Ladies of Delight Blog

Showing posts with label ENTREPRENEURSHIP. Show all posts

Happy new week darlings!!! May God perfect all that concerns us this week and bless us beyond our expectations. Amen🙏🙏…

Will be sharing an interesting interview session we had with a “dynamic” makeup artiste. We call her dynamic because she isn't just about the facebeat but she’s also acquainted with the nitty-gritty of the art and trains ladies/young women on essential beauty tips.

Meet Abiola Olanrewaju popularly called “Bambi”...

Enjoy sweets!

LODF: Hello ma'am, thanks for honoring our invitation.
Can we meet you?

BAMBI: I am Olanrewaju Abiola Emmanuella, a 500 level student of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-ife, Osun State.

LODF: What would you love to tell us about your growing up?
BAMBI: I would say growing up for me has been adventurous, I changed schools a lot right from my primary school up until my secondary school and that gave me the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds having different mindsets and perspectives.

LODF: Why did you venture into the makeup industry and why do you love makeup?
BAMBI: I remember during the holidays (when I was in secondary school ) , I loved using different colors of eyeshadow though I wasn’t good with the application but I had the opportunity to see how it should be done when my Aunty’s makeup artist came around for her makeup trial because she was getting married then.
When I saw the whole process and all she did , I totally fell in love with the skill and I knew I was going to venture into it.

LODF: How long have you been in the industry and how has it been so far?
BAMBI: I have been in the industry now for four years though I had to take a break for a while because I had to brush up my techniques and skills. The journey so far has been good honestly but one thing I have learnt is that the business gives you back the effort and time you give to it.

LODF: Your brand name is Abike_Bambi,(a name that strikes a chord ), what inspired the name "Bambi"?

BAMBI: Well, Bambi is from my grandfather’s ‘Arabambi’ which was later changed to ‘Olanrewaju’, my dad then used ‘Bambi’ as his business name and when I needed a name for my business I decided to use Bambi because I love the name. The love for the name inspired its usage.

LODF: We've been really inspired by your every-monday-beauty-tips, can you tell us what inspired you to do that?

BAMBI: I realized that many ladies love to use the trending foundation lipstick and all but some end up lamenting that the particular product they got is not a good product where as those product are actually good, so I ask them a question ‘what’s your skin type?’
And their response is that they don’t know or they throw the same question back at me. Then I decided to take it upon myself to share the basic knowledge every makeup lover should have and since I was taught in the makeup schools I attended (In vogue makeup school & House of Tara makeup school) I knew it was something I would enjoy doing.

LODF: Would love to tap from your wealth of knowledge - Can you share with us common beauty mistakes women make?
BAMBI: Common mistakes women make when it comes to makeup are :
•not getting the right shade of foundation
•having a thin brow

•not getting the right kind of foundation for their skin type, etc.

LODF: Who are the people that inspire you on this journey?
BAMBI: A lot of people actually inspire me, the list is long but let me just name few of them: Banke Meshida Lawal, Tara Fela Durotoye, Bobbi Brown, Anastasia Soare .....

LODF: What's the biggest challenge you face as a make-up artiste and what keeps you going?

BAMBI: As a makeup artist you get to meet ‘different’ people and one has to know that you manage people differently because one’s clients can never be the same. What keeps me going is the love and passion I have for the skill.

LODF: Where do you see yourself and your brand in few years?
BAMBI : Well it can only get better, I see myself and my brand going global 😁😁 producing good and affordable makeup products and also impacting the lives of people positively.

LODF: What's your favourite quote?

BAMBI: I don’t have a favorite quote but this is what I tell myself on a regular basis ‘Before you try to change a person, understand where they are coming from’

LODF: What else do you love doing asides makeup?
BAMBI: Taking pictures of people 😄😄

LODF: What's the most important beauty advice you can give to women?
BAMBI: Never ever buy a fake makeup product!

LODF: 3 words that describe you.
BAMBI: God fearing, honest and jovial

💙💙💙
Thank you so much.

