Today we will be featuring an amazing small business owner! Her name is Olajide Oyindamola. She is an embodiment of a true Nigerian entrepreneur. Surviving through tough circumstances and creating opportunities for herself.
Here is how she answers our business 360 Questions:
Tell me about your business? What goods or services does your business provide?
I design and create handmade footwears and bags.
How did you get started? What was your inspiration?
Lol. It’s a long crazy story but I’ll spare you the details.
It all started in 2019 when I was given admission to study law in Ekiti state university, I left Lagos to Ekiti to start the admission process but unfortunately money won’t let me so I decided to take up menial jobs to see if I could raise my school fees. As expected, I was unable to raise the money (what was I even thinking? That I could possibly raise about 400k in few months? Wahala!)
So after crying myself to sleep for couple of days, I picked myself up and decided I wanted to start my own business and grow to a level where I could see myself through school. As at that time, I was working as a petrol attendant in Ekiti because shame won’t let me go back to Lagos and face my friends (I knew I would feel left out cos everyone else was in school so I stayed back in Ekiti while pretending to go to school)
I took my first salary from the job and used it to enroll in a local shoemaker shop as an apprentice, yes I was still working while learning (I kind of shuffled the whole thing) after saving enough from different menial jobs (petrol attendant, office assistant, waitress) I paid for a space and set up my offline store where I currently work from and yes, I went back to school but not as a law student (I am studying English now) I feel kind of bad about it but I am fulfilled because we can’t always get what we want, can we?
Trust me, poverty inspired me. Nobody did!
How long have you been in business?
3 Years.
How much money have you invested so far?
Ahhh where do I start calculating from? About 2 Million Naira
What has been your biggest challenge?
Attracting potential customers on social media. It keeps me awake at night! I wan blow
What has been the most enjoyable part of your business?
Production. Trust me, it’s back breaking but I love that I can bring my creativity to live. It’s magical!
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently based on the lessons you have learnt so far?
Hmmmm I would learn shoemaking when I was 5! Do you have a time machine you are not using again? I would love to go back in time !
So there you have it! I hope this encourages you to start where you are and with what you have
