 If you're just joining us, it's WCW, a segment where we celebrate the strength of a woman. And today in studio we got a magical woman, an entrepreneur. Her name is Jacinta Njoki. You're looking lovely. Thank you, thank you very much. Welcome. Thank you. Okay, who is Jacinta Njoki? So, of course I'm a lady. I've been 25 years, just turned 25 years old recently. Basically I do picnics. That's what I'm known for. Aside from that, I'm still in school doing my masters. All right. So when did you graduate from school? Two years ago. Yeah, from De Star University. All right. What did you do in school? I did business actually. I majored in business. Become, yeah. And so where did the idea of picnics come from? So now the whole idea of picnics came from just one year after school, after graduating. My best friend wanted a picnic and she decided it's during a lockdown where all the house is not going to restaurants. So why don't you all do a picnic? And I told her, yeah, I'm up for it. Let's go design something. So the outcome was really beautiful. My friends, the ones that attended, just told me to jump into it. And that's how it all started. So after doing it, it became a business. All right. All right. So when you just came up with the idea of starting the picnics business, how did your parents take it? Like they took you to school to do business. Yeah. And then they expecting you to graduate. And then do manage finance with sabu pesa. And then you come and you're like, I want to venture into business and I'm doing picnics. So they are like picnics. They were actually very, very supportive because they had to see it first. So I made sure I created something beautiful for them to come and enjoy it. As I told them, this is what I want to do. I'm passionate about it and they blessed me. And it's been beautiful ever since. All right. So they were supportive. Very, very supportive. Okay. Yeah. So what do you actually deal in picnics? What do you deal in? So now a picnic will entail coming with a picnic table, some cushions, food, of course the cutlery, anything that a picnic comes with, but not we are elevating. Now picnics are not being done the same as they used to be done before just with a regular shuka. Now it's being elevated. We want something quite exquisite. So now that's all that it entails basically. Okay. So like you say, the events were being done before like with shukas and all that. Okay. So how have you modernized your business? Of course now it comes with things like candles, some flowers, how you're displaying even the napkins. You know it's sort of mimicking how a restaurant would be but not in a picnic way. But now you're able to enjoy that kind of setup but now it's just a picnic. Okay. So where do you get your deco? Just locally actually. Do you design it yourself? Yes, yes. I come up with a design that I preferably like. I just share it with probably my tailors. Because I was looking at some of your videos on Instagram and they were so, so tremendous. Thank you. And then I saw somewhere saying that you designed them then I was like okay. Yeah, yeah. Actually this one must be a gift. It is, it is and I'm really thankful for it. Okay. So social media, it has, we are in an era where social media is actually impacting so much on so many businesses. So how has it impacted on your business? It's really been good especially because when I started that's why I just went to immediately posted on social media like Instagram and now people shared this. And through sharing I was able to get different clients, people who are interested and at the same time they also sharing and that's how many people knew about the business. So it has been really been, it has been so good to me because now many people know about it. Yeah. Okay. So like the picnics. Yes. You do. How, what are your charges like if someone wanted a birthday, do you have like a specific or a range? So I have a range because you have different packages with the people who prefer to be exquisite. They want probably some, some snacks there. They want maybe a bottle of wine, the kind of carpets they'd go for. So it all depends what one is going for. And for example from 2 to 4 people it's going to range from 3500 to around 8000 depending on what you'd like. Okay. Yeah. So picnics, they are so competitive today it being that they are travel agencies and all that. How are you managing competition? So first of all I was able to rebrand and to brand myself in a way that actually get this a lot from people. Like they'll pass by and see a picnic and they'd know it's me because of the items that I use are quite unique. And also again our customer service and also our prices are very friendly. You know starting it during that time I hadn't seen many people starting it. So I made the prices very user friendly. Now with this people, people really, really reacted to it very well and they wanted it. So with that already I created in terms of competition already people would see that this is, this are friendly prices, the items are quite unique. So that's how so far that's how I've been dealing with it. Okay. Yeah. Okay when you say unique, what's so unique? What's so unique in terms of nowadays you'll see maybe people won't choose pallets. I won't choose pallets. I have my own tables that are specific so that they are unique to my brand. In terms of the sizes of the pillows, in terms of the colors, the textures like you can tell they're just not the random ones. You know maybe if you want a glass of water you'll all go for the same but I'll go to an extra edge to make sure that mine is unique. Alright. So when we, when most people go online do you like book, do they book with you before? Yes yes you have to book before to make a reservation with us. So especially if you stand online it's quite