Majuroi runs a small “tuck shop” in the outskirts of Harare. She used to be a cross border trader but then she became disabled so had to find a business she could do sitting down. Her husband helps her with this business as she can’t go and buy stock or carry anything. The couple told us that they had to use all their savings to pay for a spinal operation and she probably needs another. When we met Majuroi you could tell she was in pain. She told us she has always worked and contributed to family income she had to find another business she could still do while sitting down.
She has had the stall since February 2013. She had prior experience of running a tuck shop. As this type of tuck shop isn’t a legal structure the council can come and tear it down and confiscate the stock. This is what happened to her previous tuck shop. Now she keeps most of the stock in the house and only has some on display in case the same happens again.
Her husband buys stock from a wholesaler every few days. He also buys bread daily. Majuroi
joined our partner, Thrive, 6 months after starting her business. The initial investment was from her husband but they had to use all their savings for her spinal operation so they needed a loan from Thrive to put some working capital into the business to make it viable. They are now saving profits for another potential operation on her neck.
Majuroi told us that the loan had really helped her as it is only with a well stocked shop that she can attract customers and the loan allowed her to buy many more items at a better price and therefore raise profits. Lately business in the tuck shop is slow as the economy is very slow due to the drought which has affected many people but she hopes things will improve in time. The training she has received has been very useful teaching her to run the business well and to keep good records so she can tell which items are most profitable.