Fresh graduate carves a niche in moving business

A serial social and passionate entrepreneur, Joe Mwangi, 26, founded Connect Movers in 2014 with a vision of turning the ‘small idea’ into a serious company. His passion in entrepreneurship could not let him stand formal employment even for a year after graduating from university.

His aggression to solve a societal problem revolving around offices and homes is achieving his dream, thanks to the baby steps he took a year ago.

Those steps led to the birth of Connect Movers offers solutions in moving household items and office equipment.  “Growing up, and through to my studies, I always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” says Mr Mwangi, who is the company’s CEO. “But I have to say, I did not have a clear picture of the business until I was employed at a logistics company. Here, people kept coming to ask for moving services.”

With a burning passion and a desire to offer solutions, he solicited funds from family and friends, added his little savings and had Ksh300,000, which was enough to kick him off. Today, he smiles back at the journey.

But why a moving company? “Nairobi is the regional hub. More and more people are becoming stable economically; new apartments are also on the rise. Amazingly, people are willing to pay for moving to these new places,” says Mr Mwangi at his office at Adams Arcade, Ngong Road, Nairobi.

He says attributes his success so training at Methodist University where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Procurement and Supply Chains Management in 2014.

Mr Mwangi has collaborated with his friends, some of whose generosity and messages of goodwill have kept Connect Movers relevant to the market and available at the click of a button. “I have four people with me, two are close friends (shareholders) while the other two are my employees,” he says.

Unlike established moving companies like Cube Movers or Taylor Movers, Connect Movers is still trying to find its footing in the market.

“My aim is to have a market share in the industry and probably overtake the other movers in five years,” he says.

It has not been easy to crack, though. The journey from concept to execution is evidently still on as major steps are made to ensure efficiency. However, his big break came when a client approached the company for services and paid an amount equal to his capital base. This clearly inspired the group.   “That’s the moment I realised I could make it. Since then, clients have been on and off but Connect Movers is surviving,” he explains.

The biggest challenge that they never imagined is pricing since there are no set standards.  From his market analysis, Mr Mwangi says the cost depends on items and the distance covered.

Mr Mwangi tried his hand in business while at school where he sold second hand clothes to his colleagues. “My parents inspire me, plus the fact that I have a ‘nose’ for business. The financial struggles are there but you have to move on,” he says.

Mr Mwangi and his company are on the verge of making their first million. He’s making Connect Movers to stand out in the crowd by offering quality services and fully employing his supply know-how to handle an otherwise unpredictable clientele.

He advises fellow youth to change the mindset. “Be job creators rather than job seekers,” he says. “Get focused and stay awake.”

Commanding a handful following on Facebook and Twitter are the basics of marketing for now. Connect Movers is making a name in a market that was formerly untapped but gaining popularity. He reads Who Moved My Cheese by American Stephan Johnson, maybe to understand the changes in the business world and how to react to them as they come.