easy to send a photo then this is what we want to do. We want a picnic for this package. Just tell them this is the amount you have a location. Yes yes then booking is done immediately and people just come and enjoy the picnic. Okay. Yes. So how has the business, okay you say before you did finance back in school. So how are you managing business and finance and your job at the same time? So you'll find that people won't do picnics every other time. Like for example it's on a Monday maybe you'll just get one person two people just doing it. So during weekends when we are mostly busy between Monday and Monday to Friday that's when now I do my other job. So you manage to juggle this? Yes yes I'm able to juggle it. Okay. Yes. So like are you planning to go back to school and maybe? Yes well I'm still in school as I said. Okay. Yes with my master so who knows if I'll go back to do a Ph.D. I don't know. Only time will tell. Okay. Yes. So you started the business. Okay actually when did you, I didn't ask that when did you start the business how old is your business? So it's about to turn one year next month I started in September 26th. Last year. Last year yes. During Covid. During Covid. So how has Covid affected you? Actually affected positively because now that's when people who are indoors they are not doing anything. The restaurants all no all hangout joints have been closed. The places that people are friendly to go are gardens. So now that's when I realised I can't tap into this market because this is where people are during weekends. So Covid has actually been a blessing in disguise to me. Exactly. So like you never miss out on guests like business for you it has boomed during the pandemic. Yes during the pandemic it has boomed and that's when I actually launched it. Wow. It has been a blessing exactly. Yes in disguise. So they say that the customer is always right. Have you encountered this type of a customer or a client who really wants what he wants or what she wants and that is it. Yes I have every other day. I do because no people are different. My customers are different this is what they want and at the end of the day being on social media you have to be very careful because if you don't say that customer is not right it's just within just one word and it can destroy your name. So for me the customer is always right and I always try to reason with what they are saying. Okay so who are your most clients? In terms of the age. So from 25 to 34 those are my most clients because now this is when people are celebrating things like bridal showers, baby showers, anniversaries, engagements. So those are my most clients they vary between that age. Okay so have you like done the picnics for celebrities? Yes I have. They reach out many of them actually. Yes and it's always a good experience. Okay. So can you just give us a few? A few? Okay just the recent weekend I did for Wahoo and Imless. The daughter was turning 15 years. So yeah we did a collaboration I did the birthday for her, previous living with over 25. Just to mention a few. Yeah they are quite a number. So what are some of the picnics that you organized and they stood out for you. You are like this one it was the best. It was the best. Well of course I always aim to create the best for each and every client. So I'd say all of them because you see also in terms of how the client receives it. Like if they are happy I am happy and it's the best thing for me. So we aim to always have the best picnic decoration at every event that you make. Regardless if you are two, if you are four. Just make a magical experience. Okay. So like most of the time we are in an era where you find that you post something on social media and someone has not, okay in short let me just put it this way. Have you encountered bullies? Like someone sees whatever you've posted and then you see like this one is just a no. It's a no. Yeah there are people like that. Like I remember the time I posted, then someone was like what if it rains? Like alafukunyeshe. You know? Which is of course it happens it can rain. But then of the day we are very optimistic and you know we say in case it rains you can always push it or we reschedule it. So that's just the only thing that I've encountered. But mainly it's just been positive vibes. It's just been positive. Okay. So like how much money did you put into the business when you're starting up? Okay I started with 120,000. And at that time I targeted only 20 people like 20 packs picnic. So this includes 20 pillows, 20 plates, 20 glasses. Yeah that's what I started with. Everything that entailed 20 people. Okay. So like in most cases you find that birthdays we say like for example you're organizing a birthday or you're organizing a bridal shower. You find that most clients will come with what they want. So do you allow your clients to choose like their decor or you give them what you have? No actually give them a list of the colors that we have. The kind of different packages that we have because just don't have one package. We've targeted every person in the market. So if you want red and white this that you want some petals thrown over. So we have a variety our clients can choose from. So now what you don't do is food because now food is going to limit our client. And so it's quite sensitive. So now for that you just tell the client you are allowed to come with your own food or even choose a certain chef that you prefer to do your food. Okay. So I had just forgotten to ask that like for birthdays do they come with their cakes? You allow it if someone wants to. If you want your own cake you bring it. But now of course if you don't have any idea we give you a list of people we've worked with before now you can choose from them. What about the venues? Venues as well. So now we don't