ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH- TOLUMITFP EDITION

It's another time to celebrate one of those who decided to define success on their own terms, achieve it by their own rules and are building a life proud to live in the city of Ibadan.It's the first edition in 2019 and we are starting in a grand way.

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Tolumi Abiola Oyediji is a seasoned fashion designer and fashion teacher. She is the Director & CEO of The Tolumi brand ( @tolumitfp , @tolumithefashionschool @fabricsbytolumi & @accessoriesbytolumi )
She is a certified dietician and an alumnus of The London College of fashion.
Being one of the awardees of the recently held "2018 Ibadan's 60 most influential personalities" you can tell she is a force to reckon with in the city of Ibadan and in the Nigerian Fashion Industry as a whole.

WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN FASHION?
  I think fashion chose me, I didn't choose fashion because as at the time I started, I didn't even know what I was doing. I was really young when I started , less than 15 years old. I just knew I love to put things together and knew I had a keen interest in sewing but I couldn't put it all together then.

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER IN FASHION DESIGNING?
 That's actually funny because it took me a long time. I think I was in denial for so long.I started to sew 22 years ago and by the time I was in my final year in the university, I already had a brand name and by 2008 during my service year, I had started making ready-to-wear to sell abroad and in Nigeria.
You would guess that by that time I was already thinking I would do fashion but I wasn't.
I am a trained dietician, I did nutrition & dietetics in school and after that I went for one-year internship, then I had to take my exams to become a certified dietician so I could practice the profession in any Nigerian hospital.
I went through all of that and still went for M.Sc in Public Health. All those took me about 5 years and you can imagine, 5 years after I had started my own label, I still thought in my head that I was gonna be a dietician.
Not until my M.Sc final year did I start to realize there is no way I can do anything else apart from fashion.
During my M.Sc days ,I blanked out and realized I wasn't interested in anything that wasn't fashion related.
I realized that if it is for fashion, I can go miles,I can read all night studying and researching fashion non-stop.
It was then I realized fashion was the way for me.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT?
  Although I had been sewing for a while, I wouldn't say I was in business yet for a really long time. It's one thing to have the skills and it's another thing to run a business. I didn't set up any structure until 2011.
When you are about to take things to the next level there are always challenges but you have to understand that business is a risk. For example we are about to open a branch in Abuja, its a bigger investment and of course it's coming with fear.
When I decided to set up in Ibadan, I didn't know anybody. I didn't grow up here so I had no childhood friends who I could bank on to patronize me. I had just two customers in Leadcity and that was all. My shop was in Adamasingba shopping complex, at the back where there was no pedestrian traffic to bank on. You have to know you are coming to us for you to come to us .
For someone who didn't know anyone in the city, the combination wasn't favourable and there was no synergy so to say but the thing is I don't do anything without God. Once God tells me to go ahead, I go in 100% without fear.
I didn't even have the money, I used my M.Sc school fees given to by my parents to pay for shop rent , you can imagine it was a huge risk and I was scared.
It might not work for everybody but for me, once I have conviction from God I can do anything knowing I have a good backing.
We were supposed to open Lagos branch, with 80% of our clients in Lagos,that was the logical thing to do but God said it's not Lagos, it's abuja and it was too clear.
Our client base in abuja is just 5% but because I have gotten the go ahead,I am not bothered.
   

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF BEING A FASHION DESIGNER AND TEACHER?
  I need to say that the job isn't as glamorous as it seems on the outside. I've got a little make up on today but trust me this isn't the way I am on the regular. The moment I come into the workroom, the wig comes off, probably walk barefoot all day it's really a lot of work but what gives you joy is being able to conceive an idea in your head, you can see it come alive and the joy on people's face when they see it.
I feel like a Superman and I consider it a gift.
And for teaching, I feel it's a great opportunity that God has given me, I feel like I am moulding lives, being a big part of my students' future which is just amazing for me because I have seen people who I watched thread a needle for the first time and now they are big names, they have their own fashion brands and they are doing well. It gives me so much joy. That's like the height of my success. I would say making clothes is a means to an end but teaching is the major thing for me.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
 I'm very unpredictable so it depends on my mood. When I was younger, my style was crazy but now I am older and in my 30s I am all about comfortable fashion. I like my fashion to be classy. I love simple but elegant and in my designs you would see I tend towards this.
 

