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Anyone who’s familiar with the Nakuru-based boy group Cubanotics knows one thing about them – they’re crazy about fashion. Their sense of style quickly earned them many admirers and saw them develop a unique look as a group. In no time, what used to be improvised outfits acquired a label – TW.
 With their fame spreading, as much for their outfits as for their music, people started asking how they could get their hands on TW apparel. It was then that the fashion-passionate members of the group Paul Kamau (an engineering student) and Timothy (a tailoring apprentice) decided to exploit the business opportunity.
Thus Timam Wear was born, and the rest, as they say, is history in the making!
Concentrating on casual wear at the beginning and making only customized outfits, TW has recently moved into mass production. They have created niches for themselves including casual wear, work apparels, special sizes and sports wear. TW’s impressive clientele include TV personalities Jimmi Gathu and Tim Njiru as well as radio hosts Shaphie Weru and Maina Kageni.
But what led Kama and Timo from the lure of potentially lucrative occupations into pursuing business? Kama explains:
“The first time I went in for an engineering internship, I realized that it wasn’t my thing…I was sure, more than anything, that I wanted to do something related to fashion…”
Timothy has a similar story. He was offered a job immediately after leaving high school, but opted to go into apprenticeship as a tailor instead.
“I didn’t want to enter into a system. I felt I had something I could offer, do my own thing…” he recalls. It took three years for him to finish the course, a time that was also used to conduct market research and strengthen their contacts, before the business was finally registered in early 2007.
 Timo & Kama
Their decision to go into business was not without its challenges, chief of them being their lack of experience. Although they could turn a blind eye to that and depend on their passion, money was a more unavoidable problem. Few institutions were willing to lend them any money, and for a while, their plans almost grounded to a halt. But determined to succeed, they opted to begin with what they had. Says Kama:
“Most young people think that to start a business, you need to have huge chunks of cash available. The truth is, you can start from what you have and grow with it.”
Working an order at a time and pooling resources from friends and family, they were soon able to establish a cash-flow balance and take off.
Their biggest boost was probably training offered by EPTF, an organization that specializes in training young entrepreneurs and helping them set up businesses. From there, Timo and Kama not only learnt the basics in business management, but also got mentorship and actual hands on support.
 The future looks rather rosy for Timam Wear, if the plans its founders have are anything to go by. They are making plans to buy specialized machines, and expanding their staff, which so far has three employees. They are also in talks with their advisers and potential investors with an eye on incorporating the business soon, and hiring professionals to run it.
“We want to be able to build even more from this business…generations after us should be able to benefit from it”, they explain.
Kama and Timo are full of advice for young people, tips they have picked up as they’ve dared to step out. The most important thing, they say, is to ensure that one has credible and trustworthy advisers; people who’ve walked the road one wishes to walk and can direct them. They issue a stern warning: anyone who thinks they can make it alone is doomed to fail!
Knowledge ranks high in their estimation, urging young people who want to go into business to invest in learning – not necessarily school-based, but getting information from people who’ve done it, reading business books and articles and generally keeping yourself informed.
To these they add the importance of planning, packaging your vision in such a way that you can sell it to other people, and surrounding yourself with people who can help you achieve your dreams.
Their final word:
“Until you overcome fear, you will never be able to go anywhere! Usigwaye, that’s our motto!”
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» 3 Comments
1Comment
at Saturday, 04 October 2008 08:28
eh.....timam! tume toka mbali. this is some big news. dadi... you folks are up on the big buck. keep yo heads up and continue topping the industry. im proud o\\\'you.
timo leta leta
2"sir"
at Saturday, 10 January 2009 09:54
Timam is on point. I however want to know more about this particular enterprise. Of essence, the brain children behind the concept i.e Timo n Kama. Maybe u guyz would revert with ua e-mail addresses we discuss bizna abit?
3"MONIKA"
at Friday, 30 October 2009 09:02
We are manufacturer- supplier of BAGS/JEWELLERY/CUSHION COVER/BELTS/BEACH WEAR. You may see our profile and products at
www.indianbagsnjewellery.com
www.bagsnjewellerymanufacturer.com
We look forward to hear from you.
Kind Regards
Ravi Bafana
TAURUS MART INDIA PVT LTD
FS-1, PLOT-9,SECTOR-3
VIASHALI
GHAZIABAD NCR- DELHI-201010
INDIA
Tel: 0091 9871029609
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