Promoting Gender-Inclusive Local Economic Development Through Fashion in Zimbabwe

PROMOTING GENDER-INCLUSIVE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ZIMBABWE WALK n STYLE WALK n STYLE Jenny Muchemeyi Norton Town Council

PLEASE DESCRIBE THE BUSINESS WALK n STYLE WALK n STYLE Photo or ALL SIZES AVAILABLE AT LOW PRICES -Ladies dresses -Ladies pants -Men s briefs -Men s shirts -Men s T shirts -Work clothes

CUSTOMER BASE? Who are your customers? -Local farmers -Local construction workers -Local civil servants -General public Have you increased the number of customers since starting the LED Programme? Yes. Customers have really increased. This has been necessitated by the knowledge acquired from the workshops I attended. How did you do this? -Do not just sell, convince customers -Use eye catching signage -Attractive d cor to draw customers attention

COMPETITION Who is your competition? -Flea markets (For new and second hand clothing) -Local clothing shops How do you handle competition in your business? -Good customer care -Knowing most of my customers -Focusing on customer relationships -Asking for feedback from customers -Understanding my competitors -Competition ignites innovation

NEW PRODUCTS OR SERVICES? Do you have any new business products or services? -New ladies sandals -Some pairs of men/women s socks to give as freebies to customers -Stylish/fashionable sandals -New takkies What new products are in the business? How are they performing compared to your initial products? -Selling like hot buns. Initial products sales have also been on high demand as well. How do you advertise/market your products? -Visual merchandising -Promotions & discounts -Rewards to best customers

QUALITY AND PACKAGING Are your customers happy with the quality of your products or services? YES. They also write their satisfaction/ dissatisfaction of the services they received in the in-store books before their departures. If you have answered yes please give more information. -Keep coming back to buy more -Leaving nice reviews -Showing appreciation Do you have any branding available for your products? Explain -I have WALK n STYLE stickers on all my products. I brand my products so that they are unique. Have you changed the packaging or marketing of your business to attract more customers? Please explain.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Have you hired more staff? How many full-time and how many part-time? -1 full-time staff member -2 part-time staff members How do you manage your stock and check regularly? Please explain. -Clear item labelling/branding -Regular stock taking -Managing inventory Have you been able to price your products better so that you can earn a surplus from the business? Please explain. -Conducted market research -Collected data through customers WhatsApp groups

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Do you have a record-keeping system in place? Explain. My record-keeping system (manual filing system) was in bad state before the LED programme. I have since managed to properly keep track of all my business transactions and activities. My record-keeping has improved my accountability, transparency and integrity in the way I run my Step n Style business. I have also managed to always have enough supplies to fulfil my customers needs and tastes. I have also made it a policy that all my staff members record every business transaction even during my absence. If yes, how is it helping you to manage your business? The system has helped me to monitor the growth/decline of my business. It is also helping to increase the chances of my business growth. It also assists me in keeping my business data. Do you have a bank account for your business? -Yes (Bank card)

SAVINGS AND SELF SUFFICIENCY Are you a member of a savings group? NO. I am not a member of any savings group. I save my money in my bank account. Are you saving money? How much have you been able to save so far? Income Expenses Saved Aug 2024 430 270 160 Sept 2024 300 330 -30 Oct 2024 480 300 180 -Have ploughed most of what I got back into the business. Insert Photo Have you managed to increase household income? -YES. I have managed to buy some household goods upgrading from where I was to the status that I currently am in.

INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE BUSINESS FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS Income Expenses ITEM AMOUNT ITEM AMOUNT Procuring stocks 1200 Ladies dresses 1350 Transport & phone bills 200 Salaries 150 Men s T shirts 800 Rentals & other bills 200 Miscellaneous 60 Formal skirts 750 TOTAL 2900 TOTAL 1810

INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE BUSINESS FOR NEXT SIX MONTHS Income Expenses ITEM AMOUNT ITEM AMOUNT Ladies dresses 1000 Procuring stocks 1500 Men s T shirts 1000 Transport & phone bills 700 Formal skirts 1000 Salaries 800 Takkies 1000 Rentals & other bills 800 Ladies shoes 1500 Miscellaneous 200 Plastic slip-ons 500 TOTAL 6000 TOTAL 4000

WHAT PLANS HAVE YOU MADE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS? -Stay up to date with modern styles (clothing) -Strong relationships with all customers -Always maintain good customer care -Display products in an organized and appealing way -Speak to customers using their language -Explain the uniqueness of WALK n style products

CHALLENGES CHALLENGES What challenges have you experienced in your business? --Burglaries -Bad debtors How have you addressed these? -Locking windows & doors when closing shop -Adding burglar bars to the window frames, door frames, etc -No longer offering credit facilities to most of my customers except very few regular and trusted ones.

SUSTAINABILITY How will you sustain your business? What other sustainability measures are you putting in place for your business? 1. Have to stay organized at all times. 2. Maintain a personal touch in the business. 3. Create unique products. 4. Need to have sound decision making. 5. Being brave to have new products for sale. 6. Empowering my staff members.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? What other changes have you experienced in your business? Explain Do you have any additional information to share? 1. Had difficulties in raising enough capital for the business but persevered. 2. Being in full control of the business and decision making power over my business. 3. Can freely make adjustments or introduce new products to the business any time. 4. Have to work hard as the lifespan of my business is dependent on my hard work. 5. Have to understand my target customers as well as staying abreast with new/modern trends.. 6. Have to market products even through social media.