Trust you enjoyed the interview session… You could link up with BAMBI via her IG page, her handle is @makeupbyabikebambi or put a call through to her : 0816 567 0333 to book a session! You will be glad you did 😘😘

Have a fabulous week FAM!

Heyyyy lovelies, it's weekend !!!

Hope it's not too late to wish our readers a happy new month as this is the first post this month!

May the month be one of new beginnings and accomplished dreams.

Maybe this post is not what should be up on a Saturday , as it's weekend and time to chill… It should probably be up on a Monday morning being a “serious-kind-of-post” (none of our posts are in serious though)😜😜…

However, there is no time knowledge is inappropriate or irrelevant…

The topic up for discussion today is “Building Your Brand” and there is so much to learn, so l implore you dear reader to sit back, relax and enjoy the read.

You will agree with me that about 60%/70% of people in the world today have some sort of business they run or work they do. Some are entrepreneurs, some are bloggers, some are models, some are PR(Public Relations) specialists and lots more. The common thing among all of these classes of people mentioned is they all are promoting one thing or the other for a particular ultimate goal, that thing that is promoted is their brand.

This leads us to the question,

“What is a Brand?”

A brand is defined by a customer's perception of your business.

Building a brand is definitely not a one day thing, it's continuous and it yields result as fostering a long term relationship with your audience.

I will be sharing tips on how to build your brand. Enjoy!

° DETERMINE YOUR BRAND'S TARGET AUDIENCE
The foundation for building your brand, is to determine the target audience that you’ll be focusing on.
You can’t be everything to everyone, right.
Map out your target audience /client such as :

ladies/women between the ages of 18-35
single moms who work from home
college students
executive professionals

When brand building, keep in mind who exactly you are trying to reach. You’ll tailor your mission and message to meet their exact needs.

This helps in your marketing strategy to narrow your focus to your target audience.

° DEFINE A BRAND MISSION STATEMENT
Have you thought about your mission? What exactly do you want to do? What impact do you want to make? What do you want to be known for?

Before you can build a brand that your target audience trusts, you need to know what value your business provides.

The mission statement basically defines a purpose for existing. Define your mission statement clearly.

For instance, George has a clothing brand, his mission statement could be :

“To create a revolution in the fashion industry” . You can go further by defining how you want to achieve that.

° RESEARCH ON OTHER BRANDS IN YOUR INDUSTRY :

This is very essential in building your brand. Learn from other people in your industry.

Are you a fashion designer? Get yourself acquainted with other influential fashion designers, learn from their mistakes.

You should not imitate exactly what the big brands are doing in your industry.
But, you should be aware of what they do well (or where they fail).

The goal is to differentiate from the competition.

We’re always thinking about how to make a brand stand out. Don’t skip this step in the brand building process.

Research your main competitors or benchmark brands. Study how they have effectively, and ineffectively gone about building a brand name.

° CREATE A BRAND LOGO AND TAGLINE :

How many of us have logos for our brands already???

If you don't, please do ASAP. Get serious with your brand, get serious with what you are doing.

An example of a logo

The most exciting (and arguably the most important piece) of the brand building process, is to create a brand logo and tagline for your business or company.

This logo will appear on everything that relates to your business. It will become your identity, calling card, and the visual recognition of your promise.

So be willing to invest the time and money into creating something worthwhile. Get a professional designer to do one for you.

° LET YOUR BRAND PERSONALITY SHINE
People aren’t looking for another company / entrepreneurs who offer the same thing as everyone else.

They are looking for an experience tailored to their needs, backed by genuine personal interaction.

Interpersonal relationship is key, be unique and creative.

° PROMOTE YOUR BRAND:

It's funny when some entrepreneurs are on all social media platforms and there is nothing they put up that has to do with what they sell or the service they render and what they do.

Social media is an effective platform to reach out to people and advertise your brand.

Let people know you for what you do, there is no point being timid about it.

No one knows the brand better than you, so it's up to you to spread the word!

Make quality your priority, promote what you do.

Someone once said, “A brand is a story always being told”.

Let's build an effective brand guys!

What do you think about the tips? Do you have one or two tips you would love to share? Please drop in comment box.

