Businesses that reap big during school holidays
Highschoolers on holiday flock Fifa ya zus playing video games on November 1, 2024.
Whenever schools close, especially during long holidays like the one we are currently experiencing, parents often express concerns about the economic burden of having their children at home.
But in the streets of Nakuru, these same group is contributing factor to the profits some businesses are registering.
Vincent Nyaoga, a street photographer says, “Since schools closed, I’ve noticed an increase in clients, most of whom are high schoolers. This isn’t the first time this has happened; there’s usually a demand for photography services during school breaks.”
Vincent Nyaoga taking a photo of a teenager along Kenyatta avenue on November 1, 2024.
Vincent also notes, “During this time, many parents are home with their children, so they take the opportunity to book family photo sessions. That’s another way we benefit during the holidays.”
Next, we visit a movie shop on Kenyatta Avenue, where Frank Kamau is busy serving a crowd of customers.
“With schools closed, I always see high schoolers coming in to grab their favourite movies and series, eager to catch up on what they missed out on while in school. During this period, parents also come in with lists of movies and series they want to buy for their children to keep them entertained at home,” he shares.
Frank Kamau poses for a photo at his movie shop on after the interview on November 1, 2024.
Frank adds, “Since the school closure, I’ve seen a 20 percent increase in sales. From my observations, children seem particularly fond of K-Dramas and science fiction films.”
Across the street at Maombini Plaza, we meet Luke Lekishon at his PlayStation shop.
“The first few days after schools close are usually chaotic at FIFA ya Zus (the name of his shop). I experience a surge of customers, most of whom are teenagers who have just finished school. This influx typically lasts for most of the long holiday season,” he explains.
Luke continues, “For younger children in primary school, parents often drop them off to play while they run errands in the city centre. With the kids at home, it’s a peak season for me, and my sales have increased due to the high number of clients.”
It seems the saying "one man's meat is another man's poison" rings particularly true.
While parents lament the duration of the holidays, another group wishes it could be extended even longer.