Friends of Ngong Road

Providing education and support to Nairobi children living in poverty whose families are affected by HIV/AIDS.

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Karibu Corner

Business Update 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt business performance in Kenya and the world at large. At Karibu Loo, the short-term event-based business has experienced the largest downturn due to the restrictions placed on public gatherings put in place by the government. However, with the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, the economy is starting to gain traction, potentially allowing short-term business to sprout once again.

Social Media Marketing

In 2021, we launched a digital marketing campaign, including Google Ads, a beefed-up Google advertising campaign. The aim of this strategy was to establish a robust and diversified online presence. We are also planning on engaging other social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Non-commissionable business (no salespersons attached) accounted for over 80% of our revenue since its inception.

Long-term Business Update

Since the onset of the pandemic, Karibu Loo has survived on long-term business (loos hired for more than 30 days). In our 2021 Plan, we focused on pursuing more long-term businesses, especially construction companies. Our successful online marketing strategy and engagement of all our staff to market our services by making direct calls and sending emails to reach targeted clients has resulted in a continued increase in long-term business.  Thus, the business has continued during these challenging times. Currently, we have about a quarter of our cabins leased out and we are receiving more long-term inquiries as the year progresses. 

Staff Update on COVID-19

Unfortunately, two of Karibu Loo’s staff contracted COVID-19 but later recovered after 14 days of medical leave; they are now back in operation. Currently, we are encouraging all our staff to be vaccinated, with a goal of 100% vaccinated by the end of the year as vaccines are now more accessible.

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Karibu Corner

Business update 

WIth the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines and with much of the world gradually lifting lockdown and restrictions, the Kenyan economy had started to gain traction. We were hopeful that 2021 business performance would improve, but in March 2021 a second COVID wave came and  restrictions were re-imposed. As a result, business declined in April and May as many event planners and companies canceled events.

One major trend since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and leading into 2021 is increase of long-term rentals.  These are mostly construction  companies which have continued operating and renting loos throughout the downturn. This has enabled Karibu Loo to survive during the pandemic.    

Digital Marketing Campaign 

While business was challenging in 2020, it was critical to prepare for the future. To set ourselves up for success, we launched a digital marketing campaign to raise awareness and generate new sales. We believe once we have fully implemented this online marketing campaign, it will yield results in both the short term and the future, post COVID-19.

The campaign is being managed in Kenya with help of U.S. digital marketing volunteers. With the easing of COVID restrictions and our digital marketing campaign starting, business has begun to pick up in June with July looks promising.. 

The campaign continues using humor. Our Chief Creative Volunteer, Steve Kotvis, has developed Google Search ads like: 

“Today’s my wedding day, when I say “I do”,  don’t forget Karibu Loo”

“Count on your crew, Gotta go #1, Gotta go #2. Remove the phew, call Karibu Loo”.

We monitor response rates and poor performing ads are eliminated and replaced with new ones. 

The number of people calling and emailing to enquire about our services and pricing rates has been increasing, and sales are improving. 

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Karibu Loo Corner – Spring 2021

With the easing of COVID restrictions the business has continued to improve. Now that larger gatherings are permitted the event-based business serving weddings, funerals, church services and house parties has resumed. Clients such as the YMCA have begun hosting events and training courses. We even had one marathon event.  

Construction sites are also becoming more active as the economy revives. Our client list continues to expand to include various types of construction projects, such as new embassy buildings, highways and office buildings.  

All of our core staff remain with the business. Through the leadership of Steve Muendo, his loyal crew are keeping up as the business grows.

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Karibu Loo Business Update

Karibu Loo Business Continues to Stabilize and Grow
October was the fourth profitable month in a row for Karibu Loo. The business seems to have found its footing and is now a growing young business in a pioneering area.

Winner of “Best Sanitation Provider in Kenya” Award
In September the team applied for and won the Kenyan hospitality industry’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Award for the “Best Sanitation Provider in Kenya”. The team was presented the award at a dinner event, which all the managers proudly attended. Since winning the award, the marketing staff have blasted the news out as an email to all current and prospective clients, featured it on the website and on Facebook. It is a source of pride for the whole organization.

 

 

 

Social Media Marketing Fueling Success
While our Business Development Manager remains focussed on institutional sales (especially schools and construction companies), a growing part of the business is coming from our emphasis on social media marketing. Maureen Mulieve, our Executive Director, hired a Google expert who has significantly increased our online presence and effectiveness. Our phone started ringing so much that we have had to go to a new phone system to keep up with the calls from individual customers and businesses. That combined with our MICE Award have helped both institutional and event driven sales.

Our Staff have become a Marketing Tool!
One of the key differentiators for Karibu Loo is that we hire only our program graduates for field work. Our Senior Associates accompany every delivery and set up the units at the events or construction sites. To amplify our presence, we bought Karibu Loo branded overalls for the four young men who drive our trucks and deliver our units. Our customers gave us immediate positive feedback on having our workers in their new bright-red branded overalls. Associates have always worn red t-shirts with the Karibu Loo logo, but when the weather is bad the kids put on rain gear, which immediately covers up the logo. We are buying raincoats for the Associates to wear and gain exposure for the brand at the same time.

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Karibu Loo Update – July 2019

June was a good month for Karibu Loo.  Although we did not yet recapture the BATUK business we have been able to build up our long-term business with a wide variety of companies. We now have 9 long-term clients, mostly 

construction companies, including a “test” siting with one of the large Chinese construction companies working in Nairobi.  When that is successful it will lead to expanded business at their other sites. 

In addition we had several major short term events.  The largest was a marathon that contracted for 80 units for two days.  Because it was held a considerable distance from Nairobi the organizers paid transport and other fees in addition to the rental charge.  The Karen Country Club, located near our offices, also had a major event that rented 22 units for four days. Schools have become a major source of business and we hope this will increase as we enter graduation season (November/December).  A major shout-out to our Operations staff (mostly former NRCF students) who work all night, evenings, and weekends to keep the business running.