The Nation Newspaper

Category: Small Business and Entreprenuership

  • A change agent in Lagos suburb

    A change agent in Lagos suburb

    Ayobo is a developing suburb in Lagos. For years, the area was an economic backwater, depending on farmers planting food crops.

    This is changing thanks to the rapid growth of small businesses providing everything from soap production to aquaculture and this has yielded a thriving trade centre. Of recent, the area has emerged as a major player in the booming small businesses.

    As a result, more than 20,000 families could be lifted out of rural poverty in a remarkable economic success story that has seen the area become one of the leading entrepreneurship centres in the state. This has shown that rural enterprises can be a powerful antidote to rural poverty.

    One of the change agents, Mrs Ebere Anokwuru, and some entrepreneurs have relocated to the area to provide opportunities to lift residents of the area out of poverty.

    A few years ago, Mrs Anokwuru and her husband were in Ayobo thinking about some businesses and they realised they needed to start a good one once they relocated there.

    They settled for a bakery.

    Her dream was a bakery business that will supply healthy goods to shops and market places.

    She started in January. The bakery employs 15 staff. The company has an impact on the community in terms of hiring people.

    A lot of women folk have been employed as distributors. This engagement,she noted, has turned their lives around.

    Anokwuru said the business is raising people’s incomes and reducing poverty.

    Her intention is to create jobs and opportunities for poor people to support their families and build more stable futures.

    “The idea of providing employment opportunities to people supporting families, creates an entire circle that changed poverty.

    To help her and others achieve this, MrsAnokwuru said the government needs to encourage startups to create economic growth.

    She said her organisation is facing challenges that makes it difficult for them to stimulate and sustain economic growth. These challenges include infrastructure, lack of access to finance and unsuitable laws and regulations.

    The poor infrastructure, she noted , could deter people from investing.

    The bakeries suffered, because they are unable to pass on much of the higher wheat and energy costs to consumers.

    For her, Ayobo occupies a unique place in the state ‘s economy—its vast populace and large physical size alone makes the area a powerful economic centre.

    Start-ups, entrepreneurs and start-up communities are already living and working within the area.

    She said much could be achieved with support for small business owners to make capital investment.

    This, she added, would make the economy more productive. In other words, new machinery, better technology, and more investment in infrastructure would help to raise output.

    Ayobo is a startup community.

    She called for reforms to raise economic efficiency by introducing incentives to small private businesses.

    She said the economy needs reforms that give greater room for private ownership of production.

    However, Mrs Anokwuru said while capital investment is crucial to growth, it becomes even more potent when accompanied by market-oriented reforms that introduce incentives to rural enterprises and small private businesses. That combination can unleash a productivity boom that will propel aggregate growth.

    She noted that some critical developments are needed to see the rural level industry grow rapidly. Critical to downtown redevelopment, MrsAnokwuru, added was the need for a good road network closer to the downtown core.

    According to her, the key to improving the bread industry is good distribution network in the area.

    She is not facing much pressure and competition from known brands, because they don’t see it as a wise investment to establish new outlets.

  • ‘Youth empowerment tool for wealth creation’

    ABIA State Governor, Theodore Orji has said youth empowerment is a tool for wealth creation that leads to socio-economic advancement.

    He spoke at the graduation of 400 beneficiaries of Abia Skills Acqusition Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in Umuahia.

    He said that youth empowerment programmes created an enabling environment for young people to contribute positively to the growth of the society.

    “This programme has created an opportunity for young people to engage themselves in ventures that will make them become good representatives of their families.

    “This has further reduced the number of unemployed youths in Abia by empowerment of 400 people, an indication that this skills acquisition programme is a success,’’ Orji said.

    A Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Consultant, Mrs Bisiola Nwakodo, said the beneficiaries were trained in catering, computer operation, fashion designing, hair dressing, fish/poultry farming and interior decoration.

    He said the beneficiaries were placed on a monthly stipend of N10, 000 and attached to establishments for internship during their trainings.

    “ I am confident that the beneficiaries through practising what they have learnt will bring economic growth to the state,”she said.

    The wife of the governor, Mrs Odochi Orji, urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the programme by practising the skills.

    “Self-reliance is capable of helping one to genuinely serve others and develop one’s talents,’’ she said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chinwendu Abazie, said she would use the equipment to generate income for her family’s upkeep, while Mr Ndukwekalu, said he would become an employer of labour.

