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 - 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 - 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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ENTREPRENEURIAL TIPS- TIPS FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

                                             

World domination is the dream of most startup entrepreneurs. The dream to attain a level whereby billions of people use your product around the world.

However, attaining this level  requires constant growth.

                                

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Growth in business is not really about “hitting it big” but about developing the right processes. The best type of growth any business can have is one that is carefully thought through and planned out. Growing too fast without proper planning is likely to harm or even destroy a business. 

                                          

When businesses expand too fast, the quality of service often drops ,which can have a negative impact on the reputation of the brand.

Before undertaking major growth initiatives, an entrepreneur needs to understand the future of that particular industry.

There are several ways to grow businesses but choosing the suitable one(s) will depend on the type of business you run and the resources (time and money) available to be invested.

Here are some tips that can help the growth of your business:

v Diversify your business – Diversification of your business allows you to have multiple streams of income that can fill seasonal voids in your business and thereby increasing your profit margin. An example is by going into sales of complementary products or service in your line of business.

v Target a new market – Even though your current market is serving you well, determine other markets that could use your product . Expanding by opening a new location is also a good way.

v Get your company registered and your product licensed.

v A great way to expand quickly is by forming an alliance with a similar type of business. 

v Win a government contract – Usually, having the government as your customer is one of the best ways to grow your business.

v Expand to the internet – Having a heavy web presence is an integral part in today’s  business environment. A lot of times, customers discover businesses through online search engines. To maximize your exposure, ensure that your business has a heavy online presence.

Indirectly, your business has gone global

Hope this article was helpful.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL TIPS - NETWORKING TO GET AHEAD

         

Someone smart once said, the opposite of "networking" is "NOT WORKING.

 It’s important to network thoughtfully and effectively. To be the best at what you do, you need to surround yourself with people who inspire you, who motivate you, and who challenge you. 

          

People who ask you difficult questions and provide honest feedback. Networking is the practice of intentionally seeking out these people. Your personal network is your resource — it’s just as tangible and necessary as your technical skills. 
Let’s go over some of the important, necessary networking skills. 

  

First, just be open to meeting new people, listening to new ideas, and engaging with people outside of your specific business or industry. Be authentic in how you present yourself and your business. Networking requires a genuine interest in others. They deserve your respect and your attention. Be a good listener for common goals and interests and establish useful relationships. Be punctual and respect how much time your contacts are able to give you. Be proactive and conduct research on the individual, the employer or the industry with whom you would like to connect.

                   

Here are some ways to develop your network:

1. Reach out to friends, family members and alumni - they are a rich pool of people with connections.
2. Seek to connect with people informally at conferences and meetings or at  formal networking events. Begin your conversation with what you know about the person, or the organization, talk about your common interests, and build your conversation from there. Let them know how you possibly can help them.
3. Make connections through social media such as Linkedin. 
4. When you communicate with people through face to face interviews, over the phone or through skype or some other system, be prepared with questions. Use the internet if you have access, choose and adapt questions that will be personally and culturally relevant to you. if a chance meeting offers you an opportunity, ask for contact information and a business card.
5. Reciprocate - be a resource for those in your network. Your network is built over time because all connections you make become part of your personal and professional network. 

Think of your network as something that is alive and requires your time and attention to stay healthy and relevant.

Here are some ideas on how to maintain your network:

1. Reach out to your contacts when something reminds you of them. Let them know you are thinking about their needs and not just what they can do for you. This will help you build a strong foundation for a continued relationship. 

   Send along occasional updates or interesting relevant information about yourself .

   Reach out to your contact in advance of coordinated job searches. Send your resume and the job description to the position that you are applying. Keep your contact informed about the outcome and write them a thank-you note if they in any way help.Remember what you talked about with your contacts when you met them. A good way to remember is to write quick notes on their business card. 

   Be sure to follow up with a new contact within 24 to 48 hours. If your contact connects you to a valuable resource, please let that person know what happened as a result of this connection. Be sure to thank both of them. 

   In conclusion, you need to understand that networking is an ongoing process, not a discrete event. success comes from continuously making new contacts, following up and keeping in touch.

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