WHAT SKILLS ACCORDING TO YOU ARE NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN FASHION DESIGNING?
 If you are going to be a fashion designer, you need to be creative, you need to be able to sketch, those are vital skills. These are more important than being able to sew because you need to be able to bring the idea in your head to paper to pass across the message.
Now if I have to be more realistic,  in the present day Nigeria and the way the industry is set up, as a fashion designer who has a brand, you need to know how to sew because tailors would frustrate you.
I do advise my friends who have fashion brands who do not know how to sew to invest some time to have basic skills.
Business skills are also very important.
In summary, you need to be creative,not every time you would be going to instagram and pinterest to copy styles. The world can do with your creativity as well, Sewing skills for survival and business skills.
 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNT SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR COMPANY?
 I have learnt several and I would mention three major ones.
1. Integrity is key- As an entrepreneur, people are coming to your brand ,not just because of your products but because of you. You are the face of your brand so people need to trust you before they can trust your brand. I've also learnt that if you can't do something tell the client you can't yet, people would respect you and they would come back later. It might seem difficult, you are gonna lose that money but you would gain their trust.
2. Don't be greedy in trying to get customers /clients - people take in too many jobs and when it's time to deliver, they deliver substandard jobs and they are going to lose that customer for life. Many clients only give one chance and they never come back.
3. You need to continually improve yourself - The fashion industry especially is continually evolving and you have to move with time so you can continue to be relevant.
There are people who we used to know, they were basking in their present glory and didn't know when the glory started to fade and when that happens it's difficult for people to come back
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Have you been inspired or motivated by this edition?
We would love to hear from you
Please drop a comment below.


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ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH - LAMAS CLOTHING EDITION

Today, we celebrate of 10 years of excellence.
Our focus on this edition of "Entrepreneurs ' Watch" is multiple award-winning fashion designer, fashion stylist and wardrobe consultant,  Olayiwola Ogedengbe a.k.a Lamas, the Creative Director of Lamas Clothing Nigeria ( @lamasngr)
On this edition ,the internationally renown fashion designer shares with us what his 10 years journey in the entrepreneurial world has been like.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR DECISION TO BECOME A FASHION DESIGNER?
 For me, fashion is something that has always been there although I discovered it in 2005 and officially started running my label in 2007. Dressing well and looking well is something I have always been passionate about and that's what inspired my decision to become a fashion designer.

CAN YOU TELL US  ANY UNFORGETTABLE INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS?
 There has been quite a few but one major one was  when I had to sleep overnight behind the police station counter because of a client of mine. You know one can't know the kind of jobs all your clients are involved in before you decide to work for them. The police were tracking the person's number and it happened that my number was one of the numbers  he had been communicating with and that's how I ended up at the police station and I had to sleep overnight where I battled with mosquitoes. I think It's one of the things you have to pass through when building a brand.

WERE THERE TIMES YOU FELT LIKE GIVING UP ON THIS JOURNEY?  HOW DID YOU SCALE THE HURDLES?
 There were many of such times but one thing has always been my bedrock and that is passion. There have been ups and downs and challenges.  Life is not a bed of roses, so is entrepreneurship or business.  There have been times I didn't feel like doing anymore but I had to come back because I knew that if I gave up, I would be disappointing three people; first  is myself, second,  the people who look up to me and third, the people who believed in me when I had nothing.  So giving up wasn't an option for me, I had to forge ahead and here we are.

HAVING BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR TEN YEARS, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING FASHION INDUSTRY?
 The first way I have been able to keep up is my creativity. I also have been able to keep up by moving with time. There are so many platforms such as social media, you can see what's going on in the fashion world. Also one gets to attend fashion shows, exhibitions, seminars e.t.c.
As a fashion designer, you also get to go out to events to see what's trending and you can derive inspiration for designs. You need to serve your clients with varieties, as they say " varieties is the spice of life" unless they would get tired.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR MOST SATISFYING MOMENT IN BUSINESS?
  That was in February 2017 when I got featured by BBC Africa as the most consistent entrepreneur. I think I was the only person that has been visited in Ibadan. For me, It's not really about the money but the fact that there are people looking at what we do and they can say " Go and look at Lamas"...There has been other high points but I think that's the major one and we give glory to God for that.

WHEN YOU STARTED OUT, WERE THERE PARTICULAR ROLE MODELS YOU WERE LOOKING UP TO OR MENTORS?
 I had role models quite alright but I had no mentor.  I know I needed to carve a niche for myself. There are lots of fashion designers in Nigeria, there are lots in Ibadan, even on my road here at Joyce B but what distinguishes us is how innovative you are. I had role models but each of them had their particular trademarks and that's what I decided to do also.

AS A FASHION DESIGNER,  WHY DO YOU THINK TAILORS DISAPPOINT THEIR CLIENTS?
 First, other businesses also disappoint, not limited to tailors alone. Disappointment can be in two ways, either concept disappointment or as regards prompt delivery.
I think in this case individuality comes in. Some are naturally lazy while some are just covetous.  They collect more than they can handle.
Others have really busy schedules and they tend to forget the day they promised to deliver.

