For Derick Uzoukwu, a graduate of Marine Biology from the University of Lagos and budding entrepreneur, his decision to go into T-shirt merchandising some eight years ago was borne out of passion. He has since transformed that passion into a business empire with a clientele that comprise big business, high networth individuals and still counting. In this interview with Medinat Kanabe he shares as a startup. Excerpts:
Why did you choose to go into T-shirt customising business?
These days if you have not put on a customised T-shirt for your pre-wedding photo-shoot, wedding anniversary, birthday parties and other events you may be seen as not knowing what is trending. Thousands of shirts are designed around the country everyday with whatever inscriptions the clients want on them. Now to answer your question, I started customising, designing and branding while I was in school in 2012. I just knew that I needed something to do after school that is aside a 9am to 5pm job so that I can get money from more than one source so it was first graphic design; I was making logos, business cards, flyers, banners for the different departments in school. I discovered it was something that brought joy to me, something that came with ease. I didn’t have to struggle with it. Back then, it was also not for the money because I was not making much. It was for the exposure and experience and to be known.
When I discovered it was something I could do very easily and not very many people did it then, I decided to start monetising it so it was the passion that brought me here. The first logo I ever did I did for N1, 500 so I basically didn’t make anything from it. When I discovered that the person liked and appreciated it, it prompted me to continue.
Did you have any prior training before you started it?
For me basically, it was street knowledge. It was just me trying out different things to make actual fashion because when I was doing the graphic part it just hit me that I can actually put a design on the T-shirt and I already had one part sorted out which was having a graphic design but the part I didn’t understand was having a T-shirt and how to put the graphic design on the T-shirt so I started to ask questions.
When I asked people where I could get a T-shirt of different colours and sizes, they just gave me information based on what they know but many times when I walked down there I found out that the information wasn’t very correct so it hit me that there could be a way I can start from the scratch. To get the fabric, get a tailor to sew it to what I want, sew it to the size that I want then have my print on it.
Do you sew?
I’m a fashion designer, not a tailor. There is a big difference between the two professions. I like to design, to put things in perspective in my mind and bring it out; then I have tailors that work with me whom I tell what I want and how I want it to look, how the part of the cloth will feel. I haven’t thought of sewing, sewing is a big business. It is broad. No one person can know everything. Your aspect of sewing could be making shirts and not T-shirt or native or even know how to design. Most designers that you know of don’t know how to use a machine but they can bring those ideas out graphically or pen to paper and then supervise the tailor. But also, most designers go out of their way to get the fabrics themselves because not all tailors know how to get fabrics.
What is your staff strength?
I have 10 staff and two trainees.
What are the requirements needed before you start the business?
Yes, your business has to be registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission. But you know as entrepreneurs will say, the challenge of most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is funds to start up. So getting your CAC document is very vital and essential but in a case where you are having doubt about the future of the business, I advice that you should use the internet. You can use the social media tools to help you in starting. It is best to go online. You don’t have to pay for rent, electricity, tax or what have you. You can put out the designs as a form of advertisement to let people know what you do. For example, if you want to make T-shirt and you don’t have the fund to get an office but you have a smart phone with date, you can create a page with your name then do a little survey to know how much it will cost you to make a T-shirt with the money you have on you. Write down how much it will cost to get a fabric, how much it will cost to sew it, how much the particular print you want will cost, you can go online to get some graphic images to represent whatever you know that you want to do and put them out on your social media.
Involve your family and friends to patronise what you do and make sure it is not too expensive even for the first time. Then you can now do a basic assessment of 6 months; how much growth or impact your business is making then decide if it is time to register the business then as you progress and have a stringer client base, you can get an office space where you can welcome your customers. You can take a loan or get sponsors.
How much do you require to set up shop?
I would say about N10, 000. This is to get your survey and get samples before selling online and getting actual customers.
How lucrative is the business?
What I am saying is that I am making enough and I pay my staff every week. Since I moved into my new office with new staff about two years ago, I have not defaulted paying them weekly.
What is the gestation period required before you start making money from the business?
It is from your first sale. A basic T-shirt saying something trendy can bring in your first profit after removing your cost of production. Once you make your first sale you make your first profit.
What are the downsides of the business?
There are several of them. It may be not satisfying your customers which can cause problems for you. Not using the appropriate materials, not meeting up with delivery time, problems with machine, inadequate number of staff and many others.
How true is the saying that tailors/fashion designers are one of the most disappointing set of people?
It is not far from the truth but only tailors who don’t know how to manage their time disappoint their clients. Tailors should know how to selectively manage their time, map out the situation. If you come to me today (Tuesday) to say you want a native and you want to use it on Saturday, I will tell you that it is not possible on Saturday but on Wednesday of the next week. So it will give me an ample time to perfect the cloth. It is not as if I cannot deliver the day you want but I must consider a lot of factors before committing myself. If people say tailors don’t deliver on time, I think those factors actually affected the tailor because if you go and meet a tailor and you are angered most tailors will not speak back but if you really go in-depth and ask the tailor why your cloth was not ready, he will tell you the factors that really affected the delivery of your cloth.
Where do you see your business in five years time?
I see it going international. I have started reaching out to people in UK, US, and China.
Who are the big shots that you have done T-shirts for?
I have done T-shirts for top brands and market leaders across range of industries from the banking and finance, telcos, academia, manufacturers, public institutions as well as the organised private sector.
What advice do you have for young people who want to go into business?
Start and be sure that you are doing what you want to do. Start with your immediate circle, your friends.
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