limit you don't tell you that is the only venue that you can use. We also give a list of the venues that you've worked with before. And also if you have your own preferred venue for example you want a place in Karen, a place in Muru. You're allowed to choose. All right. So what motivates you to do all this? I'd say passion. Because you're doing, you're just about 25 years old and you're ready in business like some, you're doing your masters. Like some of us don't know what you are doing when you are just 25 years. Well we never know anyway but you see now with passion at least you become even more aligned because you have so much fire for that because you love it. You don't feel like you're working. You rather time you'd wake up and you know answer calls whatever time it is because you don't even feel like you're working. It motivates me also the fact that I see at the end of the day people appreciate my work. Ya you know when you feel appreciated, you feel so motivated you feel like this is something that you're doing and also knowing your heart that it makes you happy. Exactly. Okay. I guess your motivation to so many young people out there who just like feel maybe their dream might have come to an end at the age of, at a younger age than you. Ya. So picnics. You find that most of the time they are, most agencies are still coming up day in, day out. Ya. So as for you combating competition, the future of your company you have to know like what is in plan for you for most people coming up. You just 25 years, your company is just one year old and you're ready doing fine. So like what are you doing to combat competition in future? So now as time is going by many people are starting to do this business and if I compare with how we started and where we are at now we've really really grown in terms of even the items that we use, the cutlery. So now with this looking forward, you'll see that many other people is that the business and now I have to stay ahead of the game of course coming up with new ideas and also targeting now the older age people who are above 60, they can't do the pillows, they probably won't sit. So am I flexible enough to deliver that? Probably 10 people, just 10 people they can't have a whole event company to come and do decoration. We just want something small. I'm able to adjust to that. So now these are the things that I'm looking forward to already making plans for that. Okay. Ya. Alright. So like at 25 year old are you dating and is the person in support of whatever you're doing? Yes, I'm actually engaged. Ya and he is quite supportive. We are a whole team. So now for example we have different setups. We are able to branch into different places and at the end of the day deliver. Ya. So what are some of the challenges that you have faced in your business? In your business so as I mentioned earlier when it rains and for example sister gathering of like four people and they didn't even need attend being a whole picnic they just wanted to be outdoors quite suddenly they just enjoy the whole experience. So now once it rains that's done or we have to push it. Now apart from that being time where there's a whole pandemic people contact COVID. So that means they reschedule their bookings they can't come to the picnic. Ya so now those are the problems and of course what you all experience daily as you said you know about the customer you have to be really understanding and be patient with them. Ya. And so with the talking of COVID the regulations that are in place like a certain number of people has it affected you in a way? Well I wouldn't say so because now you see being a picnic you'll just find probably just five people eight people they want to gather Ya it's not like a wedding where there's 600 people Ya so now with that at least you're able to manage the numbers in terms of how you space them and also speak to them and tell them please be careful during this time. Yes. And I've seen that you cook too so did you go to school to study the culinary skills? No actually we don't cook we have somebody who does that so what we major on is doing the arrangements the tables I know we've not even gone to school for that what we do is between ourselves just you know through seeing videos on YouTube and some inspirations Ya. So I guess that you are an inspiration to so many girls out there and even boys too who have gone to school they've done their degrees they're sleeping on them they work hard from in town each and every morning but they can't find a job you can just talk to them you look at that camera talk to them, encourage them and just give an advice a word of advice to them and then you remind us your social media handles and where they can find you Okay okay so now my advice would be really don't give up and especially if you passionate go with that because passion is what is going to drive you each and every day and never stop trying knock on that door don't give up Ya that would be my major advice you can find us on social media especially Instagram as picnics by Njoki or WhatsApp number there are our calls you can call us and you can book a picnic with us Thank you Okay so I'm sure that our viewers have been you have been informed you have been educated and you have learnt one or one or two things and we thank Jacinta for coming and just encouraging young boys and girls out there to venture into business and one thing that I would want to say is that when you thinking of going into business don't fear failure because in life you should never create room for failure but never leave room for never leave room for regret sorry so it's been Y254 in the morning WCW keep engaging with us on our social media platforms at Y254 channel I've been your host at Fetun Soli on social media platforms Up next is Kaisu with Girl's Talk