YOU STARTED A RADIO TOUR TO CELEBRATE YOUR TEN YEARS ANNIVERSARY,  WHAT PROMPTED THIS?
Yeah, we started a radio tour, first of It's kind, asides artistes.  The purpose is to inspire entrepreneurs.  I have failed and succeeded.  There is no  successful entrepreneur that has never failed.  Success doesn't come cheap,  it comes with a price, one of which is failure, pain, burning the midnight oil,days when your friends are sleeping and you will be working but then, days are coming when they would be working and you will be sleeping.  Although the radio tour has cost us many things, but we believe whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

HAVING BEEN IN BUSINESS IN IBADAN FOR TEN YEARS, HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE WAYS THINGS ARE PRESENTLY AND THE WAY IT WAS WHEN YOU STARTED?
 There is a big difference.  The perception ten years ago isn't the perception now as far as entrepreneurship, fashion and acceptance goes. Now entrepreneurship is the order of the day, back in those days,people tag you as the unserious one.
Lack of employment is what is making lots of people venture into entrepreneurship but the truth is that entrepreneurship isn't meant for everybody.

20 YEARS FROM NOW, WHERE DO YOU SEE LAMAS CLOTHINGS NIGERIA?
 20 years from now, I see one of my children having taken over running Lamas Clothings. He/she would be taking the front seat while I take the back seat.  By then we would be in ten different major countries of the world. I see myself sitting down on my balcony 8 a.m. Monday morning and when It's four p.m. , I walk into the office and ask how the day went.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO TODAY'S BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS?
First, as an entrepreneur, you have to know your calling,  that is the foundation.
Then you need to believe in yourself. Belief in oneself is very important.  Also you need to be creative and move with people of like minds. Friends that will challenge you.
Also you need to be resilient especially if you don't have any financial backup.
Set long and short term goals, that's how I did mine and it worked for me.
People will discourage you, directly or indirectly so you need to believe in yourself without any external encouragement.
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Our utmost appreciation goes to the Creative Director,  Lamas Clothings Nigeria ( @lamasngr) for this inspiring edition of "Entrepreneurs' Watch"
Keep the flag of excellence flying as you continually showcase Ibadan and Nigeria as a whole to the world.👌
Happy Tenth year anniversary.
We celebrate you.
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God bless @lamasngr
God bless Ibadan!
God bless Nigeria

ENTREPRENEURS ' WATCH - FITTRIX EDITION

"Entrepreneurs' Watch " this year is starting with a bang 💯.
Our first feature is an entrepreneur to the core.
A lawyer by 'bookery '😀, a wife and a mother of three.
Meet Ebunoluwa Oludolapo Akinwale (via @ebunfittrix), a wellness coach and nutritionist. .
On this edition she shares with us how her personal weight loss journey grew into a passion and how she has been able to build and sustain businesses around that passion : Fittrix Consulting and @naturestreatscafe , Ibadan's first wellness cafe (100% organic), situated at Palms Mall, Ibadan.

SHARE WITH US HOW YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY STARTED?
    I've never really been a slim kind of person so I have always been self-conscious.
But when I started having kids, you know the way you eat for two, I just started piling on weight and I wasn't even working then.
My "ha-moment" was when I was going to start a job and I climbed on the scale and I saw 104.8kg, I was perplexed.  I knew I had added weight but never imagined it would be that bad.
That was the turning point for me. I had tried to lose weight a year or two before then but I was starving and created ulcer, so I went online to see how I could lose weight the healthy way. I started writing down the information I saw, comparing notes, so by the time same information is repeated from various sources,it means there is some sort of truth in it. So from the lists of meals that were acceptable, I created a meal plan/guide for myself and that's how I started.

HOW EASY WAS IT FOR YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT ?
  It wasn't a walk in the park neither was it terribly difficult. Probably because I gave myself realistic goals.  I didn't plan to lose all that weight in a month, I mean I didn't gain all that weight in a month.
I celebrated the milestones I achieved and enjoyed the kind of reactions I got from people, those kind of things spurred me on, I mean I lost weight right in front of my colleagues and naturally, they were by first set of "experiments". They started asking me how I was doing it. The first part of my weigh loss happened in four and half to five months. I lost weight from 104kg to 82kg and then I found out I was pregnant with my third baby. During the pregnancy, because I had learnt to eat properly, I didn't pile on much weight unlike the previous pregnancies where I was adding 28 to 35kg. I think I added just 12kg, I wasn't doing that "eating for two thing "and my gynecologist was always complaining.
I weaned my baby to 6 months then I started again.
I pushed it to 65kg in another five and half months.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO TURN YOUR PASSION FOR HELPING OTHER PEOPLE ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE INTO A BUSINESS?
  My colleagues inspired my decision and the person that sowed the seed of making it a business was one of my managers although she said it on a really light note.
After a while, I left my job then and moved to another place and I was like the Head of HR/admin and I didn't have time again. I then decided that I wanted to have more time for my kids, my husband was always traveling and one of us needed to step down, so I did.
I'm not the kind of person who can just sit at home and watch telemundo, i had to be actively busy both physically and mentally.
So i listed the things i enjoyed doing. From event planning ,to fashion and then fitness which was a new terrain to me so i kept wondering how that would translate into business.This was towards the end of 2012.
I kept on pondering on how to package it.
Apart from the fact that i wanted to help people, I was looking for something I could do that would give me flexible time.
The irony of it was that I didn't have a prototype to copy in Nigeria.
Once I thought of it, I registered my business name. The name came up as "fitness tricks " which we modified to "fittrix consulting ".
As at that time i still had not figured out how to package it for people. One night ,i woke up and started writing in a book i call "book of life" which is always on my bed even though i was not sure of what i was writing.
When i woke up in the morning,i read what i had written down.
It's packaged like an online boot camp,set up a package for people with everything they would need to achieve the set goals and be with them every step.
That's when i opened a blog and shared my story with pictures.
The response since that moment has been wonderful ,people started asking me to help them.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE TO START HEALTHY EATING.
  Make it lifestyle, healthy eating should not be a project or a trend. I'm sure when we wake up every morning, we brush our teeth, that's a lifestyle, you can't say,I don't feel like brushing today,I would brush in two weeks. Discover what works for you and stick with it.
I believe as long as one can practice portion control, No food should be off limit.
E.g look at our forefathers, they ate all these things we are running from but what changed?  They were just more active. So whatever they eat is being burnt off. Unfortunately, civilization has made us less active. If we can do that,No food would be off limits as long as you are eating Good meal not junks.

