The Business of Colour: How Tinashe Mutarisi Built the Nash Empire
From a small retail shop in Chitungwiza to a multi-million dollar conglomerate, the story of Nash Paints is a masterclass in resilience and strategic growth. Tinashe Mutarisi shares the tactical decisions, the devastating setbacks, and the "backward integration" strategy that turned a simple paint shop into a household name in Zimbabwe.
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| Building an Empire: Tinashe Mutarisi discusses the strategic growth of Nash Holdings. |
The Genesis: Botswana to Chitungwiza
Before Nash Paints, Tinashe Mutarisi honed his skills in the diaspora. He spent four years in Botswana, working in the painting and panel-beating industry. It was there he noticed a crucial supply chain gap: most of the paint he used was imported from South Africa. This realization planted the seed for his return to Zimbabwe.
Mutarisi laughed off the popular myth that he started his empire with only $160. While he started small—initially buying just 4 tins of paint, selling them to buy 6, and scaling up organically—he clarified that he had savings from his time abroad. A critical moment in his early days was securing a loan from Agribank, facilitated by a friend named Tera, which allowed him to buy his first commercial stand in Chivhu, laying the groundwork for his retail footprint.
The Strategic Pivot
The transformation from a retailer to a giant began when Mutarisi engaged business consultants. They advised him on "backward integration"—moving up the supply chain to control production. Instead of relying on suppliers, Nash Paints began manufacturing its own products. This allowed them to control quality, reduce costs, and offer competitive pricing that disrupted the market.
Mutarisi emphasizes that his biggest asset isn't machinery, but people. He actively headhunted top talent from competitors and invested in management systems. He holds a philosophy that business is about people, stating, "If you want to build your own house, help someone else build theirs." This approach has garnered him a loyal and highly skilled workforce.
Resilience in the Face of Fire
The journey hasn't been without scars. Mutarisi revealed the details of a devastating fire at his factory. The blaze destroyed stock and infrastructure valued at approximately $2 million. Compounding the tragedy, his insurance payout was significantly lower, covering only around $700,000.
Despite this massive financial blow, the company survived and rebuilt, a testament to the robust systems and diversified portfolio Mutarisi had established.
The Nash Holdings Ecosystem
Nash Paints is now just one jewel in a larger crown. Nash Holdings has expanded into several key sectors, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem:
- Nash Paints: Manufacturing and retail of automotive and decorative paints.
- Coloursel Furniture: A retail chain providing household and office furniture, complementing the home improvement focus of the paint business.
- Nashrin Cargo Carriers: A logistics arm that solves distribution challenges, ensuring products move efficiently across the region.
- Foodies: The newest venture, a fast-casual dining brand focused on community and customer experience.
The Future: From Hustle to Corporate
Tinashe Mutarisi is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree, a move he says is driven by a desire to shift his business mindset from "hustle" to structured "corporate governance." He aims to build a company that outlives him, citing global giants like Johnson & Johnson as his benchmark for "Great" companies. His goal is to establish systems where the business runs independently of his daily presence, ensuring generational wealth and stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nash Paints was officially registered and started operations in 2006.
No, while he started small, buying stock in small quantities, he clarified that he had capital saved from his four years working in Botswana.
Through Nash Holdings, he owns Coloursel Furniture, Nashrin Cargo Carriers, Eastlea Paints, and Foodies.
He lost approximately $2 million in stock and infrastructure, with insurance covering only about $700,000 of the loss.
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