Working in town

Yesterday I went around town to show the GCS phone charger to shop-keepers around Arusha. Brian from Anza Technologies was following me to learn a bit about how we interact with dealers.

Our first stop was a bit uninspiring. I had visited Tahfif Goods on the main street through town last week and promised to return to show him the charger hooked up to a bicycle. I brought the bike into the store and showed the shop-keeper how it worked. He told us that it was a nice design, but he wouldn't be able to sell it in his shop. I looked at the shelves in his shop, which contained water boilers, Arabic schoolbooks, bottles of castor oil, all manner of posters and tons of other knickknacks. I couldn't solve the mystery of how he decides what is appropriate for his shop, and what wouldn't fit in. Still, he advised us about another shop that he thought might be better suited to the charger.

We continued up the street and saw a shop that sold all manner of electronic goods, so we decided to try the shop. Unfortunately, the shop had two parallel counters with a narrow space in between. I was trying to demonstrate to staff on both sides of the counter, but maneuvering was proving difficult. Everyone in the shop seemed intrigued as we showed them how it worked and told them the price. Two customers asked for my card, and I think there's a good chance that we will hear from them. The leading clerk told me several times that he was not authorized to make purchasing decisions and I'd have to meet with another staff member who was out of the office at the time. I left my card and asked them to be in touch, but I expect that I will have to follow up if I want to find the manager.

Then Brian and I headed towards the market, which I knew would be our best bet, since so many people ride their bikes to the market and shop in that area. We visited a solar goods shop called Takule Distributors first. The lady was awe-struck by the demonstration and assured us that she would have our manager call us as soon as he came to the office next week. I think we will hear from them soon. The nice part about solar goods shops is that they often have customers who don't have connections to the national power grid, who are searching for off-grid solutions for their electrical needs.

Then we went to a phone accessories shop outside the market. The shop-keeper definitely thought it was cool, but he just chuckled and shook his head when I asked if he would like to buy any. As I looked at the accessories he had on display, I noticed that everything was pretty flashy (well, I think a better word is tacky), like phone cases, headphones and so on. I think the fact that our charger isn't pink and glittery would have meant that it wasn't going to fit in at his store. But then, it seems like a shop selling fashion, rather than function.

After that we visited Malabis Solar, which was just behind the market. The shop keeper, Ayman, definitely lit up when he saw me demonstrate the design. He was very shrewd and grilled me on the design specifications. It was my first time all day discussing the product in English, rather than Kiswahili, since most people study technical features in English anyway. He bought a charger and told us that he expected to be in touch shortly to place an order. Right outside the shop, some men about my age stopped us and asked us how much we were selling the bike for. I explained to them that I wasn't selling the bike, because I needed it to demonstrate my charger. Their interest was piqued, so I showed them how it worked and told them that they could purchase their own from Malabis Solar. They definitely seemed interested.

My next stop was a phone/electronics shop where I was told that they really liked the design, but the purchases officer was out for the day. I'm sure that we'll hear from them soon. Down the street, I stopped at a solar shop where they told me that it was a nice design, but they wouldn't be interested in selling it. I decided to try a hardware store further down the street. It seemed like a longshot, but I had visited it before and I knew that the staff was friendly. The elderly couple behind the counter were definitely impressed. They said that they wouldn't sell it, but that they were confident that their son would in his phone shop near the market and gave me directions to Yusuf Communications.

I visited one more shop near the market where the man's face lit up when he saw me. He was impressed when I visited him last week, and seeing it on the bike, he kept saying it was brilliant. He was closing for the day to go to the mosque and he told me that he was going to call me very soon. Then, I raced over to visit the social security office to finish processing the company's registration. I arrived at 3:56, only to find out that the office was closing at 4. I was actually a bit relieved. I couldn't process my paperwork, but I managed to pick up a form that I needed without having to wait in line (lines move very slowly in that office). Sadly, that means one more trip to complete registration (this will be my 5th visit).

Then I headed back to the market to visit Yusuf communications. I greeted the shopkeeper and told him that I had just spoken with his father (personal connections are invaluable here) and showed him how the charger worked. He smiled and checked his cash-box. At that point, his face fell a bit and he promised that he would call me early the next week to place an order for at least 10.

I wanted to visit a nearby bicycle shop, since I had visited most other types of shops, but not the obvious candidate. Unfortunately, I realized that I was a bit dehydrated and feeling the effects of the afternoon sun, compounded by the sensation that something mild was probably living in my stomach. Moreover, I took note that Friday afternoon was probably bad timing for this type of mission, so it would make sense to make another venture and I might set up even more dealers. Still, I think the most valuable takeaway from the day was how many people saw our charger and the company and the potential for raising our profile in the area through word of mouth. I felt that I was entitled to a small celebration, so I treated myself to a Pepsi from the restaurant in town where they keep them so cold that you can feel the day melting away.