YOU STARTED AS A CONSULTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SHED WEIGHT, HOW WAS THE ORGANIC CAFE BIRTHED?
 Meal prep started when some of my clients starting asking me if I could not just be doing the meals in the meal plan for them. Also some of my clients started craving for cake,so I had to go back to the drawing board, what are the ingredients for baking cake, what are the healthier substitutes and that's how commercial baking started even though I had always known how to bake Which I learnt online.
For example, this Greek yoghurt everybody has been talking about,I  learnt it online, I was always  craving one I usually buy in Lagos.
So I read online, followed YouTube directions and cultured mine from the one I got from her.
After several trial and error, I mastered how to do it.
Then I needed to create a niche for myself and decided to go organic.  I decided to use fresh milk for mine because I had read that most people use processed milk.
The yoghurt is perfect for people who are lactose -intolerant or diabetic.
Of course there were times I got frustrated but the passion kept me going.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US SOME OF YOUR SATISFYING MOMENTS IN BUSINESS?
  I feel fulfilled whenever any of my clients reach their targets.
For the cafe, I get satisfied whenever people tell me how amazing my yoghurt is.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE ISSUE OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN TODAY'S BUSINESS WORL
  I don't see it. For me, I don't do stereotypes.  I always believe there are different scenarios to things and same thing applies to gender inequality.
I believe you can decide to allow or not allow it. I am a feminist to the core but the trend of feminism I see on social media is different these days.I don't believe I am superior but expect my views to be heard.
These days, the so - called "feminists " are against marriage.
I don't believe marriage is an achievement but a ood marriage is an achievement.
I also believe in divorce, it should be used as a last resort rather than stay in an unhappy or abusive marriage.

HAVING BEEN AWAY FROM CONSULTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR,  HOW HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU FULLY STARTED BACK THIS YEAR? ..
  Recently, I got a call from a client I had worked with and she was like, am I not consulting anymore and that's when I decided to start back my consulting fully this year.
The first client I had this year is the heaviest I have ever had.187kg.
I hadn't done this actively in about a year and coming back, God gave me this.
Today we did our progress check and she had lost almost 10kg in a week.
Currently I have five people I am working with.

ADVICE FOR UPCOMING ENTREPRENEURS.
First thing I like to tell entrepreneurs is "baby- steps" . The saying, Rome wasn't built in a day isn't  just a saying.
It takes planning and laying one brick after the other.
I mean anybody looking at me now would think I just jammed money but wouldn't know I started this journey way back in 2012. Most entrepreneurs now want to start big but it should not be . .
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We appreciate @ebunfittrix of @naturestreatscafe for gracing the first edition of "Entrepreneurs' Watch " for this year.
God bless Fittrix Consulting
God bless Nature's Treat Cafe
God bless Ibadan

Eat clean.....love life 👌

Visit @naturestreatscafe

ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH - SMILE EDITION

Celebrating the game changers,the people who do ordinary things extraordinarily well is what "entrepreneurs watch" is all about.
On this week's edition,  our focus is a renown documentary photographer, a business man, a media personnel , a publisher and an author.
He is also the brain behind Ibadan's e-commerce platform @ibadanmarket.
Meet the CEO of @officialsmilephotography.