  • Selling recharge cards, others, making fortune

    Selling recharge cards, others, making fortune

    Before Adeoye Adebayo, ChiefExecutive,God’s Time Adepet Enterprise started a phone call business, he had no accommodation. He was sleeping in a make shift with an Hausa night guard at Ajegunle Bus stop, Alapado, Lagos. It was traumatic. That was in 2009. Later,his entrepreneurial spirit led him to inspire others.

    He began business out of need. But he encountered several difficulties. He was determined not to end up among the growing number of unemployed young people.He looked for a way out.

    He started with N7000, bought an umbrella, a chair, table and Airtel branded phone. He sees an opportunity in the residents in the neighbourhood who have cell phones and for which they regularly buy recharge cards. He understands that they needed a supplier.

    He bought cards and started helping people to make calls. He soon started to win his customers and made some savings to launch himself in telephony business. Soon, he was able to make money to rent a room. He was proud of what he was doing. Along the line, people were making enquiries about chargers and batteries.

    He bought on request.He added other accessories to the business. From his savings, he got himself a shed at the bus stop and displayed his items for sale. The business grew and he got himself a container, but was left with nothing to stock it.

    A friend loaned him N50,000. He was to pay back the money with an interest of N7,000.He couldn’t tell people that he got the money with interest so he wouldn’t be discouraged from taking it. That was a big challenge. With a brave heart, nothing is impossible, he reasoned.

    He was able to repay the money with the interest six months after.

    Today, besides owning a big phone store, he has a barbing salon. He has employed four staff.

    Adebayo is one of the new generation of homegrown micro entrepreneurs serving the multi-naira phone market. When asked about the key to his success, he said: “Adaptability, confidence and courage.”

    So, it is not uncommon to see him encouraging, orientating and advising young entrepreneurs who want to start in business.

    Today, he is one of the successful entrepreneurs who inspires the youth who want to go into business and become financially independent.

    As more Nigerians own mobile phones, he told them, the demand for accessories such as chargers, earphones (wireless and wired), batteries, phone pouches, USB connectors and memory cards will be on the rise.

     

  • Investing in soap production

    Soap, be it antiseptic, toilet or ordinary is a good business. Great potential exist for any investor to make money. The major raw materials required for production include caustic soda, sodium silicate, soda ash, PKO or red palm oil, perfume and colorant. These can be sourced from the local market and exist in abundance and at all seasons. Equipment needed include industrial mixer, sieving machine, weighing scale, measurement utensil and other auxiliaries. The technology for soap production is so simple that a primary knowledge of simple arithmetic would put a promoter through.

    To begin, one needs a certain quantity of caustic soda and other chemicals mixed properly. Added to this, one has to dilute a percentage of perfume to deodorised the odour of the soap. Deodorant and other ingredients must be added (as percentage) to the finished mixture to produce an antiseptic soap.Those who can afford engage an industrial chemist. This will help the business to produce the best quality soap, conforming to international standards. This stands out the product from the poorly produced soaps now flooding the market. A well-prepared soap must be void of palm oil odour, sanities smell, shrinking water shedding, and white substance coverage. It is only on this condition that export sales can be guaranteed.

    For infrastructure, a three-bed room flat would be ideal for a start. The site must have water, electricity and good access road. The capital outlay for soap production is very low. For the project under consideration, N450,000 will be enough for a start. This amount can be scaled down or increased depending on the financial ability of the promoter. Potential investors in need of capital for implementation of this or any of our listed small-scale projects may get in touch for assistance.

    A small scale project will cost between N450,000 and N1 million. This amount can be scaled down or increased depending on the financial strength of the promoter. The market includes distributors who are dealers on soap, supermarkets, factories, hotels, schools and the general public.

    On the international scene, the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) sub-region, central and East Africa Countries are potential/ready markets. Address of established export markets for these products are obtainable on request. To capture and maintain a fair share of the market, the company must ensure that its product is of high quality. Furthermore, the use of effective pricing, wide distributorship, constant stock and aggressive salesmen are encouraged.

    A production capacity of 300 kilogrammes of solid or 2,000 litres liquid soap per day is possible for the project under consideration. This will yield a minimum turnover of N6.5 million per year out of which an after tax profit of 20 per cent N1.3 million is realisable.

    For more details contact: krisedbrilliant@yahoo.com or call 08023381900.

