Fransisca Ochieng’ moved from the United States to Kenya in 2014 to work for a financial services firm which doubles as an audit company. Little did she know that getting “natural” quality skin care products locally was going to be an uphill task.
It was upsetting that the investment banking professional could not get her favourite brands from the local market. At some point, she bought beauty products that had harmful chemicals, and had to dispose them off.
That is how she developed a keen interest in starting Lheritier, a skincare company. Her first natural product was the Osmanthus eau de Parfum, a woody, floral, citrus fragrance, which sits well with both men and women.
During an interview with the Nairobi Business Monthly at Hilton Double Tree on Ngong’ road, Ms Ochieng’ said the need for quality beauty products was the inspiration behind the idea of opening the firm.
“If you have $10,000 (Sh1.1mn), you can start a beauty and cosmetics company and launch even tomorrow,” she says. “Having gained work experience, and with good savings, I decided to explore and research on quality beauty products.”
Ms. Ochieng’ revealed that she used part of her savings to start the business. It was 2019. To those who have an interest in entrepreneurship but are unable to raise start-up capital, she says, nuclear family should come in handy. But how is she managing? How has the company grown?
“I would like to say that we grew to an extent that we saw the opportunity and started sourcing for these components (referring to shea butter and vanilla extract) from Madagascar, Rwanda to bring them to one place for manufacturing purposes. We also find Uganda based shea butter option to be very easy. The skin eats it and it melts. Therefore, we know where to get these ‘clean’ raw products that we use in manufacturing quality products.”
By training, Ms. Ochieng’ is an investment banker who graduated from Boston with a double major in BSc. Finance/Management. She worked in the strategy statutory wing and developed strategy, operating models for certain county governments, and participated in stock trading and derivatives. The Master’s degree holder in “Investment Management” from the Class Business School, University of London was also part of the team that advised Ford motors on how to enter the Kenyan market. She spent her childhood in the US.
In addition, she is a founding member of Wellness Republic Africa and a volunteer mentor at Mandela-Washington Fellowship (YALI) started by former US President, Obama where she mentors young visionary African leaders.
Her products are available at Africa Lifestyle Hub located on the first floor of the new wing at the Village, and True Cosmetics shop at Sarit Centre. Customers can also buy their fragrance, skin care and make-up products online via https://lheritier1789.com.
Of her time in the banking sector, she says, “I have worked in the financial sector for a while, and I enjoy doing stock trading and derivatives. Besides that, I have been a key business driver especially in the financial sector.”
With five employees, her idea is to expand and become a big brand in the beauty industry. Her aim is to help clients experience botanical excellence. Although her biggest client base is within Kenya and East African countries such as Uganda and Tanzania, her firm has been able to service clients from the US, Japan, India, Thailand, Russia, UK, France, and more.
“Locally, we are doing business to consumers (B2C). Outside the country, we have been business to business (B2B) so we have distributors. Some are in California, some in London to push consumers on our behalf. It is a good investment. Our customers have been very, very happy. We haven’t experienced any attempt of sabotage. I am also glad that we are changing the manufacturing appeal of Kenya to the world,” she says.
But amidst the good tidings, there are challenges. “It is a market full of chest pains. You can copy but you can’t sustain it,” she says.