In an exclusive interview with ibadanslayers, he share with us his journey into the entrepreneurial world.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR BACKGROUND?
I was born and brought up in Ibadan. I studied marketing at OND level after which I proceeded to The Federal Co-operative College, Ibadan, where I studied, co-operative Economics management for my HND.
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LOOKING AT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, WHAT MADE YOU DEVIATE AND VENTURE INTO PHOTOGRAPHY? .
Photography as my career is my key while my educational background is my key holder. A career without a good educational background gets lost. Its more or less like having a key without a key holder, the key gets lost eventually. My educational background is what has helped to enhance my photography career to be different from others. My knowledge of marketing has helped me to give a good presentation,  how to present myself and my image, how to interact with clients and solve people's problems. Studying co-operative economics management has really helped me to relate with the grassroots and how best to economize funds. It is that knowledge that has helped me to maximize resources .

WHAT WERE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES YOU FACED WHEN YOU EMBARKED ON YOUR JOURNEY INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP? .
 For me, my sense of adventure into business is about identifying a problem and preparing myself to solve the problem.  So I consider any challenge that comes my way a great opportunity for me to earn more. In as much as I can face it and overcome it, it will definitely turn into profit for me. So i never see any challenge as a stopping stone, rather a stepping stone. And I must tell you, I love challenges. I believe that if you solve a major problem, nobody negotiates the price. People only negotiate the price of things that don't hold the solution they desire. Nobody negotiates the price of medicine prescribed by a doctor,  likewise if you are a problem solver, nobody will be able to negotiate your price. So the challenges faced is not the issue but the ability to provide solution at the end of the day.

WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER AS
THE MAJOR PROGRESS IN YOUR WORKS?
 I wouldn't call it progress but increments. Because i believe there is still a lot more to achieve. Well i started my business with my school fees when I was in HND 2. I used my final year school fees to purchase my first camera. While running my HND,  I made up my mind that I didn't want to finish school and start looking for a job here and there. When I took the risk with my school fees which some people would consider as abnormal, today I don't regret because if I had not taken that step, I would not be where I am today.  Although I am not where I dream to be, where I am still going is way bigger than where I am today,  I am still striving.  To God be the glory,  I have received recognition locally, continentally and internationally.

TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE ACHIEVED?
In ten years time,i think there are lots of problems that need to have been solved. I see myself solving a global problem and being in corridor power of a global platform. I see myself as a global striker,  not a local or just a national striker.

WHO AND WHAT ARE THE MAJOR INFLUENCERS OF YOUR WORKS? @ : As much as i desire people's results, I am more interested in their process. There are lots of people that have influenced my works. Like the personal photographer to the president Obama, Pete Souza. I study his works and it has influenced me a lot. If you look at my works,you can see a kind of blueprint of his works. Likewise one other person that has influenced me is Bayo Omoboriowo ,the,personal photographer to the president of Nigeria.  Also anybody that does something unique, i follow their work and it influences me.

IF GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?  WOULD YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY ALL OVER AGAIN? Of course I would choose photography over again. photography has taken me to places where my certificate could not have taken me. I have met with not less than fifteen presidents of African nations, been under the same roof without restrictions, dialogued and dined with them. My academic qualifications could have never taken me to such places if not for photography.

IF ANYONE WERE TO WALK UP TO YOU SEEKING ADVICE ON HOW TO BE AN ACHIEVER, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM/ HER?
The first thing i would tell him/her is to discover his/ her passion. Once that has been done, be sincere to yourself.  Don't wait for a perfect / convenient time, process the discovered passion in time. No vision / idea comes with perfection. You are the one to perfect it over time. Also, strive to increase your sense of self confidence, don't wait for people to praise you because if you do, you will end up frustrated.  Stay focused and keep moving. It might look rough initially but one day,you will get your recognition.  Your talent will lead to your passion,  your passion will give you joy and your joy in turn will command wealth for you.  Don't worry, whoever mocks your ideas now would end up being your fan when those ideas begin to command wealth.

In conclusion, What i would like to add is with regards to documentary photography.  This is one aspect of photography that isn't being taken seriously in Nigeria and we ought to. For example,  the white man has used documentary photography to project negative stories about our country.  Now its our job as documentary photographers to correct the mess that has been made.  we show people both the beautiful and the ugly side. I also urge entrepreneurs to partner with one or two documentary photographers that will help tell their story and project the image of their brands. I also would love to implore the government to invest more in documentary photography.  Thank you.  We appreciate @olawoyinsmile of officialsmilephotography for making this edition of entrepreneurs watch both inspiring and entertaining.
 We say God bless you
 God bless your brand
 God bless Ibadan.

ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH- DAINTYFASHION EDITION

   

    On this edition of "Entrepreneurs' Watch", our focus is one of Ibadan's emerging makeup artists,  Miss Adelaja Adebukola, the CEO of @daintyfashionoutfit .
 The industrious young entrepreneur shares with us what inspired her business instinct and what the journey has been like so far.
    
