‘Keep Time’. Manzi wa Errands on Becoming an Entrepreneur

Dorcas Nyambura, popularly known as “Manzi wa Errands”. She is passionate about facilitation and community work, especially about people who are HIV positive, encouraging them, being with them, talking to them and reminding them to take their drugs so that they cannot default.

A graduate of Theatre and Films Technology from Kenyatta University, says:

“I was broke. It was nothing planned. I am one person who plans everything. But I decided it was me who needed to have capital and it can be done by me, myself. I need to be there. My contract had just ended. I didn’t want to renew it because I knew I wanted to pursue something else in another field. Maybe, in another organization somewhere bigger. So I quit,” Dorcas told Khusoko in an exclusive interview on why she began her Quick Send Errands and Delivery services.

Today, from being broke, she now has the zeal to expand her business to offer chaperone services.
True to that, Nairobi is quite a big city and can be daunting. What if you’d relax, work on your goals as someone goes, get your shopping, deliver roses to your loved ones or even accompany you? At a fee, this load could be lifted. Meet Nyambura aka Manzi wa Errands.

We spoke to Nyambura aka Manzi wa Errands about her Quick Send Errands and Delivery services.

How it started

After my contract ended, I looked to expand my horizon and therefore, I didn’t see the need to renew my contract. I sent my resume and I kept getting the “we will let you know”.

Of course that wasn’t successful. At that time my mum would send me construction materials. She understood I didn’t have a job and paid me. I called my friend to talk about a business idea I had. She showed up with a notebook and quick send services errands was born. We discussed and she encouraged me and we made posters. I recall l didn’t post them directly to create awareness on my social media feed and Whatsapp. I told my mum I started my business and she encouraged me. She even paid double for my errand.

After this, I posted and got my first client. My first client asked me to get him shoes from a garage. After that, I kept posting to create awareness and one day I blew up.

Three weeks in I almost lost hope, I was still waiting to get feedback from the job application. A friend shared the business plan they had made in 2017 and another volunteered to make me better posters.

When the posters came it was divided into different packages. Home services, office services and wait-for services where we keep your house company as you get other services, for instance, fridge installation, and WIFI among others. This encouraged me to pursue it and market the business.

Education

I pursued Theater Arts and Film Technology at Kenyatta University. Facilitation and Community work have my heart. For two years I worked with HIV-positive individuals encouraging them to get their medications and rise above the stigma.

What keeps you going?

I grew up with a go-getter mum. I’ve heard of how she rose and I see how hard she works. She created this “Girls work hard too.”

My mum and my friends are my biggest supporters. In my first weeks when I didn’t post about my business, my friends would inquire if everything was okay. They also gave me jobs without bargaining. I am grateful for my support system.

I’m also motivated by being able to afford my needs, I started the business because I was broke. But now I am motivated by the referrals I get and the goals I have.

I’d like to venture fully into the chaperone side of it. I enjoy keeping people company, including the elderly. I know it might not be as much but the little impact I make in their life keeps me going. I also learn a lot from them and enjoy their conversations.

What do you see as your best quality?

My best quality is being honest. I keep time and it has also taught me how to be patient because when you’re dealing with a different variety of people. I learn a lot and I am patient with them.

Do you believe there is a pattern to be a successful entrepreneur?

Not really. But I think there are qualities that you must have to be successful. Honesty, I am one very honest person. Your clients need to know they can trust you.

Knowing what you are good at and maximizing it.

I do good as a chaperone while my partner, Ms Emmaculate Nyambura Gitau is good with the errands. We sometimes exchange duties, though this is highly determined by the client.

Patience, some days I might not have any errands, but then the next day I’ll have three.
Consistency in your job helps clients know when they can get you. It also helps you build trust.
Of course work ethics, being open-minded and asking for help.

Emmaculate, an Information Technology graduate’s love language is an act of service to people and anything.

According to her, “I love doing errands because it makes me connect with people and get to know how to relate with people therefore I can give out my services well to the community.”

How do we manage your finances? Emmaculate and I are partners. For every errand, this is what happens: there is a certain amount that each contributes to our joint account.

What’s the future of Quick Send Services and Errands

I look forward to venturing into full-time Chaperoning. Although I hate the office set-up, I wouldn’t mind having an office for the chaperone business. For the services, I’ll mentor someone so they may continue the job as I focus on the other.

Challenges faced as a woman

When I started I didn’t have a concrete business plan. I talked to a friend who guided me. They had come up with a very detailed business plan. They gave me the go-ahead and I adopted it.

I had a client ghost me after a product cost service. I had to make it a policy for this service that you pay upfront,
I have also learnt to be careful not to end up dead in a ditch. So far, my mum’s prayers and my prayers are working wonders. I also send at least 3 people my location and the activity I’ll be doing.

Initially, I was scared of showing my face online, you know Twitter bullies. When I started this service a lot of people had no idea what I did and one person commented on the chaperone service, ‘Is this not a glorified way of running an escort business.’ My number is public some men have also approached me to escort them to clubs.

What is the greatest thing you have learned as a woman in business?

Not to be rude, but have an open mind. In addition, have an open mind and be willing to be corrected because the customer is always correct.