I started this business a few years ago after my secondary school and although it has grown a lot since then, it has not been easy. Reminiscing about the early days of my business takes me back to the days I will open and close my shop without making a kobo. To days when customers will come threatening to close down the shop because I am yet to complete their work, or to days when customers promise you heaven and earth to get their work done only to disappoint at the very end. All these experiences and many more have taught me so much about how to better serve my customers and run my business. For example, some of the customers who happened to be problematic at first now constitute some of my best customers. I’m now learning how to better manage people and situations. This business has taught me to be empathetic to a certain degree, patient and perseverant. On some days so as to retain a customer, I might have to sell my products at the cost price making no profit. On other days a customer will come willing to pay double the price of a product. That’s how the business is.

Another challenge to this business is the unpredictable nature of the economy. I can buy a material for say #1,000 naira this week and by next week, the price may skyrocket to #1,500 naira. Not all customers will be willing to understand why the shoe you once sold to them at #3,000 now costs #4,500.

My business plan for the next few years is to open my mini shoe factory and create a brand for myself.