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
I didn't start running my business in Ibadan. I started way back in school around 2007. I started with sales of clothes, bags and shoes.I have a sister who is based abroad who sends wears to me.  Since people were always admiring what they see on me, i decided to start selling also. I started running in Ibadan last year.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR DECISION TO VENTURE INTO MAKEUP ARTISTRY? 

After i graduated,  i was still running my clothing business,  and i thought to myself,  what else can i do. As a matter of fact, i am not really a makeup person,  i hardly makeup myself.  But my friends advised that since I am fashion oriented  and i am into fashion business,  it is something i would be good at. So i went for formal training two years ago and by last year,  i was able to fund a store where i could merge my makeup and clothing business

   

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO FINANCE YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU STARTED OUT? 

Financing has always been an issue for startups generally and for me, it wasn't that easy also. But thank God my family was able to support me and from my years of running my clothing business,  I had been able to gather some money as well.

 WHAT IS THE AVERAGE WORKWEEK LIKE FOR YOU AS A MAKEUP ARTIST?

During the  week from Monday to wednesday it's usually not so busy as a have assistants  running the  store with me but Friday, Saturday sometimes Sunday it's always one job(client) or the oder.

Busy weekends.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES BEING FACED PRESENTLY AS A MAKEUP ARTIST? 

First,  many people get turned off when you tell them you are a makeup artist.  Also the exchange rate has been an issue.  Although we have Nigerian brand makeup products but most are imported thus its expensive to get most of the products we use and still we can't bill people outrageously.  Having to balance buying quite expensive products and making your prices quite competitive is a major challenge.

WHAT IS THE MISCONCEPTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT MAKEUP ARTISTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT? 

The one notion i would like to correct is that a lot of people think every unemployed lady is a makeup artist.  That makeup artists are not serious sets of people.  They don't see being a makeup artist as a profession and artistry in whatever form it comes is a profession. Makeup is an art and to perfect it, it takes alot of effort and work. Makeup artists are to be reckoned with in the society because our work is to enhance beauty and when beauty is enhanced, a level of self confidence is attained and when this is possible,  people can go places.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY AS AN IBADAN -BASED ENTREPRENEUR SO FAR? 

It hasn't been so easy and Ibadan is quite complex in its own way. 

People find it difficult to pay well compared to what they pay our counterparts in other cities even when its obvious you are doing a good job just like what the other makeup artists do in other cities. 

Oftentimes,  once they hear, you are from Ibadan, they believe someone from Lagos would do a better job than you can.

     

ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING / UPCOMING BEAUTYPRENEURS IN IBADAN? 

 First, you don't stop learning,  you need to keep upgrading your skills.  Also you need to be disciplined. Rome wasn't built in a day. The big brands you hear their names and shiver today didn't just start today. They have been in the industry long enough and have had their fair shares of ups and downs. They have paid their dues. 

As an upcoming beautypreneur, prepare to pay your dues as well. 

There will be times when you would feel like giving up but you just have to believe in yourself and believe in your dream. 

      

In conclusion, Ibadan has a lot of prospects and its developing rapidly..In Ibadan, you can grow wings and make a name for yourself if you are really good at what you do. The circle of elites isn't tightly knitted such that it can't be penetrated compared to some other cities and that is a good thing. 

All you need in Ibadan is hardwork and of course God and you can make a name for yourself. .

The #ibadanslayers team appreciates the CEO of @daintyfashionoutfit for this amazing session on entrepreneurs watch. 

God bless your brand.

God bless Ibadan.

Ps- If you would love your brand to be featured on entrepreneurs watch, kindly send a mail to ibadanslayers@gmail.com.Thank you 

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ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH- MOROKS XPRESSION EDITION

    

Our focus on this week's edition of "Entrepreneurs' watch" is the brain behind one of the fastest growing shoemaking brands in Nigeria @moroksxpression
Mr Akinyode Moronkeji hails from  Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State and currently a law student at Leadcity University, Ibadan. He is based in the city of Ibadan and married with three amazing kids.
In an exclusive interview with ibadanslayers, he shares with us his journey into entrepreneurial world.
     

WHY DID YOU VENTURE INTO SHOEMAKING BUSINESS?

I've always loved fashion and was brought up as a fashion conscious person. Coupled with the fact that I attended Loyola College and if you know Loyola during my secondary school days, we were known for academic excellence and high sense of fashion. After completing my tertiary education at Osun State Polytechnic, Ire, I proceeded to the UK, and while in the UK, I ventured into a lot of businesses and decided to stick with fashion since it was a natural thing for me and i didn't have to stress myself.
So when I got back to Nigeria, I started selling foreign brands. At a point,  I sat down and said to myself, I want to build my brand and have a legacy. These foreign brands will not take me anywhere. So I decided to start my own fashion line. Initially,  I started with slippers and sandals, then we graduated to making shoes, to God be the glory.

    

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR DECISION TO BASE YOUR BUSINESS IN IBADAN?

