As early as 8 years of age. My Mum had this saying that “an idle mind, was the devil’s workshop” so whenever she noticed I was less busy, she would send me to the balcony to bead her dresses back then. Slowly but surely I was hooked. I spent most of my free periods beading. It sort of became a hobby than a chore,the obsession grew from there.I would cut up pieces from my mum’s fabrics to make cute dresses for my dolls and as the years flew by, people would always commend on any of the pieces I had on be it jewelry, hat, bag or dress. Though a project manager by profession, I derive joy in creating fabulous timeless and unique show stopping pieces for women who are stylish, confident and classy.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
High cost and lack of ready raw materials,incessant power supply,lack of skilled workers to mention but a few are some of the downsides I have experienced in business.I can't say that we have truly overcome some of these factors because they are factors that you encounter in the course of the business. We endeavor to maintain high quality standards while at the same time manufacturing products by the most efficient means possible. We are also committed to continuous improvement and have established a quality management process, which provides a framework for measuring and improving our performance.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits? How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?
I won't say It was that serious. But my Dad wasn't familiar with such a profession at that time. Being a doctor,he felt I would naturally tow towards that line. But he quickly got over the idea when he found out that I was so passionate,consistent and obsessed about my Craft and then he gave me his full support.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
Apart from smart work and being consistent. No business can survive without talented employees, eager buyers, reliable suppliers, and supportive stakeholders and communities.Also Social media has played a Big role in giving us amazingly great marketplace insight and creating more awareness and exposure for my Brand. Different Social Media Platforms Like Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Flipagram, Twitter and so on has been a wonderful advertising medium and we have had more clients call, email and enquire about our pieces.
What advice would you give to an upcoming young and old entrepreneur locally and internationally?
When you miss a deadline,It is alright. Learn from it and Move on. But don’t repeat it. I advise young entrepreneurs trying to walk this path to get their priorities right, make sure it's born out of pure passion cos that will sustain you during the low times. stay focused and consistent,be diligent and stay on God’s lane.
