She quit her job as a sales consultant to pursue her passion in a male-dominated field of arts.
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| For Lucy Wanjeri, there is no turning back on her passion in art and self-reliance. |
Sometimes last year, Lucy Wanjeri Njuguna made that very bold move that
most employees dread so much in life by quitting a well-paying job in a leading
mobile service provider to pursue self-employment as an independent artist repurposing
used vehicle tyres into very beautiful furniture.
Friends and family
alike were shocked at the fact that she took this big, life-changing leap, with
the skeptical lot waiting at the sidelines for that downfall.
Her journey in life
started immediately after school when she joined Winton House of Music for some
music course.
She later got a teaching
job at Oshwal Academy in Parklands as a music teacher for one year before she
decided to pursue a career in singing.
“I started singing
in studios and recording music. I then joined Harry Kimani’s Band as a backup
vocalist for a while,” she explains.
Quit job.
Things didn’t work out
well for her at the band and she later quit to start selling mitumba clothes at
Gikomba market till 2013 when she got a job as a Sales Consultant for a leading
mobile service provider.
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| Some of Lucy's recent works. |
“I came across this
video on You-Tube where a guy was recycling old tyres into beautiful and comfortable
furniture, something that got me so interested. I have been to arts since my
primary school days so when I saw this, I just got glued,” she says.
She decided to try
out by first making one for herself.
“Using borrowed
tools from a friend, I made my first table that I put into my living room. I got
so encouraged when friends visited my home and admired the table and asked me
to make similar tables for them,” she adds.
Her first business
came from close friends and through networks from close circles, she got more
and more orders, something that made her decide not to renew her contract with
her employer when the current one expired last year.
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| Lucy's latest project. |
Due to several challenges
she experienced in Nanyuki, Lucy decided to shift base to Maziwa area in Kahawa
West where she now operates from.
Lucy says that she
is so inspired by Ola Banke, a Nigerian lady doing the same stuff and prays
that one day, she will hit big in the industry just as Banke has in Nigeria.
“Since November last
year, I have been doing this job and I can assure you that there is no turning
back. The prospects are good and it is my dream that I will grow the business
into a big company with branches across major towns,” she says.
Challenges.
Lucy reckons that
even though the business is doing well, financial constraints and connecting to
potential clients have been her greatest constraints.
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| Lucy in her workshop. |
“Some of the
materials we use are expensive especially if one is buying in small quantities.
This restricts me to very small profit margins as you know, you can only sell
product according to the current market rates.”
She also admits that
her work at times is faced with stereotypes who view it as a man’s job and won’t
come to terms to the fact that a woman can do any quality job.
Otherwise, the sky
is the limit for Lucy and she says that she is so determined to beat all odds.
Thinking outside the box.
To the youth, Lucy
advises them to think outside the box.
“Opportunities are
all over the place only if you look for them and exploit every chance that
comes your way. What kills our dreams is the fear of the unknown but let me
assure you that fear is an invaluable tool. Fear does one of two things, it will either stop
you or fuel you into doing something. Rather than giving fear the power to
paralyse you and bring your dreams to a halt, embrace it and perpetuate it into
action,” Lucy advises fellow young in her parting shot.
You can reach Lucy
on Facebook via Lucy
Lu or Luce'
Krafts. You can also contact her through +254 726 116 287.
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