To be honest, I am privileged to be part of this revolution of the new Ibadan. Growing up in Ibadan, the picture of Ibadan that was painted for us was boring. I have cousins who left Ibadan right after graduation from tertiary institution because they wanted to do well.
When I wanted to start my business,  I carried out my survey and I was like, what is actually wrong with Ibadan, and I realized nothing was wrong. Ibadan is good, I live here and I am very sophisticated and I know alot of people like myself who live in Ibadan and don't compromise on quality. What we just need to do is to change the mindset of people living in Ibadan they can as well get the quality they are getting in Lagos right here in Ibadan.
Then I made my decision that I was not leaving Ibadan and I will become the best fashion brand in Nigeria.  From Ibadan, I can take my brand to the world.
 
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS?

I have to give credit to God. The inspiration for a design might come in my sleep, once I'm awake, i take my pen and sketch it down. That's how i get most of my designs.
Also when people come with their own designs, because we do bespoke as well, we try to do some modifications and arrive at a new design.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY AS AN ENTREPRENEUR,SO FAR?
Honestly, it has not been smooth. I don't like telling people the other side of the story though, I like to stick with the beautiful part of the story. From getting materials to trying to establish myself as a brand to be reckoned with, it has not been easy.
Sometimes ago, I went to market to a group of people and I told them my shoes are made with best of the best materials and they were like, "what do you mean?" and they tried to rubbish me as a common shoemaker and I said to him, "sir, I have lived abroad as well and all these things you are talking about,  i know them,they are just brands.Its just names you are buying. My shoes can comfortably compete with any foreign brand. Place them side by side and you can barely know the difference.
Another thing I would like to say is that, thank God for education.  Had it been I had no formal education,  it would have been very difficult for me.

WHAT WAS THE FINANCING PROCESS LIKE FOR YOU WHEN YOU STARTED THE BUSINESS?

Honestly it was at zero. That was a major challenge I faced when I started. I tried to source for funds and got nothing.  Eventually,  I had to sell one of my properties at a very ridiculous rate. Thank God I didn't regret it.

COULD YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR MOST OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR?

Actually, they are numerous. E.g. there was a day i met with the present commissioner of Information, Oyo State. I showed him my products and he was like, " Can this actually happen in Ibadan? " .
On the spot, he bought my products and asked for copies of my business card to tell people and even the governor about my products. Also, I get amazing feedbacks from people that have bought my products asking if the shoes are really made in Nigeria. At times people try to test our ability by giving us designs thinking we won't be able to make it and by the time we finish, they are always wowed .

 

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES FACED BY THE BUSINESS SINCE INCEPTION?

 The major challenge is sourcing for materials. You have to get the materials locally from people that have imported them and you are not in complete control of the quality of materials imported and we don't have the financial strength to import individually. Also the exchange rate is killing businesses. Our profit margin has been reduced drastically because of the high exchange rate.
Also, the acceptance level is still low, some people still believe that if its not made abroad, they can't wear it. Our people still need to be enlightened regarding this.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BRAND IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

 To be honest, in five years, I see moroksxpression as a force to be reckoned with in terms of fashion in Africa, not just Nigeria and we are working daily to achieve that.

WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER AS YOUR BRAND'S GREATEST ASSET? .

The decision i made not to compromise on quality, that any product leaving my company and has my name on it must be standard.  Although a lot of people make shoes but the difference between is that at morokxpression, we pay attention to details. We don't say because its made in Nigeria, we would do it anyhow.  We focus on the quality of material and the finishing.  That's what I consider as our greatest asset.

WORDS OF ADVICE FOR BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS?

 Although its good to set your eyes on profit making , you must have passion for the business.  The truth is that you will face challenges and its the passion that will keep you going.
Also, there is nothing bad in starting small. Try to set your standard from the scratch, make your products to the highest quality right from the days one making one pair of shoes per week so that when you start making 100 pairs a week the quality would still be the same.
Do not compromise on quality.  By the time you are done laying the proper foundation,  things will be fine eventually.

   
ADDITIONAL WORDS FROM
MOROKSXPRESSION.

   As said earlier,  I would want people to change their orientation.  I am not saying we should not buy things from abroad but for us to have a rethink about made-in-Nigeria products. There are so many brands in Nigeria that can compete with international brands.
That way, we can help the economy.  For example,  I have people working for me that I pay, imagine I have a hundred people working for me and how that will help the economy and the only way that is possible is when I have the demand. So I want to encourage our people to patronise us. Thank you. .

The #ibadanslayers team appreciates the amiable  CEO of @moroksxpression for making this edition of Entrepreneurs' Watch eye- opening and inspirational.
Keep repping Ib city!

Visit www.moroks.ng to shop moroks xpresssion shoes.