Would love to receive your comments 😊😊😊.

Thanks for reading lovelies!

Have a great weekend.

Hello darlings! It's been a while here, forgive us for being absent without notice!Trust you missed us😄😄😄

Guess what? We had an interview with a Compere/Event host... Meet Nneamaka Nwadei, a graduate of Dramatic Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, an excellent compere, an actress, a singer as well as a media enthusiast. Join us on this journey with NNEAMAKA!

LODF: Hello Ma'am, we're glad to have you on our platform. Can you tell us more about you?
NNEAMAKA: Thank you. My name is Nneamaka Sharon Nwadei. I'm the first of four girls. I'm from Ibusa in Delta state. I am a Christian. I just recently concluded my study at the department of dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife Osun state. I'm a compere, a media enthusiast, amongst other things. I'm an ambivert: not an introvert or an extrovert, just right in the middle. I use my left- which is one of the reasons why I'm so intelligent (lol)

LODF: Lol! What was growing up like for you?
NNEAMAKA: Growing up was interesting, we had a big compound with lots of animals, so we used to feed them. We also had many of our age mates around and so we enjoyed their company. Although there were days when my mum would lock my sister and I in the house and go out. Those days were unforgettable.

LODF: What do you enjoy doing at your leisure?
NNEAMAKA: I like to rest, see a movie, read a book, just do something that relaxes me.

LODF: What made you study dramatic arts for your undergraduate studies?
NNEAMAKA: I have always been the active child, up and about the whole place, in secondary school I was a science student who represented the school in art related competitions and presentations. Thankfully I had a teacher who became my school father/mentor and helped me to find my path and stay on it before it got too late; I changed from sciences to arts and I just continued that way to the university. Dramatic Arts is all encompassing, it makes you a flexible person.

LODF: Any plan for your acting career?
NNEAMAKA: Yes, but for now the plan is to get depth, add value to myself as a person before sharing my gift with the world. As an actor, you give yourself everyday, you can't afford to be shallow or else you'll fizzle out of relevance. The goal is to be timeless, global.

LODF: Awesome! What inspired you to become a Compere/Event host?
NNEAMAKA: My being a compere started in church. I moderated services in the youth arm of our parent church for years before getting admitted into university. I have always loved running things smoothly and talking to people, so seeing an event or program from start to finish and having everyone involved made me continue in school.

LODF:How has the journey been so far?
NNEAMAKA:I would say that it has been great, to the glory of God. When I started out it wasn't easy, being a new face and having no precedents. But I learnt to talk to people and that opened doors for me. These people helped me to connect with people who were the compere lords of campus to teach me, show me the ropes, and then I added my own personal spice- you must be different or you'll be like everyone else and that does not sell your market.

LODF: How were you able to balance other things with your passion for anchoring events and all when you were in school ?
NNEAMAKA: Balancing is a very serious thing. I didn't learn to prioritize on time, and I didn't learn late either, but if I had learnt earlier than I did I'm sure I'd have been even more productive. A student is first a student before a worker. My department is a tough one and you must give your one hundred percent, but being a worker and going better at my job meant that I got more shows too. There is a price for excellence, and the excellent minded must pay. It meant that I had to organize my schedule and be reasonable- if you have a rehearsal you've not been excused from, you must attend, even if it means missing a show. And then, wherever you are, give it your best so that when you're not there you're not putting yourself in a bad light. At the end of the day, you don't want to live a lopsided life. So balance is necessary. Thankfully I didn't have to miss many programs.

LODF: Any challenge so far? Who/What keeps you going?
NNEAMAKA: There have been challenges, like not being able to take jobs because of clashing lecture or rehearsal schedules, getting jobs and not getting paid, and sometimes, people think being a compere is simple- just to talk. It's not. Then, not everyone understands that some people will evolve, when I started being a compere seriously it affected my relationship with some of my classmates because I wasn't so active in the department anymore. What keeps me going is when I remember that I'm going somewhere, and that everything's a process. The Bible says I should not despise my days of little beginnings. These are the days.

