Make shoe polish for cash

Wearing a sparkly pair of shoes shows that someone is clean and neat.
For a pair of shoes to sparkle, one should use shoe polish-a waxy paste or cream frequently used to polish, shine and water proof or improve and restore the appearance of leather and footwear products. It is usually made in both liquid and semi-solid form.
The most prominent type of shoe polish is Kiwi and other brands from China. However, the irony is that no brand is made locally which makes the country lose away huge bills.

Market
Leather footwear is a common product in rural and urban areas and shoe-polish is essential to improving the life and appearance of the footwear. If good quality shoe polish is locally produced, buyers cannot be an issue; what matters will be quality.
This creates an opportunity for anyone who invests in this kind of business because it has a huge market in the country.
Uganda Investment authority if one invests in this business will be assured of a ready market from several households, schools and security organisations.

Investment
So, what does it take to start this kind of business? Financial analysts say for this kind of investment, one needs to establish a fully-fledged shoe polish manufacturing facility is estimated at $10,000 to $20,000 (Shs36 million –Shs72 million) depending on the size.
This means one has to start producing at a capacity of 60,000 kilogrammes of polish annually thus bringing in revenue worth $98,842 (Shs352 million). This implies that every month one will be getting Shs29 million.
Mr Charles Ocici, executive director Enterprise Uganda, in his advice to people who would invest in this business is to look out for the right technology and raw materials.
“Right technology and quality raw materials will make your product the market leader because it is huge from primary, secondary and higher institutions,” he noted.
However, he cautioned that those who go into this business have to be ready to face a stiff competition with the already existing brands.

Production process
Production processes starts with the melting of equal parts of beeswax, solid oil (like cocoa butter) and liquid oil (like olive oil) over a double boiler. Then pour this liquid into an empty container. Allow it to harden fully.
Then, it is ready to use. Just apply it onto your shoes; wipe off the excess; and then you’re good to go. The poured mass is allowed to settle slowly, providing uniform distribution.
The process is considered straightforward and the required equipment is relatively easy to acquire. The semi-solid polish is packed in round tins, while the liquid polish is packed in plastic bottles having sponge pasted caps.

Equipment
The equipment can be easily fabricated from Uganda as it helps reduce cost but importing may remain an option from India, China.

Incentives
According to UIA, government’s import duty is nil by tariff and VAT is postponed.
There is a provision whereby payment of VAT at importation on specified imports is postponed to a future date in accordance with the VAT Deferment Regulations 2013.
The targeted beneficiaries should have plant and machinery worth about $22,500 (Shs81 million) and above.

Demand

Shoe polish improves and restores the appearance of leather and footwear products. Shoe polish is not only used on footwear but can also be applied to all leather materials including bags, among others. Shoe polish is among the fastest moving consumer goods; meaning people buy it at regular intervals.