     

  • Using blue ocean strategy to make millions

    Using blue ocean strategy to make millions

    It has always been a great challenge to corporate organisations to handle competition effectively, get appreciable market share and achieve profitability. This is why I want us to examine this book titled: Blue Ocean Strategy. It is co-authored by Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne. Kim is the Boston Consulting Group Bruce D. Henderson chair professor of Strategy and International Management at INSEAD; while Renee Mauborgne is the INSEAD distinguished fellow and professor of Strategy and Management.

    According to Kim and Mauborgne, companies have long engaged in head-to-head competition in search of sustained, profitable growth. They add that companies have fought for competitive advantage, battled over market share and struggled for differentiation, yet in today’s overcrowded industries, competing head-on results in nothing but a bloody “red ocean” of rivals fighting over a shrinking profit pool. These authors say based on a study of 150 strategic moves spanning more than a hundred and thirty industries, tomorrow’s leading companies will succeed not by battling competitors, but by creating “blue oceans” of uncontested market space ripe for growth.

    The text contains three parts of nine chapters. Part one is titled: Blue ocean strategy and contains two chapters. Chapter one is tagged “Creating blue oceans”. According to Kim and Mauborgne here, it will always be important to swim successfully in the red ocean by out-competing rivals. They expatiate that red oceans will always matter and will always be a fact of business life. These authors say but with supply exceeding demand in more industries, competing for a share of contracting markets, while necessary, will not be sufficient to sustain high performance.

    In their words, “Companies need to go beyond competing. To seize new profit and growth opportunities, they also need to create blue oceans. Unfortunately, blue oceans are largely uncharted.” These authors say although the term “Blue ocean” is new, its existence is not and it is a feature of business life, past and present. Kim and Mauborgne educate that despite the fact that economic conditions indicate the rising imperative of blue oceans, there is a general belief that the odds of success are lower when companies venture beyond existing industry space. They add that the issue now is how to succeed in blue oceans, stressing that if one lacks understanding of the opportunity-maximising and risk-minimising principles driving the creation and capturing of blue oceans, the odds will be lengthened against one’s blue ocean initiative.

    Chapter two is based on the subject matter of analytical tools and frameworks. These authors say we have spent the past decade developing a set of analytical tools and frameworks in an attempt to make the formulation and execution of blue ocean strategy as systematic and actionable as competing in the red waters of known market space. Kim and Mauborgne stress that these analytics fill a central void in the field of strategy, which has developed an impressive array of tools and frameworks to compete in red oceans, such as the five forces for analysing existing industry conditions and three generic strategies, but has remained virtually silent on practical tools to excel in blue oceans.

    “Instead, executives have received calls to be brave and entrepreneurial, to learn from failure, and to seek out revolutionaries. Although thought-provoking, these are not substitutes for analytics to navigate successfully in blue waters,” disclose these authors. Kim and Mauborgne add that in the absence of analytics, executives cannot be expected to act on the call to break out of existing competition. They stress that effective blue ocean strategy should be about risk minimisation and not risk-taking.

    Part two is summarily tagged Formulating blue ocean strategy and covers four chapters, that is, chapters three to six. Chapter three is entitled “Reconstruct market boundaries”. According to these experts here, the first principle of blue ocean strategy is to reconstruct market boundaries to break from the competition and create blue oceans. Kim and Mauborgne submit that the challenge is to successfully identify, out of the haystack of possibilities that exist, commercially compelling blue ocean opportunities.

    In chapters four to six, these authors discuss the concepts of focusing on the big picture, not the numbers; reaching beyond existing demand; and getting the strategic sequence right.

    Part three is generically christened: Executing blue ocean strategy and contains three chapters. According to these authors in chapter seven entitled “Overcome key organisational hurdles”, once a company has developed a blue ocean strategy with a profitable business model, it must execute it. They add that the challenge of execution exists, of course, for any strategy. In their words, “Companies, like individuals, often have a tough time translating thought into action whether in red or blue oceans. But compared with red ocean strategy, blue ocean strategy represents a significant departure from the status quo. It hinges on a shift from convergence in value curves at lower costs. That raises the execution bar. Managers have assured us that the challenge is steep.”

    In chapters eight and nine, Kim and Mauborgne analytically X-ray the concepts of building execution into strategy and the sustainability and renewal of blue ocean strategy.

    Conceptually, this text scores a pass mark in that it stresses the need to avoid wasting time on unnecessary competition symbolised by the red ocean and create a virgin space of the blue ocean to stay ahead of competition comfortably.