LODF: Do you have mentors you look up to in this aspect?
NNEAMAKA: Oh! Yes, I do. One of such great people is Chigozirim Otefe-Edebi. She is an outstanding compere and she puts me through all the time. Most of the people who groomed me as a compere in OAU have graduated. I also follow the works of several comperes and presenters in this generation who are masters of the art.

LODF: Where do you see yourself few years from now?
NNEAMAKA: I see myself sharing tables with the greats, fulfilling purpose- that's the main reason to live.

LODF: Will you like to share with us your most exciting moment so far?
NNEAMAKA: Honestly every program is different and unique in its way, so there's a special feel after a successful completion of a job. I make it a point of duty to always take something for myself from every moment. That said, I have many exciting moments.

LODF: If you were to go on a tour to a country with your ticket paid for, what country will that be and why?
NNEAMAKA: United Arab Emirates! Ooh, that country has the best tourist center right now. For now I only see it on TV, I'd like to experience it first hand.

LODF: What's your favorite quote?
NNEAMAKA: Learn, unlearn, relearn

LODF: Last words for those that are on the path of living their dreams and those that have not started the journey.
NNEAMAKA: At the core of everything is the creator of it all- God, if you take that for granted, you'll be taken for granted soon. Hardwork is good; smart work is better. If you work just for money, you will not be happy. Work for free, get experience, build good relationships with people. Finally, you don't know it all, pride really goes before a massive fall. Humility will take you far. Thank you.

Thanks so much.

Hey revered readers!!! Look we are featuring on the blog today😆😆😆

Meet Tosin Abejide, a world-class beauty entrepreneur and a budding lawyer. She recently bagged the award of "Best Entrepreneur of the Year" at the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University.

We had a swell time interviewing her as she took us on her entrepreneurial and life journey so far! It's a long read but you will enjoy every bit

Enjoy!

LODF: Can we meet you?

Tosin Abejide: My name is Abejide Oluwatosin Mercy. I'm presently a part 5 law student of the prestigious Faculty of Law, OAU. I'm also a beauty entrepreneur, I offer makeup services and also own an online jewelry store.

LODF:Tell us about yourself, what was growing up like for you? What's your family background?

Tosin Abejide: I come from a family of 5. Just my parents ,my 2 sisters and I. But we grew up with our cousins and extended family around so i always seem to forget that, lol. I come from a Christian home, we used to attend Baptist then later we moved to Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners Chapel. I was born in kaduna, my family actually resided there. We moved to Ibadan because of the crisis when i was 9 years old. My dad is a contractor and my mum is a Teacher.. Very strict parents but i love them too much anyway.

LODF: What are your interests/hobbies?
Tosin Abejide: I'm interested in makeup and the business of it,not just the creative aspect.
I'm also weirdly interested in law as it relates to Taxation🙈.
My hobbies are reading (inspirational ,novels, biographies etc) and listening to good music.

LODF: So, why make-up? What’s the inspiration behind your business?
Tosin Abejide: I started makeup out of boredom really 🙈🙈. ASUU strike motivated me to learn stuff. I also learnt bead making and wireworks .

LODF: What's the secret or inspiration behind your brand name “Rheevo”?
Tosin Abejide: House of Rheevo was gotten via the inspiration of the holy spirit. It might sound corny but really it was. My Pastor Bishop David O. Oyedepo was preaching and he mentioned that it’s only true revelation, obedience and hardwork that can create a revolution. I decided that I'd like to revolutionize the makeup industry!!!! And that's how i chose the name. The house in it was me copying Tara Durotoye initially but now i plan to make it a house of everything beauty including :facials, skin care, hair, nails and makeup.

LODF:What side to make-up do you enjoy doing? Bridal? Birthday? Model?
Tosin Abejide: I actually enjoy doing face painting and special effects makeup more than regular makeup. Then I like doing editorials also. They are very challenging and they push me to be more creative.

