Some of the most resourceful people you’ll ever meet in Ghana are small business owners: from fried yam sellers by the roadside to construction workers on busy job sites. Every Day Earners are constantly finding ways to grow, even when money is tight.
In today’s economy, however, a smartphone is one tool that has become almost essential for the success of small business owners. The good news is that with M-KOPA phones, business owners are experiencing rapid growth.
Here are 5 ways Ghanaian business owners are using M-KOPA phones to grow.
1. Advertising online
If customers can’t see what you do, they won’t hire you. That was the struggle for Seth Nana Abaidoo, who works in road construction and excavation. His uncle owns an excavation company where he worked, however, He was using a feature phone which caused him to lose potential contractors because he couldn’t share pictures of his previous work.
“People were not calling me for work because they don’t see the work that I do,” he shared.
Once he got his Samsung A12 through M-KOPA, everything changed. He could finally take pictures and make videos of his construction work. He could now document projects, share proof of his skills, and attract more contractors.
“After I purchased the M-KOPA phone, I was able to get more jobs to do, people contracted me for business.”
The result?
His income jumped from GHC 50 per day to as much as GHC 500 daily, helping him support his family and pay his children’s school fees. Not wanting to keep this opportunity to himself, Seth went on to introduce 8 friends to M-KOPA and all of them have purchased an M-KOPA phone.
2. Promoting business through social media
Food sellers, like Gloria Afortey, thrive on daily customers to keep the wheel of their business running. Gloria sells fried yam at Mungua Kingsway, and she says her M-KOPA phone has become her advertising partner.
“The M-KOPA phone has helped in advertising my business. I post my fried yam business on TikTok and on my WhatsApp status, which has grown my customers.”
Before getting her M-KOPA phone, she earned about GHC 500 daily. Now, she makes GHC 700 - 800 a day (an extra 200 to 300 cedis daily), which she reinvests into buying more ingredients for her cooking.
“Through the good profit made, I was, and still am, able to purchase more yam to fry and sell and also buy more of the oil and fish for the business.”
Her business grew significantly over such a short period of time that she even purchased two additional phones from M-KOPA, Samsung A03 and A05.
3. Staying in touch with customers and reports
Being able to consistently communicate with clients is important for service-based workers like Eric Asiwome Akpaglo, a building constructor who also sells building materials including cement, sand, and iron rods.
He lost his old phone, then bought an M-KOPA phone with which he rebuilt his business communication.
“I must say losing my first phone was hurtful because I lost customers’ numbers, screenshots of receipts that are meant for customers, and a notepad where I kept records. There was a customer I needed to complete accounting for regarding the items he was buying from me but there wasn’t any record of it anymore. This affected me financially. Since I bought the M-KOPA devices, I have seen progress and positive impact in so many ways.”
Now, he uses WhatsApp to share product photos, receipts, and updates with customers, which has made him easily accessible and available. He also uses the phone to check information about the weather before molding blocks for construction.
“With the improvement of my business, I am now able to make an income of GHC 30,000 in a week unlike with my old phone which didn’t have a strong battery, I tend to miss deals and calls from my customers for business opportunities, so I was making about GHC 10,000 to GHC 15,000 in a week then.”
Eric also shared how he uses his phone to read about successful businessmen like Aliko Dangote, making the phone a source of encouragement for him to keep going.
4. Showcasing creative work to attract more clients
Creative business owners, especially fashion designers, hairstylists, etc need visibility because customers want to see what you can do before they place an order. And in today’s market, that happens mostly online.
For Abbey Anani, a 39-year-old fashion designer based in Lashibi Community 17, who had to rely on a non-Android dumb phone, lack of visibility almost cost him his business.
“People were not seeing my posts anymore, and they thought I was out of business.”
Without access to WhatsApp and other social media platforms, Abbey couldn’t receive dress inspiration from clients or share new designs to attract orders.
Once he got the M-KOPA Samsung Galaxy A13, everything changed. With a strong camera and reliable performance, Abbey could once again take high-quality photos of his sewn dresses and post them online.
“Anytime I post my sewn dresses on social media, people admire them… and they send me their designs to sew.”
The impact was immediate. He told us; “When I was using the dump phone, in a week I made an income of GHC 1,000 but after I got the M-KOPA phone, in a week, I made an income between GHC 2,500 and 3,000.”
After getting his smartphone, his income grew by more than 150%. With the additional profit, he even purchased an electrical sewing cutting machine and portable hand-held cloth steamer, investments that enabled him to produce more quality work.
“Now I am doing well; I have been able to employ more workers and apprentices as well,” he added. The phone has helped him stay visible and competitive, while growing his fashion business.
5. Upholding honest work
Francis Dagbui Agbenyegah is a 45-year old long-distance driver between Accra and Aflao, Togo border. He used to rely on a keypad phone which he often misplaced and lost contacts, and this affected his work and ability to stay in touch with his family. And when his car develops a fault, he is unable to reach the car owner and the mechanic.
“I used to lose a lot of money to fraudster calls too,” he stated.
Then he got a smartphone from M-KOPA, a decision that changed his story.
Now, with his M-KOPA smartphone, he can send pictures of vehicle faults to mechanics, video call and stay in touch with his family while traveling, and use apps like TrueCaller to avoid fraud.
“I am enjoying M-KOPA and that is the phone I would recommend to my friends and family.”
Francis is happy because the M-KOPA phone helps him stay safe, connected, and efficient on the road.
Conclusion
Sometimes, the right phone isn’t just a phone, it’s your next business move. Join many other small business owners like Gloria and Eric, and upgrade your hustle with an M-KOPA phone.
.svg)
