John Eroti joined the shoe-making industry in 2016 with a mere investment of Sh 3,000.

Initially crafting shoes within the confines of his home, he distributed them to shoe vendors in Nakuru and friends who recognized his craftsmanship.

At the time, this venture was a side hustle, as he was concurrently employed as a boiler operator at a timber company.

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But as the demand for his leather footwear steadily increased, Mr. Eroti saw an opportunity in the leather shoe-making business.

In 2018, he took the bold step of leaving his 14-year tenure in formal employment to focus solely on his enterprise.

Recognizing the need for a dedicated workspace, he relocated his operations to Bondeni market.

John Eroti at his shop in Bondeni market during an interview with Mtaa Wangu on October 8, 2023.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

"I felt I had acquired enough customers to fully focus on making shoes. The demand was growing every day," he says.

Equipped with the technical expertise acquired through studies and two years of remote work, Mr. Eroti felt prepared to make his mark in the industry.

His workload intensified, progressing from crafting 15 pairs of shoes per week to a staggering 25 pairs per day. In response to this growth, he employed a young person to assist in production.

Nevertheless, Mr. Eroti acknowledges that manual shoemaking, hinders the scale of his production.

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"To address this challenge, I am planning to acquire a shoe-making machine to boost my daily production," Mr Eroti notes.

Speaking to the market dynamics, he observes a substantial demand for leather shoes, not just within Nakuru but also in other towns, driving his ambition to expand further.

Despite his impressive progress, Mr. Eroti faces obstacles such as the competition posed by imported second hand and new shoes, which have led many consumers to favour foreign-made options over locally crafted ones.

A section of John Eroti's shoe shop in Bondeni market.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

Additionally, the escalating cost of leather has inflated production expenses.

However, Eroti still hopes that quality Kenyan-made leather shoes will find a prominent place in the market.

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Nonetheless, the venture remains economically viable, with Mr. Eroti taking home a weekly profit of Sh 6,000, supporting his family and enabling him to establish two dedicated shoe shops in the Bondeni market.

He holds an optimistic outlook for the industry, anticipating that with adequate support, it can generate numerous job opportunities for the youth in both the county and the country at large.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

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Biz Lounge: How I turned my side hustle into a thriving shoe-making business

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Mercy Kihugu