This text is an excerpt from our newest e book ‘How we made it in Africa II: Actual tales of entrepreneurs turning alternative into revenue‘
Interview with Charles Antwi-Boahen
FOUNDER and CEO, KAB-FAM
Lives in: Ghana
In 2012, Charles Antwi-Boahen was working as a salesman for an air-conditioning firm in Ghana’s capital, Accra. It was not a simple job. The corporate specialised in central air-conditioning techniques for big developments equivalent to resorts, workplace blocks and hospitals. However these contracts had been laborious to safe. Antwi-Boahen didn’t obtain a hard and fast wage – he relied nearly solely on commissions for his revenue, with solely a small allowance supplied. Usually, he struggled to cowl his personal transport prices.
Whereas within the business, he got here throughout many individuals searching for to purchase cut up air conditioners – smaller techniques with indoor and outside models, generally present in houses and small companies. Nevertheless, his employer didn’t promote these merchandise.
Seeing a chance, Antwi-Boahen started searching for native suppliers of cut up air conditioners. His search led him to an equipment distributor known as Electroland, which dealt in manufacturers like Samsung. He struck a take care of the corporate below which he would ship consumers their approach and obtain a fee on every sale. He was not solely promoting air conditioners, however Electroland’s full catalogue of merchandise, together with televisions, washing machines, fridges and even cellphones.
