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No sleep? I got you covered, says premium bedsheets seller
Lilian Kemunto, the founder of Kiki’s Mall, displays some of the products that she imports and sells in Mombasa.
Ms Lilian Kemunto, also known as Kiki or Kiki The Lioness, is a passionate entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in global trade and product sourcing.
She imports various items that include bedsheets and sells them at wholesale prices to various people in Kenya and across East Africa.
Kemunto, who operates the business under the name Kiki’s Mall, located in Mombasa, began her entrepreneurship journey in 2013, focusing initially on general merchandise before specialising in premium quality bedsheets.
“I started small, reinvesting profits progressively, with distribution networks that span across East Africa. Our bedsheets are packaged under multiple brand lines, including luxury and vintage collections,” she says.
Kemunto says she was not directly introduced to the business, but saw a market gap and an unfulfilled need for premium quality bedsheets in the region. “This inspired me to create a brand that emphasises comfort, aesthetics and affordability,” she says.
“I believe everyone deserves a good night’s sleep wrapped in luxury. With bedding being an everyday essential in homes, hotels, hospitals and schools, I saw a unique opportunity to provide a quality product that directly enhances people’s comfort. Kenya had limited access to genuine, durable, and designer bedding, so I decided to bridge that gap,” adds Kemunto.
She says that while she began with second-hand imports, she swiftly transitioned into brand new designer-crafted bedsheets.
“We now focus exclusively on custom-designed, factory-fresh products that elevate the aesthetic and comfort of any bedroom. Currently, we import mainly from Canada, sourcing a range of products, including printed, designer sets, mix and match combinations, fitted sheet collections, white stripe and plain white varieties. All our designs are carefully curated to match current home décor trends,” she says.
Quality verification
During procurement, the entrepreneur travels personally as part of a three to five-month cycle. The first trip that she makes is for sourcing, negotiation and quality verification.
“We do not place online orders. All our procurement is done physically, with face-to-face meetings and product verification. I make a second trip during production completion to ensure quality control and proper shipment documentation. This hands-on approach maintains consistency and eliminates risk. “The entire process from sourcing to delivery in Kenya takes approximately three to five months, depending on production timelines and global shipping conditions,” says Kemunto.
However, there are some challenges that she has experienced in this venture, including high import taxes and levies, fluctuating US Dollar exchange rates, skepticism from online buyers due to fraud, delays in regional deliveries and volatile international shipping costs.
But according to Kemunto, the challenges have only strengthened their operations, systems and customer education efforts.
“Our clientele ranges from small-scale resellers to hotels, schools, and homeowners. We primarily reach them through digital marketing on platforms such as Facebook (Kiki’s Mall), Instagram, WhatsApp Business, TikTok. We post product videos and visuals daily, backed by referrals and client testimonials,” she says.
Luxury printed bedsheet bales
The entrepreneur says that they operate strictly on a wholesale model, allowing their clients to purchase in bales at distributor prices, and most of them then retail the products individually.
She reveals that their luxury printed bedsheet bales are sold for Sh30,000 (20 pairs) each, mix and match bedsheet bales are sold for Sh30,000 (20 pairs) each, duvet bales are sold for Sh26,000 (10 sets) each, and duvet cover bales are sold for Sh49,000 (20 sets) each. She adds that each pair includes two bedsheets and four pillow cases.
Kemunto reveals that their import volume varies, depending on market demand, ranging from one to three tonnes per shipment.
“We also offer a curated range of pre-order items, including household goods from China, beauty products from the USA, premium luxury furniture, men’s and ladies’ shoes. We assist clients in sourcing and importing these products at a small service fee,” she says.
Kemunto says she has four full-time staff under the bedsheet division, plus a team of approximately 20 part-time workers who assist during shipments and offloading.
She has a piece of advice for those who would like to try their hands on such a venture – that is to start small and stay consistent.
“You can begin with as little as Sh15,000, buying 10 pairs and making a profit of around Sh10,000. You don’t need a physical store to start - your social media platforms are your digital shopfronts. Leverage them with authenticity and consistency,” the entrepreneur advises.
“My long-term vision is to launch a chain of household-only supermarkets across all counties in Kenya -providing affordable, premium lifestyle goods under one roof. I also aim to mentor and empower more women to venture into product-based businesses and imports,” she reveals.
