Only one out of 20 graduates from Kenya’s universities and middle-level colleges will luckily land a job after completion. The dwindling employment prospects have made Kenyan students simply ingenious.
Serah Kanyua, who features on CNN International’s ‘African Start-Up’ segment this week, was one such student. Her idea for an online fashion site, called Closet49, started in her room in the university where fellow students would stop by and select what they liked.
“I began selling clothes to friends while at University. My friends and I merged ideas to sell affordable fashion to people that didn’t want to pay too much and also give opportunity for people to sell clothes they do not want in their closet, that are still in good condition. They were able to get extra cash for their old clothes and find new cloths through this system,” Kanyua explains.
After graduating with a marketing degree Kanyua started her business, Closet49 with a friend. Together they work from Kanyua’s living room to save money and now their website connects buyers and sellers 24-7.
Kanyua launched the Closet 49 website, http://shop.closet49.com), just over a year ago. In the next two to three years, Closet 49’s goal is to make a million shillings in annual profits.