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KopiBure - An Innovative Student Advertising Business

Guest post by: Fiona Mati

Article Overview: KopiBure (the name is swahili for free copies) is an advertising company that deals with advertising in Universities, Colleges and other tertiary institutions of learning in Kenya.

KopiBure - An Innovative Student Advertising Business

KopiBure (the name is swahili for free copies) is an advertising company that deals with advertising in Universities, Colleges and other tertiary institutions of learning. Kopibure manages photocopy machines on educational campuses. The business model works by using blank sides of paper that is left after students do their printing or photocopy on ordinary photocopy paper. Kopibure place adverts and messages that are relevant to this target market, at the back of those papers and the students use the front to do their printing and photocopy work.

Kopibure liaise with the many photocopy outlets in schools and come to an agreement where Kopibure can place a photocopy machine in their premises.

Kopibure\'s Peter Nduru founder recently answered a few questions regarding the background to the business and his future aspirations.

What is Kopibure?

Peter: Kopibure is an advertising agency that targets the student market in universities and colleges. We use ordinary photocopy paper to directly market products relevant to this target market. This is effective marketing because we are able to personally reach people in this market segment without necessarily talking to them.

How did you come to start this business?

Peter: I came to be in business mainly through interest. It started in high school where I would write the calligraphy on the school certificates. At the end of every term there were definitely events that were running and after writing the certificates, I would be paid 400/= at least that would get me home from school and buy me lunch on the way.

When I joined campus, in my first year, I went for an internship at a local IT firm. When I was two months on the job, I really felt like I could maybe do more out there for my self other than come to work everyday, so I decided to leave. I went back home and got into the quarry business. With the little money I got at the firm, I bought the tools that would be needed by the workmen there. So I used to carve out building stones. I definitely felt like yes, this is what I want to be doing. However, this enterprise did not go too well but I remained open minded and knew that getting into something is a gamble, it either works or it doesn\'t.

While back in school for my forth year, I came up with Kopibure and I have been working on it since.

What have you learned so far being an entrepreneur?

Peter: Since I left the IT firm I was working for, it has been a continuous learning process. From the quarry business I learned a lot about dealing with people. Working with the right people I have learned is sometimes what makes your venture pick up or fail. If you have a good team with you, it will just be about organization and then you will be off. I have also learned that with business you have to really be confident of what you have and what you are doing. People always have an opinion of what you should be doing or how you should be doing something, but that shouldn\'t be the case. If you want to pursue something, there will always be criticism, positive and negative. Take the positive, leave the negative.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your business startup?

Peter: The most challenging aspect is that of turning an idea into reality. When people come up with ideas, they look very grand in your mind and you might not take into consideration the nitty gritty details until you start implementing it. Sometimes I see that that is the point that many people may give up, because unexpected hurdles may come up but that shouldn\'t stop you. In India they say that the best teas are made from the hottest fires.

What changes do you wish to see in your business environment?

Peter: Changes I would like to see in the business environment is open mindedness. This I say from personal experience, with Kopibure, I have seen people who do not want to think out of the box, they are very rigid and don\'t want to open up to something new. So people shouldn\'t be too closed minded and should accept new ideas. Secondly, is that the leaders we have should put faith in the youth as much as they want us to have faith in them that they will lead us in the right direction, they should also have faith in the youth that we can do something given a genuine opportunity, not (grass) slashers in the name of Kazi Kwa Vijana.

What characteristics do you believe are essential for being a success?

Peter: To be a successful entrepreneur you must first have a good work ethic, and as you work you must work smart. You also must be confident in yourself. You also have to be realistic in what you are pursuing and look at all the factors with respect to the economy and all its aspects before looking for something to do. You must learn how to talk to people, you will not be in business without people. Finally you must be patient, persistent and don\'t give up

What advice would you offer to an aspiring young entrepreneur?

Peter: Advice I would give someone who wants to be in business is that they should understand what they want to do and be passionate about it and not just look at how much money they will make. You should be so passionate about it that you will try again even if you don\'t make money for a month or two, Don\'t give up.

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Article Tags: advertising, aspiring entrepreneurs, business, Kenya, students, youth entrepreneurs



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