Meet Christine Wachira | Pension Analyst, Certified Risk Manager & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Wachira and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The Maasai people of East Africa are known to be amongst the best crafters in the world. Maasai beadwork is commonly sold in markets all over Kenya and Tanzania. I was born in Nairobi, Kenya and as a jewelry lover I would often spend hours at Maasai markets. I was always in awe of the beauty of the jewelry and the process behind making them. My family later immigrated to Canada when I was a pre-teen. I had a large collection of beaded accessories that would grow larger every time I went back home. My friends and even strangers would often inquire about how they can get similar pieces. This inspired me to bring my passion for Kenyan jewelry to life here in North America. We often hear a one sided, poverty based, story on African countries. My mission is to spread the beauty and the vibrancy of the continent of Africa to as many people as I can.

What should our readers know about your business?
My favourite part about being a business owner is getting to see the impact that Sanaa Zuri has on the community. Pre-pandemic I would often participate in pop-up markets around the city to sell my jewelry and promote my brand. The jewelry is heavily based on African/Afro Culture. I live for the look on my customer’s face when my Jamaican pendant, reminds them of the fond memories of their homeland. I hardly ever made a sale without a heart to heart conversation with my customers. People love to feel represented and I cherish the ability to facilitate the representation and appreciation of Afro culture. As a full time employee, I don’t get as much time as I would like to dedicate to my business and sometimes my marketing efforts may fall short, but 90% of my customers are referrals or repeat customers simply based on the interactions we have. It is so beautiful to see how art connects us all as Africans in the diaspora.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Southern Ontario is such a big and beautiful area with a vast variety of activities to indulge in. We would first take a short trip to Niagara Falls. The falls are majestically beautiful, almost unreal. There are also lots of activities in the area; the best wineries in Canada are by the falls region, we also have North America’s largest elevated go-cart track facility, jet boat tours and ziplines across the falls. We would then visit downtown Toronto. The best thing about Toronto is its diversity. One can visit little Italy and have pasta that would have you forget you are miles away from Europe. Almost any country’s local cuisine can be found somewhere in Toronto. One of my favourite restaurants is “Miss Things” they serve the best authentic Polynesian dishes and tikki cocktails. While in Toronto a tour of the CN tower is a must! The tower boast a world renowned 360 restaurant for experiential dining lovers, and for thrill seekers like me, we have the ‘edge walk’. It’s a harnessed hands-free walk around the tower, 1168ft above the ground. I am yet to experience it but its definitely on my bucket list.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My community of friends and family have been my largest support system throughout my journey with Sanaa Zuri. I started my business right after I graduated university with minimal funding. My friends have been my models at all of my photoshoots, my helpers at pop-up events, the testers of all my new products…truly my biggest supporters. I am so thankful for the role they have played in the growth of Sanaa Zuri.

Website: www.etsy.com/shop/sanaazuri

Instagram: @sanaa_zuri

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanaaZuri