At the age of 24 years, Adeola Falomo was a receptionist at an eye clinic. She recalls how she combined a number of tasks that included mopping and sweeping the office. Determined to make it in life, she put in a lot of effort there and moved on to sit on the board of LASACO. Today, she is the CEO of Courage Décor, and she tells Yetunde Oladeinde about the journey to the top, passion for décor, combining career and marriage, amongst others.
OW was it at the beginning?
After my training, I was given one month to come back after learning and thereafter we should consider ourselves competitors. You know, learning something and within one month they want you to get a job and ask questions. Obviously, none of us could get a job and there was no way we could go back to ask for anything. That was what gave me the initial challenge. But I now decided to start with family and friends, taking whatever peanuts that they were willing to offer.
Then I would take the photograph and put myself in the work. I discovered that people want to see what you have done and, as much as possible, I put in every effort into whatever they gave me to do.
When did the business start?
While I was working, I was doing the business. I left full time employment in 2009. That is about nine years ago and we have been at it for about ten years now. I feel excited because the money I couldn’t make in my profession, I have been able to make. Apart from the money, there is the satisfaction, the connection and more. Everything about décor is beautiful, inside and outside. You are a happier person and when you see something beautiful, the joy that comes from the inside of you makes you a very lively person.
Did you ever feel like pulling out at any point?
Not really. I thank God for who He is. Anytime I feel discouraged about a job, something would just pop up. God actually encourages me on a daily basis. I don’t need anyone to tell me that I am in the right direction.
Let’s talk about the memorable moments on the job
There was this job that I did for Bisola, Trendy B, a popular planner, and it was hastag Laoye 2015. The money I was paid was small but I wanted to do the job. The mother of the groom (now late) was someone very close to me. I considered her as a sister from another mother. She knew me and encouraged me to go and use what I had. Meanwhile, the planner had something very different from what I had. It was a bit of a challenge to me but I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to give up and I gave it my best. A whole lot of things came up from that job and I got more than ten referrals.
What are some of the challenges?
The challenges we have is space. You can see this big building that we have taken. You need space to store your goods properly. People want to see something neat, very well kept. And you have got to have space to keep them. I can tell you that some of the items we have here date back to 2016, but because we kept them properly, you can always get them in use. So, storage is number one challenge. The second challenge is that some of those things get obsolete and you have to sell them off. Competition and people cutting prices just because they want to do anything. I don’t want to do just anything.
How do you stand out in this sector that is highly competitive?
For me, in the last twelve months, I have tried to create a niche with flowers. I have lots of flowers and a lot of people love it. It is exciting because I am able to interpret their dreams with good flowers. That has helped the brand to stand out. We have very neat and exclusive decorations.
How do you juggle this with family life?
You have to have a very understanding family to be successful. I am 55 and my last baby is 18 years; he is in the university. In the early part, I was working in the office and it was easy to cope. Now that I am on my own, you can see me resting on a Monday because most of the weekends, I am at work. I have been here since yesterday morning, I have not gone home. My husband came this morning with his friend to wish me well. So, you have an understanding husband. Sometimes, you don’t even know that you are going to sleep on site. You just have to plan ahead. He has to be able to tolerate you. I bless God that I have been able to balance everything.
For a lot of people in business, having good personnel is usually a problem. What is your experience?
It has not been easy. Somehow, I would say that I have suffered in the time past. Some would take your stuffs when you are not there. You travel abroad and before you come back, they go to the store to take things. By the time you discover that those things are missing, you just can’t pin-point the person who has taken it. Now probably because I am older, I listen more and I understand them better. When you listen to them, you find out that they are also human. I also train them a lot and that mentoring has brought a lot of changes. I give them motivational talks and encourage them.
Tell us about life growing up
I have always been a fashionable person. I love looking good. When I wanted to get married, my mum told my husband that the only thing he can do and I won’t appreciate was if he didn’t have a mirror in the house. Then, I would stand in front of the mirror for so long; I didn’t really like make-up. It was just the natural me standing in front of the mirror, admiring myself or just putting my Indian chain on my head and all that. I just like to stand out, simple but generous.
Did you pick this from your mom?
No, it was my father, the fashionista of the highest order. He had curly hair and he dressed well. He was tall, handsome and he worked with the British Council Library then. He was an administrative officer there. He loved education and he made sure that all his children went to good schools. My mom wasn’t literate but she had to go to adult school at a stage.
Her reason was to be able to sign the register for her children when they were getting married. When the first child got married, somebody had to sign for her and that was when she made up her mind to go back to school, if only to sign for her children. She was a full time housewife, but when my father died, she went back to school.
What do you admire about her?
She is my jewel. Today would have been her birthday. The day is so special because my son also turns 28 today.
Where do you see the business in the next five years?
I see it going places. I started with sales but when I had issues with staff stealing, I stopped and went into rentals. But with the space I have and the things I want to do now and the fact that we are growing, I am looking forward to starting the Blossom Courage Event Centre.
What advice do you have for young people who want to go into this line of business?
My advice is that they should as much as possible try to satisfy every client. I don’t go to parties; the only way I get my jobs is through referrals. It is important to be serious with your job. Once they know this, then they would refer other people to you. Also they should not just do the job for the love of the money but do it with passion. I tell people that it doesn’t matter what I am wearing, when it comes to decoration, I can sit on the floor and do my job. I don’t care how much the cloth is worth because I made the money from décor.