    Stylistically, the text is a success. For instance, the choice of words employed in this text is very comprehensible and the well-researched concepts, brilliantly articulated. The creativity of these authors is confirmed by the highly suggestive and visually communicative cover design reinforcing the major subject matter of blue ocean strategy. Kim and Mauborgne meticulously use graphics for the purpose of visually enhancing understanding of readers. The title of the text is metaphoric and appealing. Also worthy of note is the use of paradox in the text. For instance, these authors say companies must stop competing with each other, especially that the only way to beat competition is to stop trying to beat the competition. However, some ideas seem repetitive in the text. Probably Kim and Mauborgne deliberately employ this style to create emphasis.

    On the whole, the text is good for everybody and organisations that are prepared for enduring success through strategic knowledge of how to take extra steps to achieve business growth and profitability.

  • Interested in business? You need this coach!

    Interested in business? You need this coach!

    Female entrepreneurs are becoming more optimistic about the growth of their businesses.

    One of them is Dr Maymunah Kadiri, a Goldman Sachs Scholar on Entrepreneurial Management, with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan Atlantic University.

    Her interest is impacting lives positively.

    She has expertise in coaching business leaders. She found an opportunity in providing service to people who have been out of work due to emotional health-related conditions, and are finding it difficult to get back to work.

    A certified rational emotive and cognitive behavioural therapist from the Albert Ellis Institute, New York, United States, Mrs Kadiri, deploys therapies to help people overcome barriers to getting back into mainstream employment, aid recovery, and keep one well.

    It started as a small venture, but has expaned into a training and consultancy business. Her selling point is assisting Nigerians who have suffered from depression with capacity building and training to build assertiveness skills, confidence building and reducing anxiety.

    Through hard work and word-of-mouth, she has helped many people to get back into routine work places– where everyone understands that the good and bad times can be difficult. She gives talks to professionals, and carers.

    She has done a lot of work through networks of schools, universities and Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs), and networking groups to get the word out.

    Realising that starting, or maintaining a private practice is quite hectic, she enrolled at the EDC to learn business management. The programme enables her to learn business plan development and the creation of marketing strategies.

    Mrs. Kadiri coaches business owners. She equips entrepreneurs, academics and psychotherapists with the necessary skills to succeed in business . She seeks to create extraordinary results for individuals and businesses who desire aggressive growth.

    A strategic, creative thinker, she develops systems that support superior employee and customer relationships, and drive organisational productivity.

    A dynamic Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and a Fellow of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych), with over 10 years experience, she is also the Medical Director, Pinnacle Medical Services, a medical consultancy firm dealing on psychological and mental health related issues.

    How much did you start the business with? About N2 million on rent, few equipment and staff.

    How much is the business worth now?Some millions and counting.

    Is it expensive to start?Yes, this is because you need the required expertise. This means you will need an intense training both medically and entrepreneurial management. What supplies do one need to start?

    She is committed to leaving her clients more capable to sustain achieving the future they desire.

    Her experience includes executive coaching, facilitation of group development sessions, and consulting.

    Her work blends building trust, coaching and counseling skills, and increasing engagement and commitment among employees with developing high performing teams and sharing leadership roles.

  • The 3ps of success in interior decoration

    The 3ps of success in interior decoration

    When Bukky Lepe, Chief Executive, Luxury Ease Etal Nigeria started her interior design business, she had no training.

    But she has so much love for designs. As a young woman, she spent time flipping through magazines on interior design.

    She spent hours looking at pictures of nicely painted homes, apartments and living spaces – sometimes just for the purpose of dreaming, sometimes for inspiration. She became an addict. In her mind, she wanted to help people make their spaces look gorgeous and functional.

    Today, the dream has translated into the business of making spaces livable, cosy, appealing and warm.

    Her words: “I always love improving spaces. As a teenager, I used to help my cousins and aunts with their bedrooms. The business partly started when I attended Fate Foundation School of Entrepreneurship. I thought it would be nice to make my passion work for me. This time, financially.” She got her first project in 2009. The rest is history.

    How much is the business worth? “I don’t want to place figures, but I’ll tell you we have done well in the last five years, she said. According to her, excelling in the business is expensive in terms of skill acquisition and training.

    “Other things needed are invaluable, such as the passion and drive, as well as creativity which, of course, are natural characteristics of a start up in any business,”she said.

    She has put together the right masonry team as well as access to certain suppliers. “For instance, we have a mini franchise with a fabric company in Spain,”she added.

