The lockdown helped me learn how to run a retail shop

BUSINESS|FINANCES

The Coronavirus lockdown left schools closed for over 6 months and teachers stranded, some of whom without income to sustain their families.

Edward Mayanja a Mathematics teacher from Cornerstone Junior School, Mukono went into trading.

Mayanja says that the lockdown was unexpected and he had not prepared for a long time without earning.

"I was used to a daily routine and that was cut off without notice. It took me a month to actually accept that the teaching job was not about to resume. My hopes of schools re- opening faded with time," he said.

When the president extended the lockdown during his address to the nation for his second time, Mayanja was forced to think out of the box.

"I had to get something else to do as I waited for the schools to re-open," he said. "I was lucky I had savings from the coffee I grew in 2014 on a half-acre of land in Masaka. I sold it off and invested in dealing in produce. During the lockdown, there were lots of food stuffs from villages and prices were down due to the restrictions."

Mayanja bought cereals like beans, cowpeas, as well as flour of maize, cassava millet and wheat. He says customers kept advising him on what items to buy. He sold some at wholesale price and for others, he started a retail shop.

"It is unbelievable that, while people were struggling with poverty and diminishing sources of money due to the lockdown, my business was booming. I got buyers throughout and would be busy throughout the day," he said.

His wife, Mary Desire Nalubega was supportive. She joined him in running the shop while he chased after buying commodities from Busoga where prices were cheap.

"The lockdown enabled me realise how I can actually run a retail shop besides my teaching profession. I wondered why I always put all my eggs in one basket. I also learned how to cater to my customers. It is different from a classroom where you are the king and everybody has to listen to you.

In trading, the customer is king so, you have to be humble, wrap their goods and carry them to their preferred destinations. Ideally, any customer who offers you their attention, must be retained as you look for new customers," he advised.  
Mayanja says he can make sh150,000 - sh200,000 in profits a day.

"My advice to fellow teachers is that if you can don't overspend," he said. "Save as much as you can and start some income-generating activity. We need a side business even after schools reopen, instead of lamenting about little or delayed salaries."
Mayanja is ready to return to class when schools re-open.

"I will go back to the classroom because I love teaching naturally. But I will keep my business running because it has taught me many things especially, the value of money. I now spend less and save more. With this investment culture, I expect to do better," he said.
Nalubega says  trading was a brilliant idea.

"It has taught us a lot. I have gained more skills such as customer care, profit estimation and market prediction. We have agreed with my husband that I run the shop when the schools re-open. He will continue teaching. He can join me whenever he is free. We have to take this business as far as it can go. My dream is to turn it into a serious wholesale business. Thank God the number of customers is growing by the day," she said.