s or that of an Ice –cream vendor.  A quick flashback to her childhood memories and happiness of receiving gifts from her father was instrumental in helping her shape the abstract idea into a viable business venture.

FACEBOOK MARKETING

Her first move was to set up a Facebook account so as to reach her clients.  After creating a business page, Kelsey’s Gift House, she went ahead to upload photos of gift ideas as well as listing her services such as personalised branding and door-step delivery.

In the weeks that followed, customers begun reaching out to her and the business picked steadily.

SHOPPING FOR CORPRATES

In June, Matabel registered her business officially, a move that saw her secure short-term contracts with various corporates to brand and shop for gifts on their behalf.  What started off as a blurry idea soon took the form of a promising career.

“Despite the great progress, there have been a few challenges here and there. To begin with, our gifting culture as Kenyans is truly wanting. From my observations, we only gift during major occasions such as birthdays, weddings and world observation days such as mother’s day, Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Gifts are an expression of appreciation, we do not need a special occasion to show some love to those we hold dear. Secondly, men need to start embracing the gifting culture. Most of my clients are women in their mid-twenties. Surprisingly, most of them are usually looking to gift the men in their lives; boyfriends, husbands, brothers and male friends. This imbalance really limits the market.  Lastly, there is an assumption that gifts are expensive and too much hassle thus many people shy away from reaching out to gift shops like mine. This is not the case. With a minimum budget of Sh1,000, I am able to advice on a choice of gift, shop for it in town, personalize it, package it and deliver it to your loved one.

Matabel runs her business purely online at the moment but is looking to open a physical shop soon due to market demands. She has employed one person who is engaged contractually. Most of what Matabel knows about running a profitable business is self-taught. She is inspired by people who turn their passions to businesses, top of that list being Janet Mbugua; founder of Mums Village.

  Recently Matabel begun stocking some of the popular gift items so as to save on the time spent between placements of an order to the delivery of the gift. She has also mastered the art of pitching to corporates and securing tenders from the same despite other big fish in the market. Her personal touch and knack of guiding clients to the most thoughtful and pocket-friendly gift is a niche she has curved out perfectly in this young industry. She has also embraced readily environment-friendly packaging thus compliant with the plastic ban policy.

RESILIENT

“I consider myself a resilient person. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure how this would pan out. My business was literally at the mercy of people’s willingness to gift! But I kept pushing. Sometimes my client and I come up with a gift and the recipient hates it. So I end up with a grumpy client and I fail to spread happiness. That doesn’t deter me. The good days outweigh the few horrid ones and I remain passionate about my venture.  I often window-shop subconsciously when running personal errands in town.  I love my job; that is a feeling I would wish on every young person out there trying to make ends meet.

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