    Her niche market/target clientele, are urban people with high taste in comfort and luxury lifestyles. She is reaching them gradually, though she is yet to ascertain her market share. She knows that positioning herself as a specialist in unique decorations would set her apart.

    “ It’s a large industry,” sh e said, adding, “however, we have a project called ergonomic and aesthetic improvement in hospital design. We think we might penetrate a certain market through this.

    For her: “Nothing good comes easy and quick, so I would say, here, you need to be an expert and that is not easy,” she added.

    She works from 9am to 6pm. “I have days when I work very late though,”she added. Her success factors: “It takes three p’s for me: passion, people, product. Your passion which would keep you going, people: that’s your target market, product: what you have to offer. That differentiates you from the crowd. If you have these three figured out, you do not have a problem.”

    She has acquired a certificate in interior design from the British School of Interior Design as well as practical tutoring from an interior design outfit in Nigeria for two years.

    She is currently taking a course in enterprise management at the Lagos Business School. “You need to know what you are talking about. It goes beyond painting and making settees. Be focused, be an expert in your field and you will succeed. I will also advise that business training is essential. Thathelps us manage our resources effectively,” she added.

     

  • Her long road to success

    Her long road to success

    Efe Imiren, founder,Service Forts Limited has a passion for entrepreneurship.

    She began honing her entrepreneurship skills in 1999 during her undergraduate years. With the advent of the Internet, she turned her passion into a profitable business named ServiceForts Resources Ltd.

    Today, ServiceForts brand name has grown into a business service concerns including technologies, travels, publishing and business academy.

    When she launched her business, she knew that her own success would depend on the development of the sector. To this end, she worked hard to create a striving electronic books segment which has attracted so many Nigerians.

    On what gave her courage to stay put considering the challenges in Internet business?

    Her words: “ I once heard of the story of an engineer who was called to produce a technological work; other engineers who had been called before him said it couldn’t be done, but he came and produced it.”

    How much did you start the business with? “When I was to venture into the business, I had N26,000 on me, savings from paid employment. All I had was little cash, ideas plus the determination and zeal to succeed.I used N10,000 to buy two videos from a guru, used N6,000 to register for a seminar being organised by the same guru and the balance to fix the nuts and bolts required to kick-start my business.”

    She faced many challenges.

    “ The Lord helped me to quickly locate the shoulder of an industry giant on which I can stand on. Newton said: ”If you stand on the shoulders of giant, you would see farther than your peers. And I believe this helps one make the right decisions.”

    Since her products are of excellent quality, to date she has not met with any major challenges in accessing new markets.

    Her words: “Success doesn’t just jump on one, all the gurus going about shouting and churning out “How-I-made N3million in three weeks”; ask them, they studied one material or another and put it to work.

    She studied marketing materials. When she began the business, she was already studying for her MSc in Marketing via Distance Learning in a UK University.

    To make it in any area of life as fast as possible, she noted that one needs a real coach.

    Imiren is happy to see young talents believing in themselves and taking the courage to build up their own businesses from scratch. Described as “Info queen,she has won an award in the information marketing industry, making her a leader in electronic books business.

    It’s self-funded. Looking ahead, she has no desire to go elsewhere for financing – her plan is to keep winning customers and grow the business.

     

  • Lagos praises centre for providing free training

    Lagos praises centre for providing free training

    THE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Mrs Risikat Akiyode has commended the Centre for Vocational Empowerment Programme and Development (CVED), Ipaja, Lagos for complementing the efforts of the government in jobs provision for the people by training 148 people free.

    She spoke at the 11th graduation of the centre in Lagos at the weekend. She said it was good that people were availing themselves of getting training in skills instead of looking for white collar jobs.

    Mrs Akiyode, who was represented by Mrs Adedeji Oluwatoyin described the programme as laudable, saying it was good the owners of the centre Dominion Faith International Church are looking beyond the traditional roles of the church to empowering not only its members but also others.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the centre Rev David Olatona said the vision of the centre,which started in 2007, was initially aimed at feeding 300 less privileged in the community every Friday. But that it was later expanded to skills training in areas such as event decoration, cold water starch, body perfume, insecticides, body cream, hair cream beads making and computer appreciation.

    At the end of the three-month training, certificates are awarded, he added. The first set graduated in 2009.

