Byhand Products gives artists platform to market paintings

Ken Karangi (left) of Byhand Products, which handmakes clocks and other items of art including paintings and floor mats. Right: Cycline Mutuku with her carpets which she makes by hand. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU 

By ISABELLA MUKUMU

For artists, marketing their works is one of the biggest headaches they face in an industry flooded with imitations.

Byhand Products, a company which deals with marketing of unique, interior decorative handmade items has carved out a niche for itself, giving artists a online platform to display their works.

Ken Karangi, a painter, started Byhand Products in 2010. What started as a portal to display his painting has turned into an online marketing tool for many artists who were struggling to reach customers.

“The company was started initially as a personal hobby then later as a necessity to bridge art and unique products to the common person,” says Mr Karangi.

With a growing population of Kenyans on social media like Facebook, more artists can now market their works through the online marketing portal.

Cycline Mutuku is one of the artists who has benefited from the initiative. She started making rugs for her house. Ms Mutuku has now turned the hand weaving that she was taught by her house help into a money-making venture.

She now custom-makes carpets and wall hangings to fit one’s taste and posts most of her finished work on the online site, attracting other customers.

“I got into a partnership with Byhand Products to advertise my work, soon orders were overwhelming,” she says, adding that her orders grew fivefold to 30 orders per month.

She now has a team of 11 people weaving the mats to meet the growing demand of hand-made carpets.

Mr Karangi and his friend Kelvin Gitau make wall paintings and hand curved customised wall clocks which are their biggest market seller for Sh3,500.

The paintings are African, portraits and abstract paintings.

They have also ventured into 3D paintings which go for between Sh12,000 and Sh16,000.

“Through this portal we have reached a wide array of customers, from individuals to companies,” says Esther Wanjiku, who is the operations and marketing manager at Byhand Products.

Ms Mutuku’s love for tufting—the art of making mats— has seen her start teaching lessons to educate other women— a skill that can help them earn income.

“Now with a simple mat, wool and crotchet, one can make their own custom made mat in the comfort of their homes,” she says