LODF: What's your signature as a make-up artist? What differentiates you from other MUAs?
Tosin Abejide: I've been told I have a light touch and my foundation routine isn't too heavy. I basically like mild makeup. And if I had my way, most ladies will be on nude eyeshadow and popping lipstick...lol..but I don't. So most times I just do what my client wants and try not to loose my "soft touch"

LODF: How has your entrepreneurial journey been? Any challenge?
Tosin Abejide: My entrepreneurial journey has been exciting. I've learnt alot, met amazing people and pushed myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. I'm happy even though I know I have a long way to go.
The major challenge i have faced in the course of my business is pricing.
Initially I was shy and I did most of my jobs free of charge. Later it dawned on me that I had to grow my business and I needed money to achieve that(lol), so I started charging little prices, but being in a student environment, everyone wants your excellent service for next to nothing!!!! It's been a struggle but its getting better. Nowadays I don't even have so many people haggling with me like we're in the market anymore. Looking at how bad it was ,I'm just grateful to God for where I am now. I mean somebody wanted to pay 200 naira for her makeup! And she wasn't joking oh😁😁

LODF: How do you fund your business?
Tosin Abejide: Funding!!!!! Actually getting capital is a headache sometimes, I must agree. But hey....save steadily, buy one thing at a time. You dont have to have 100k to start a makeup business. If you can get it, great.(but i don't like the idea of starting such an unpredictable business with a loan) If you can't, be like me...buy small small. Whenever i look at my kit now, I'm amazed. I remember when all I had was a purse.
Sometimes don't buy sharwama, sometimes take a bus, save.

LODF: How have you been able to balance make-up business with other pressing things like academics and all?

Tosin Abejide: Balancing activities has been my strong point for as far back as i can remember. I remember being in a boarding house and balancing play time with reading time and sleeping time.
In OAU being a business owner can be draining. But I've learnt over time to cut off unproductive activities and stick to only beneficial and extremely necessary ones.
It's important that I succeed in business and also in my academics, so I dont take certain kind of jobs when the school is in session.
I try to push the hard work to the holiday season as much as possible.

LODF: Do you have mentors/models in your field? What are their names?
Tosin Abejide: I have mentors in the makeup industry. They're Nsoleke, Lolade Mlpro and Lola Maja. These women have been able to create their brands and establish themselves as professionals. Their work speaks for them. They are also very nice and honest people. I've met 2 personally out of the above mentioned 3. They've been blessings to me honestly.

LODF:Who/what keeps you going at those times you feel like giving up?

Tosin Abejide:Most times I have to keep myself going...I sit down and remind myself why I started and what I want to achieve with God's backing! It's not a joke. Its an empire. Of course there will be bumps on the road. God has been good.My family and friends also push me to be better,that’s why I don't joke with them.

LODF: What advice do you have for upcoming entrepreneurs particularly in the make-up industry?
Tosin Abejide: I just want to encourage every upcoming entrepreneur like me to please know their onions. Learn very very well first before you open a shop. When you're very good at what you do,people you don't even know will be the ones advertising you to the world. It's important that you don't chase money first, start by building a network of people who trust you and value your services. It might take time but consistency is key. You have to continue, even when you don't feel like.

LODF:Where do you see yourself in about 5 years?
Tosin Abejide: In 5years, I see myself as an amazing tax lawyer with flexible work hours and a masters degree to her name.
I see myself owning a physical outlet for house of Rheevo, where our loyal customers can walk in and come out looking like glistening Precious stones.
I see myself owning a business which can run by itself and a thriving jewelry online store.

LODF: What's your favourite quote?
Tosin Abejide:I have too many to pick a favorite oh...but I think this applies
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, NIV “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody”.

LODF: Describe yourself in 3 words.
Tosin Abejide: Beautiful,Smart,Business savvy.

LODF: Thank you for taking time out to share with us Tosin! We are honored having you here!

Tosin Abejide: Thank you too! I'm honored!

Is there a need for any intro???

Maybe yes ,for the sake of a few people that don't know this Lioness of Africa!