    “Categorically, through CVED, we aim at helping participants to attain personal, professional and spiritual growth; and we are confident that lives will be enriched, poverty will be alleviated and future-oriented entrepreneurs will be raised,” he further said.

    Co-ordinators of the Programme, Pastor Olajide Esan and his wife Mercy noted the vision of the church ‘’which is connecting people to their destinies in order to impact their world positively’’. They said: “The uniqueness of the programme is that it cuts across every strata of the society; it is platform for every one. The qualification is simply a willing heart and availability for lectures.”

    A Trustee of the church Rev Gabriel Oyediji said at the moment the path to national development is through skills acquisition, urging unemployed graduates to embrace the option. He noted that the era of dependence on certificates was gone, adding that emphasis is on what one could do with one’s hands.

    He also said that is the only way Nigeria can lifted from being a consumer economy to producer, adding that it was through family businesess and cottage firms that Europe and some advanced countries were developed.

  • How to make it in online business

    From the beginning, President,Internet Marketers Association of Nigeria Mrs Olaitan Wellington deployed technology in her business

    She started a business centre with one IBM electric typewriter, photocopier and telephone.

    “I can’t really remember how much it cost then, but I know it wasn’t that too expensive. That was before the advent of Personal Computers (PC).“

    She spoke of the need for carving a niche and filling it.

    “That was my starting point. But I am no longer running it. However, what I am doing now evolved over time, from that busines,”she added.

    Moving with the times, she researched and began a business online. With time she became an internet marketer and social media marketing strategist.

    Is it expensive to start the business? “It is not expensive. It is very interesting and quite rewarding. As a social media marketing strategist, I help individuals and organisations market their businesses to larger audiences with minimal cost. So many businesses who would not have been able to afford huge advertising now have the opportunity to leverage social media and I show them how to do it properly,” she said.

    What equipment does one need to start with? “All one needs is proper training on the strategies of different social media platforms and how to pick trends. One needs constant access to the internet but smart phones have made that quite easy,” she said.

    Is starting the business easy and quick compared to other service businesses? “Oh yes, very easy, especially for Nigerians because we are social and hospitable people. We are also intelligent and enlightened. An average person can start and make a success of it within very short time, say in three months,” she added.

    On hours of work, her words: ” I can work anytime and am used to working abnormal hours. That can happen to anyone because you find yourself getting carried away while working on the internet. But I have so planned my work that I average 30 working hours per week. One good thing about this business is that there are tools that allow you to schedule your work and even when I am in bed sleeping, my work is being posted fresh on selected social media platforms. People think I am online 24 hours,but those submissions have been scheduled to post at certain times,” she added.

    She targets individuals and businesses. The company, she said, is doing well. Her problem is not being able to satisfy the market because there are not enough qualified people to assist her. “There are clients whom we have not been able to serve because of lack of qualified manpower. The potential in social media marketing is huge and even just evolving.“

    What does it take to run a successful business? “Love of people. You have to love your clients, care for them and think always of ways you can help them. Love, care and help – that’s the secret of running a successful business. If you care for people and help them, they will happily give you repeated business and recommend you.”

    She said one could work part-time. If you plan yourself very well, you can achieve a lot for your clients even while working few hours a day, she added.

    Do you have challenges accessing credit? “My business does not require credit. You don’t even need to rent an office. You can work from anywhere you are comfortable.

    “How much is my business now worth?”

    (Laughter) Let me just say that I can afford whatever I want, when I want it. But then, my wants are not outrageous.

    Finding time for herself and family is one of the benefits of being an entrepreneur, she said.

    “ Since I was a little girl, observing my mum running her business and still having so much time to spend with us kids; being involved in our school activities etc. I loved all that and since made up my mind to work for myself, she added.”

    Does one need any training or certifications?

    “Definitely, one needs training because socialising just for the sake of meeting people and whiling away time is different from socialising for business purposes. There are tactics and strategies involved and they must be learnt; you can’t guess your way around.

    Her advice to other entrepreneurs: “The new language of business success is relationship. Build relationship with your clients, react to their needs and be available. Social media is the cheapest and fastest marketing channel and I strongly advise that businesses who want to reach a large number of prospects should get on it.

    Mrs Wellington is constantly thinking about ways to make her services better.This has attracted a new level and age range of customers.

    For her ,owning a company comes with pretty exciting perks,one decides who one’s co-workers are,if one want any at all, make one’s hours. There was no single formula for success, but the need to stay current, have a passion for learning and be passionate about a business.