Recently The Sunday Times talked to Clementine Simbi, a businesswoman in Kigali city, on how she started the business, to which Simbi says, ‘it was not a bowl of cherries.’  

Question: Can you, please, introduce yourself?

Simbi: My name is Clementine Isimbi; I am the owner and proprietor of Clementine Classic Shop.

Question: How was life as a child?

Simbi: I came to understand when I was living with my mother and siblings, that life at home was a challenge because my mother could not afford many basics including our school fees.

For my siblings and me to stay in school, I contemplated starting a small income generating business to provide us with school fees and other basic needs.

Question: Did you have any capital with you?

Simbi: No, but I had with me Rwf 500 an uncle had given me.

Question: Is it the same money you wanted to use as your capital?

Simbi: Yes, it is the one I started with.

At the age of 12 Simbi had started her business ride

Simbi: I started a business of selling eggs. There was a young boy I used to give the eggs to sell for me. This boy used to sell all the eggs and give me the money. The profits accumulated by the day.

Question: If not a secret, by then how old were you?

Simbi: ( laughs…) I was 12 years old.

Question: Did matters improve at home?

Simbi: What I can only say is that life was a challenge and our mother would not pay our school fees. I would pay my siblings’ school fees and use the rest to cater for our domestic needs.            

Question: At such a tender age it must have been hard balancing school and business.

Simbi: Yeah…it was challenging. I had to drop out of school and continue with business in order for my siblings to stay in school.

Question: Please, tell us about life after dropping out of school.

Simbi: After dropping out of school, I left Gitarama my home area and came to Nyabugogo with the Rwf 3000 which I had accumulated from selling eggs. I started by selling vests. It was the only business I could go into with the money I had.

With time, the business grew. However when I employed family members and friends, the business collapsed completely leaving me no single coin.

Question: What did you do thereafter?

Simbi: I borrowed money from my friends to start afresh and managed to raise Rwf 120,000. I decided to go to Kampala at St.Balikudembe Market formerly known as Owino market where I bought second had clothes.

Question: Which year was that, and how was the market when you came back? 

Simbi: It was in 2004 and the market was promising. 

Question: Did you go back to Nyabugogo market or another market?

Simbi: I stayed in Nyabugogo.
        
Question: What was your focus then?

Simbi: I was dedicated to work and get more profits than never before. I worked diligently and within seven months I had returned my capital of Rwf120, 000 and some more profits.
 
Question: Did you get where you want to be?

Simbi: (Laughs)… yes I did, my vision was to have a big shop which I own now.

Question: If not a secret, where do you get your stock and what do you deal in?   

Simbi: Today I get my stock from Dubai, Nyabugogo and St.Balikudembe Market in Kampala.  I deal in women’s clothes, shoes and bags to mention but a few.

Question: What’s your resolution this year?

Simbi: To supply Rwandan women with high class clothes at relatively affordable prices.             
 
Ends