Tara Fela-Durotoye is a lawyer turned Africa's leading beauty and makeup entrepreneur. She started House of Tara at the age of 20, from her living room, whilst an undergraduate at university back in 1998. She's since gone on to launch Nigeria's first ever bridal directory in 1999, and in 2004 she opened the country's leading beauty academy. Today, Tara has over 3,000 reps spread across Nigeria and 14 stores to her name and she is steadfastly dedicated to realising her vision of building a globally respected beauty company of African origin. Tara remains an inspirational role-model and mentor to make-up artists and aspiring beauty business owners across Africa.

5 Entrepreneur Tips From Tara Durotoye :

• Stay true to yourself : In the words of Tara, she said

"For House of Tara, our drive has never been to be number one out of a thousand, we never aspired to be better than anyone else, we have always aspired to be us and stay true to who we are. I believe that as long as we are tied to our overall purpose, it will determine how successful we have become and how successful we are."

• Find yourself, your purpose in life. Don’t just get a job, do something that is tied to a purpose. Even if you get a job, let it be tied to a purpose .... In her words, “it is not just about making money or turning a profit. There are people who need my call and my assignment and I need desperately to answer to their voices."

•Don't underestimate the value of a structured environment : Create budgets and put in place accounting systems and software including payment vouchers for petty cash, these have helped House of Tara thrive.

•Keep on learning : Tara has taken several courses to equip herself as an entrepreneur and help her business including the Owner’s Manager's Program at Lagos Business School which shaped the direction of her business.

• Invest in people: Entrepreneurs often worry about training their staff because they might leave with the training. However, the alternative is building a business with untrained staff and wise entrepreneurs know which of these risks to take.
Regular staff training has helped Tara expand her business.

Credit: ConnectNigeria

Achievements are much celebrated than ideas...

One of the easiest ways to prove that a business idea is worthy of your attention is to learn from inspiring success stories. That’s why we are sharing an interesting business success story with you.

Ibukun Awosika used to work as a Showroom manager for Alibert, one of Nigeria’s well-established furniture companies.

She quit her job to start her own furniture business with a focus on high quality locally-manufactured office furniture.

She instantly faced two serious challenges. First, she had no technical experience in furniture making; she studied Chemistry at the university and had only worked at Alibert for a little less than three months before she quit the job.

Second, local furniture businesses faced stiff competition from furniture imported from USA and Europe which were very popular in Nigeria at that time.

Unlike most wannabe entrepreneurs who would have waited for ‘favourable’ conditions and ‘perfect’ timing to start their business, Ibukun went ahead with her idea in spite of her little experience and tough competition.

She started her small furniture business by hiring three carpenters, two tailors and two sprayers. Because she could not afford any of the big machines, her workers used their own basic tools. Work requiring larger machines were outsourced to bigger workshops for a fee.

To succeed in the business, Ibukun knew she had to match the quality of both the big and established furniture makers in Nigeria and the imported brands.

In time, her dedication to quality paid off and she started attracting some noteworthy customers.

Her first clients were some of the banks and multinational companies which used to be supplied by the big furniture companies. She established a reputation for high quality and the business grew through referrals by satisfied customers.

Ibukun grew the business by reinvesting her profits to purchase her own new machines and equipment.

In a bid to develop the local furniture industry and create jobs, the Nigerian government introduced a ban on imported furniture in 2004. This change presented a huge opportunity for local furniture businesses like Ibukun’s.

To exploit this advantage, her company, The Chair Centre Limited, formed a joint venture partnership with Sokoa SA, arguably the biggest office furniture maker in France. Under this partnership, a modern furniture manufacturing factory was built in Nigeria for the local production of world-class and international standard office furniture.

Today, Ibukun is the Managing Director of the Sokoa Chair Centre, a local company that sells several models and designs of office furniture and rakes in over two million dollars in sales every year.

Ibukun’s experience is an inspiring story of a visionary entrepreneur who in spite of her inexperience and little capital was able to transform her small furniture company into an amazing multi-million dollar enterprise. Truly inspiring!

......

Dear revered reader, you are encouraged to take “baby” yet daring steps as you continue your journey into fulfilment this year! We look forward to sharing your success story🙌🙌😀😀😀

We win!

Thanks for reading 💜💜💜

Ladies of Delight Blog

Instagram

Instagram