Small business giving women a foundation

Sarah Umutesi, spends most of her day ensuring that her clients look beautiful. She has been a hairdresser for the last five years, and works with Quality Hair Dresser Saloon in Remera. This has enabled her to earn a living.“Owning my own business, has bee a great blessing in my life,” says Umutesi. Umutesi is one of the several young women, who have been able to take advantage of the increasingly favorable climate to do business. And it has been immensely rewarding as she puts it; “I believe that the experience I have attained in hair dressing for over five years, is going to be of great importance for many years,” she says. She explains that like in any business the customer is king, and to ensure that her business stays afloat, she has had to employ many techniques. “Customers are different in many ways, and they need to be handled with care so as to live the business in operation as well keeping clients,” she adds Umutesi, explains that customers feel that they should be trusted all the time, which indeed she commends. However, she notes that others disappoint when they promise to pay later, and fail to fulfill their promises. Another woman, who has been in business for a considerable period of time, says that young ladies should not only focus on getting white collar jobs, but should also take on small scale businesses like selling tomatoes, greens and other commodities that ensure a daily income.She only identifies herself as Clare, and she operates from Kimironko market dealing in a lot of stuff including tomatoes, greens and other related commodities, the same commodities she recommends others to take up. “Sitting back to wait for the daily bread from your husband is not only history but a sign of immaturity,” she says adding that, “one should try out any opportunity that comes his or her way.” Clare fully appreciates the importance of work. She says that it helps to give dignity to one who does it, instead of being seen as a dependant and hence a beggar of sorts. She makes it clear that many young ladies who refuse to start their own businesses, always end up in immorality like exchanging sex for gifts in order to lead a flashy lifestyle.“If you want to live an expensive life, then start a business and you will afford it easily,” assets Clare. Working hard will create a good relationship with others unlike when one has to run to friend, sisters and friend for financial help. In such cases they will always avoid you if they see you as a burden according to Umutesi when asked about such a scenario. “With your own business, you are resp[ected in society as a responsible womana,” concludes Mutesi. Ends