Endibota (Bundle) Journey
Endibota , the Lunganda name for 'Bundle' refers to a sack filled with products for sale; bundles are seen in transition every minute spent downtown Kampala. Various bundles are stored and sold through various chains of people (and modes of transport) around Kampala. In Owino Market, bundles are seen everywhere, being rushed through alleyways and lining stall counter tops.
Typical process of delivery for bales (second hand clothes)
1) Warehouse receives containers with bundles from around the world
2) Warehouses only sell whole bundles to individual traders (these traders usually sell the bundles they buy in lock ups in top floors of buildings)
3) Resold to even smaller-scaled traders who then may still sell whole bundles, break them up into smaller bundles or individual items
4) Vendors in markets typically pick individual items to sell from
Each bundle is labelled ie. children's shoes, women's skirts, male shirts. etc
Bundles are typically bought in kilograms – standard is 45kg (larger one is 90Kg)
Original bundles are sold in classes as Number 1 (minimal damage) or Number 2 (a bit of damage in items)
Known at any level of shopping for bales: First Clothes - best quality and most expensive bundles
Vendors know quality/type of clothing from location ie. shorter dresses from China and longer dresses from the Middle East
Vendors in Owino (picking pieces from bales) will buy according to customer trends
Challenge for vendors in markets:
They buy same products from bundles as traders selling in town, but people look for cheap clothes in town only and only place to buy them cheap so can’t sell them at true value whilst towns traders can
Sketches of bundles downtown:
