How to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya

There are several things that you need to do, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya.

Firstly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to ensure that you sell your customers reasonably big servings of muguka. So for instance, if it is the 50 bob serving of muguka you are selling, you need to ensure that what you give to a customer is big enough to get him to come and buy from you the next day -- yet also not too big to leave you with no profit. One muguka trader in Voi once told me that the standard at that time was 50g (he actually had a weighing machine) for 50 shillings. So this is where the consideration of the Muguka price per kilo comes into the picture – you need to ensure that what you are getting from your supplier is enough for you to sell your customers’ reasonably big servings and still leave you with a profit. Remember, the biggest consideration for muguka buyers is the size of serving they are given for their money.

Secondly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to consider setting up a base where people can chew. This is better than selling the muguka strictly on take away basis. With a base, you would be serving both take away customers as well as those who wish to chew their leaves there.

Thirdly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to consider having some good music playing in  your Muguka base. If you have good music in your muguka base, you are likely to end up with customers buying multiple servings – you know, like where someone initially buys a 50 bob serving of muguka, then another 50 bob, then yet another 50 bob… and so on. Music goes very well with muguka.

Fourthly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to plan well, to ensure that the Muguka stock you take finishes within the day (as in, to ensure that you don’t end up selling your customers non-fresh/kilalo muguka). Just take the muguka stock that you know you can successfully sell within the day and resist greed temptation.

Fifthly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to get a strategic location from which to be selling your Muguka. As with all businesses, location is critical in Muguka trade. An ideal location would be one that gets a lot of foot traffic, ideally in a location where people who are likely to be muguka chewers can be found.

Sixthth, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to deal very nicely with your customers. It is important for you to ensure that you yourself don’t chew too much (because if you have too much muguka handas, you can easily become short-tempered and start dealing with your customers in an improper manner).

Seventhly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to ensure that you are in good terms with the local authorities.

Eighthly, if you wish to succeed in the Muguka business in Kenya, you need to ensure that you are in reasonably good terms with other Muguka vendors. If you are on good terms with other Muguka vendors, you can get hints from them on emerging trends within the Muguka trade.