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ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH - DRESSMYCLOSET EDITION

         

   WHEN IT COMES TO UNIQUE READY-TO-WEAR PIECES,  BRIDALS AND FASHION DESIGNING TRAINING,  THE BRAND " DRESS MY CLOSET" IS ONE WHO HAS MADE LASTING FOOTPRINTS, NOT ONLY IN IBADAN,BUT IN NIGERIA.
ON THIS EDITION OF "ENTREPRENEURS' WATCH", THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FASHION CONSULTANT OF "DRESS MY CLOSET" ATINUKE AWOBODE , SHARES WITH US WHAT THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN LIKE. 
       

   COULD YOU GIVE US AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR BACKGROUND? 
I  was born in Ibadan and also grew up in Ibadan. 
I  attended The International School, Ibadan, then I proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, where I studied Microbiology and graduated in 2008.

AS A SCIENCE ORIENTED PERSON,WHAT INSPIRED YOUR CHOICE OF CAREER IN FASHION? 
Although while in school, I used to model, being in the fashion industry was not what i dreamt. While awaiting NYSC mobilization, I was looking for what to do, I stumbled on a place where they were learning fashion designing and a friend advised me to learn which I did. Later I met another Lady who taught me and I admired the way she comported herself. After NYSC, I moved to Lagos to look for a job but I could not compromise my moral standard, so I moved back to Ibadan and decided to start my fashion business.

I started with nothing but my mum's sewing machine and a table. 
   

HOW HAS THE JOURNEY BEEN SO FAR? 
It has been a lot of blood and sweat. In any business especially when you start small, you have to pay your dues and I believe I am the stage where I have paid my dues. 

Also I am at the stage of expanding into a fashion school called "Dress My Closet School of Style" ,targeted at career people who want to develop more skills and young people who have no direction yet. 
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN FASHION IN IBADAN?
First, its basically the same skills you need to build any successful business anywhere that you will need to build a successful fashion business in Ibadan.
Persistence when nobody is seeing you or believes in you yet, but we thank God.
For me, I don't believe my business is location biased because I am in Ibadan. I don't feel less advantaged compared to people whose businesses are in location where business seems to be " booming".

That is where mindset comes in. The way you see yourself goes a long way amongst other things. 
  

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE YOU HAD TO CONQUER IN YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY? 
The biggest obstacle for me was trying to get my target market right. I realized I could not please everybody. A lot of people will come with the belief that your standard should be low because you are in Ibadan, some tend to look down on you and others come because they think you do a good job and they should patronise you.  So I had to shuffle and find a way to sort my target market. 
Also as a startup, you have to work for free to an extent so as to develop your skills, so the target was not money at the beginning. 


WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH? 
God has placed a lot of abilities in me, so I won't give myself credit before giving credit to God first.
That aside, I am like Voltron. I believe nothing do me,  I have that can do, can die spirit.  Nothing ever breaks me. That strength has sustained me a lot. 
There were times I could not pay my rent and was harrassed by agents to move my things out. It got to a stage where I was advised to go get a job but I believed what was mine was mine and was able to sustain myself , glory be to God.

And of course passion for what I do. 
    

AS A FASHION DESIGNER AND STYLIST, DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FASHION ERA?
I  absolutely love the 70s. The 70s appeal to me a lot. Very glamourous and full of glitz 
ARE THERE DAYS WHEN YOU FEEL THE FASHION INDUSTRY FATIGUE?
I  still felt it yesterday, there are days when I dont feel like doing anything. There are times when you feel the fatigue but the best way to get out of it is to remember why you are here. Also make time for inspiration and meditation. As humans we need some time off at some point. 
ANY ADVICE FOR BUDDING FASHION STYLISTS STRUGGLING TO GET A RELIABLE ROSTER OF CLENTS? 
 Get your process right, doing one man army will not help maximize your potential. 
Start small even when you have the resources. Intern somewhere for a while.

Also dont be afraid to work for free ( not literally ) 
     

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BRAND IN 5 YEARS? 
Eyes have not seen.... *laughs*.
My true passion in  fashion isn't even sewing for people. My main purpose is to inspire people in training.
The DRESS MY CLOSET school of style kicks off next month by God's grace. It is going to be a standard school of style that will help people to explore different aspects of fashion that suits them.
Its going to be one that is serving the whole of Southwest Nigeria by then.
Also there will be our walk in boutiques at different locations where people can buy very unique ready to wear pieces at affordable rates.
ANY ADDITIONAL THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? 
 Usually , in interviews like this, you are asked how do u manage your business and home successfully as a married woman. 
My view on this is that as human and a woman, the position Africa has put women is not really palatable. Thank God for banks and other financial institutions that have seen that women are more capable of handling financial responsibilities.
As a woman in business,  you need to be self confident because a lot of things will try to stop you. 
Develop the steel preferably before marriage so the kind of man you will attract is one that will respect and inspire you more. Be sure of who you are and don't be afraid to be submissive to your husband.
For the unmarried, build yourself, and surround yourself with good company.  Do not be mediocre.

Thank you .
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