For about twenty years Caroline Kimani has been selling flowers at the city market, mostly depending on referrals from frequent customers.
When the internet became the in thing for marketing, Kimani was forced to join swim along by advertising her flowers online.
Since then, Miana who is representative of about 60 florists at the City Market has been available to serve her customers at her stall but also getting orders from online customers.
“I have been using Sh1,000 every two weeks to buy the data bundles so that I can send invoices to customers and type of flowers for those who see them on my Facebook page,” she explained.
Her customer’s online include husbands abroad who want to surprise their wives in Kenya or boyfriends who have their partners in the country.
While her local customers include bereaved families, wedding ceremonies, birthdays and offices within the city centre.
Kimani is now happy following the move by government to launch free internet at the city market led by ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.
She said the free public Wi-Fi will save her about Sh2000 a month thus improving her business.
Other traders who are enjoying the free internet are fish mongers, curio shop owners, butcher, hoteliers and other businesses around the city market.
CS Owalo said as part of Kenya Kwanza pledges with the launch of free Wi-Fi at the City market, the Muthurwa market and all constituencies in Nairobi so as to enhance and facilitate e-commerce using technology.
