Starting a business is never an easy task. It requires determination, hard work, and most importantly, financial support. For Eric Mwangi, founder of Maridady Motors, his success story would not have been possible without the support of his wife.
Mwangi’s interest in selling cars started immediately after clearing high school. He began working with his former teacher who was involved in importing and selling vehicles. While working as a marketer for his teacher, Mwangi also pursued courses in Business Computing and Public Relations.
“He used to give me work to advertise vehicles on newspapers since those days we were not exposed to the internet like now,” he said.
A few months into the business, the teacher got a phone for Mwangi which he would use to communicate with potential clients.
For many entrepreneurs, getting the capital to start a business is a major challenge. Eric Mwangi, the founder of Maridady Motors, faced this same challenge when he began his journey in the car dealership business.
Mwangi started his business with the help of a friend and a small loan that he received from a SACCO he was working for. With Sh. 200,000 in hand, Mwangi and his friend imported their first car and shared it for personal use before they eventually sold it. After the success of that first sale, Mwangi realized the potential of importing and selling cars.
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Mwangi is married to Dr. Loice Mwangi and they have been together for over 13 years. They are blessed with three children, two daughters, and a son.
Mwangi first met his wife while conducting high school seminars where he motivated and advised students to excel in their studies. He requested his cousin to help him find a female speaker to talk to the girls, as he believed that he was better suited to talk to the boys.
His cousin introduced him to Loice, who was studying medicine at the University of Nairobi, and he obtained her phone number.
Initially, Loice did not pick up the call when Mwangi contacted her, but she later called him back after he had finished his morning run. After talking to her, Mwangi invited Loice to participate in the seminar. After the seminar, they developed a friendship which eventually led to them dating.
Years later, Mwangi had a business idea, and Loice helped him by securing a loan to start the business.
“She had an official job from the government and it was easy for her to access formal credit. She did not refuse to access that formal credit and make it available for me to start a business
“She took a loan for me to start a business; something that I’m forever thankful for. Even the day I finished paying that loan, she said, ‘not most people would do this’,” he recalled.
Mwangi expressed his gratitude for her support, stating that he was forever thankful for her assistance. Even after he had finished paying off the loan, she acknowledged that not many people would have helped him in such a manner.
Maridady Motors is not just a business; it is a symbol of Mwangi’s passion for cars and his commitment to serving the people. The dealership, located along Kiambu Road, Nairobi, offers high-quality new and used cars, a driving school, and a SACCO.
Mwangi sees his business as a way to impact and transform people’s lives. He believes that it’s not his company, but for the people, and he strives to ensure that the business serves everyone the way it’s supposed to.
Maridady Motors started small, with Mwangi operating from a small office before moving to his first showroom, which could hold about 15 vehicles. He did not have the 15 cars but invited other people to bring in their cars to fill the space, and he started selling. That’s how he started, and he has grown the business to be one of the most sought-after car dealerships in Kenya.
