Lilian Wangeci began selling solar lanterns in her village in Ngurubani, central Kenya. Demand was high, but she struggled to raise money to buy good quality products from reputable dealers, and to find customers who could afford to pay for them upfront.

So we introduced Lilian to solar light supplier Greenlight Planet, manufacturer and supplier of solar pay-as-you-go (PAYG) products. She became one of the company’s sales officers, which means she could stock lanterns without having to pay the company upfront. The PAYG products that she sells accepts repayments from customers over an agreed period, typically six to 36 months. The products can be monitored and controlled remotely, which makes payment easy and helps to reduce the risk of non-repayments.

We also helped her with her business and marketing skills to raise her professionalism and build trust between her and the company.

“The Energy 4 Impact training has given me the confidence to approach potential buyers and talk about the cost-effectiveness of quality solar products, and to explain the payment terms and the installation process,” says Lilian. “It has also boosted my credibility with my suppliers.”

Lillian’s sales have since tripled and she has now started selling other products such as briquettes and improved cookstoves.