Background
Amina runs a small stationery shop in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam. She has been selling school supplies for over 10 years, relying on walk-in customers and word of mouth. Every January, she would see a surge in customers — but also long queues, stock shortages, and frustrated parents.
"I knew there were more parents who needed what I had," she says. "But they didn't know I existed."
The Challenge
Amina's shop was well-stocked and competitively priced, but her reach was limited to the immediate neighborhood. Parents from schools 2–3 km away rarely made the trip unless they had no other option.
She also struggled with inventory management. Without a system, she would often run out of popular items during peak season and have excess stock of slower-moving products.
Joining Shuleyetu
After hearing about Shuleyetu from a fellow vendor, Amina registered her shop and uploaded her full inventory. Within a week, she received her first online order from a parent in Sinza — a neighborhood she had never served before.
"I was surprised. Someone found me online and ordered without even coming to the shop first."
The Results
Within the first school term after joining Shuleyetu:
By the end of the year, Amina estimates her revenue had roughly doubled compared to before joining the platform.
What Made the Difference
Amina credits three things:
Advice for Other Vendors
"Upload your full inventory, not just a few items. Parents want to do all their shopping in one place. If you only have 10 items listed, they'll go to a vendor with 50."
She also recommends keeping stock quantities accurate. "If you show something as in stock and it isn't, parents get frustrated. Keep it updated."
*Interested in joining Shuleyetu as a vendor? [Sign up here](/auth/login).*