Bellafricana - Bukky Bello #inthespiritofenterprise

Tell us about yourself

My name is Bukky Bello, I am the founder of Bellafricana. I studied Biochemistry at the University of Westminster in London. I love life, God, family and smiling. I am a woman on a mission, saved by Grace. I put God first in everything I do.

Tell us about your business

The name of my business is Bellafricana, and it simply means 'Beautiful Africa'. I started Bellafricana out of passion, drive and commitment to make a difference and to be innovative while creating what my target market wants; this of course happening alongside the intention of creating more jobs and development of local talents in these areas of creative expertise.
Bellafricana promotes local content by expressing the beauty of African textile in corporate gift items, souvenirs, interior decoration, casual and office wears.
We are also a marketplace where people around Nigeria (Africa) go to buy and sell unique Afrocentric and handmade goods to the world.

What was your inspiration for starting this business?

I moved back to Nigeria after my studies in the United Kingdom in September 2012 and commenced National Youth Service Corps (NYSC, a compulsory service for Nigerian graduates) which was were the main genesis of the company began. I soon fell exceptionally in love with African textile, but asides the regular use for fashion, I wanted to make a difference. You see, I always had a great passion for creative things and so I decided to carve a niche for myself by promoting local content whilst using local fabrics for gift items, interior decoration and wears.

I spent the whole of 2014 understanding my target market, but soon realised that I couldn’t achieve the vision for Bellafricana alone. The vision for Bellafricana is to be the largest online platform for Afrocentric and handmade products delivering around the world. Alongside this, I hope to promote local artisans, creatives and talents.

Now, from here on, I am planning towards the direction of my vision. I have seen a real need for this kind of community and have chosen to be the marketplace for Afrocentric (means: made from Africa) and handmade products. My three key ingredients to achieving my goal are Passion, Synergy & Growth

How did you get funding for your business?

ALLAWEE (NYSC Stipend), loved ones.

What opportunities have you been able to leverage on in your business so far?

Partnership with various chambers of Commerce.
Mentoring program with Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
NO grants just yet, however I came 4th at the Creative Focus event last year.
I have been self funding the business thus far leveraging on technology and partnership.

What Challenges have you faced so far and how have you been able toovercome them?

- Lack of essential resources - staff strength, mobility, business support...
- Lack of sufficient fund/resources to get to a larger scope of our target audience and expand the business.
- Access to International market (Distributors), export opportunities to a large target audience.

I have been able to overcome them by understanding the ESSENCE OF GROWTH and how ROME wasn't built in a day. Slowly but surely, with determination and perseverance, partnership and collaboration, I will achieve my set GOALS.

How will you summarize the journey so far?

The Journey so far has been BEAUTIFUL and I am excited about the journey ahead.

Here is a link to my journey so far: http://digest.bellafricana.com/hurray-bellafricana-is-18-months-the-journey-so-far/

Given the Chance, will you do this again?

OH YES!

What lessons have you been able to learn from your journey so far that others should know

1) You won't make a million overnight, it takes growth.
2) You can achieve alot more through partnership and collaborations.
3) Never stop gaining knowledge, keep researching.
4) If one way doesn't work, try again!
5) NETWORK!
6) Remain consistent with what you do, be an expert at your field.

Entrepreneurship is very vital for Economic Growth. Once must at least have an entrepreneurial mindset.

How can people connect with you

www.bellafricana.com / www.bellafricanadigest.com
www.facebook.com/bellafricana
www.twitter.com/bellafricana
https://plus.google.com/104047766419967967007/posts
08086363970, 08184457403
23, Ogudu Road, 2nd Floor Suite 23, Opposite Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ogudu, Lagos

Meera Stitches - Gbemisola lawal #inthespiritofenterprise

Tell us about yourself

I am Lawal Gbemisola(nee Adisa). A wife, mother, academician , community builder , Agric economist and a fashion designer.

Tell us about your business

MEERA STITCHES is my business name . It is a fashion outlet where we are on the mission to promote our culture and local economy through the use of native and traditional fabrics, by specially designing these fabrics into unique styles that can compete favorably at international level.

We now have specialization and recently opened a kiddies African boutique to ensure we imbibe our culture through dressing from early years, but our line for adults remains solid too.

How did you get into this line of business?

How I got into this line of business is always funny to me, but I believe it's predestined. While I was serving my nation(NYSC) in Benue state. I was posted to Nigeria Immigration Service, but after the close of work and weekends I was always idle and I didn't like this, so by the second month into my youth service I enrolled myself with a fashion designer in my neighborhood with the aim of whiling away time and probably for personal use in near future. I learned sewing of office and English wear from Enex fashion School and realized that I was becoming enthusiastic, so after 6 months with her I proceeded to another fashion designer who specializes in Igbo and general native designs and spent another four months. All in all I spent 10 months to learn the craft.

After NYSC I rented an apartment and went into real sewing for business and since then have never stopped doing this work I love so much.

What inspired the name Meera stitches?

Meera stitches inspiration..hmmmm....It was initially Mira fashion house but when I went for CAC registration MFH was rejected and I had to stick with my next option. I had initially planned to go into partnership with a friend named Grace and I am Gbemisola. We joined the MI and RA in our names to form Mira, but for a better reasons we forgot about the partnership and agreed I use the name which wasn't approved anyway. I just like the sound of Mira and decided to extend the pronunciation and I came up with Meera Stitches, a name I will forever be proud of.

What main challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?

My main challenge was starting because I was also running a Masters degree Programme when I started which made it a bit hard. But when you love what you do , the passion will keep you going, besides I learnt how to manage many things at a time when I was the Team Leader of SIFE (ENACTuS), University of Ado-Ekiti.

How would you summarize your journey so far?

I will just say thank you lord for giving me the strength and courage to keep going. And also appreciate all those that love me and who are never tired of motivating me.

Given the chance will you do this again?

Given the chance I will definitely do this again and again

What advice do you have for other businesses starting up?

My advice for upcoming businesses just like my own is that we should always dream big and remain focused.

Contact;

18b, 1st floor Rayop complex extension, airport junction alaakia Ibadan

08029998518, 08071608233

FAB Store - Babajide Familusi #inthespiritofenterprise

Hi guys! I didn't showcase any entrepreneur last week, nor the week before, I think! I am sorry about that, but hey, I am making it up to you today. I have quite a bit to share with you, but I'll go with this first before I share the other stories.

I also didn't do my pre-show post and I didn't because for the life of me, I couldn't come up with a concept for that day! Yes. Happens to the best of us (here's me feeling like one of the best of us, hehe). Anyway, guess what? The show rocked and I just have to do a post-show post after this. Sorry, it's my blog, so I get to bore you with all the good and not so good stuff in my entrepreneur's journey.... don't vez!

So back to the entrepreneur of the day. I knew Babs in my lag days and I must say the transformation from unilag Babs to this calm and collected business mogul is something I still cannot get over! Lmao. You just never know how people would turn out from school days! I am telling you.

Enough said, let Babs do the honors himself....

P.S When I visited the FAB store in GRA, I was blown away, especially by the fact that its all african, everything in there! AFRICAN!! Who would have thought? We need to start supporting our own brands.

Enjoy!

Tell us about yourself

My name is FAMILUSI AKIN BABAJIDE but people call me FAB. I am passionate about African Fashion and Lifestyle.

Tell us about your business

The Fab store is one of the offshoots of  the FAB Group that created the FAB Magazine. (Read about the FAB magazine here.) It was launched on the 30th of June this year and is located at number 25 Oduduwa GRA, Ikeja Lagos.

We have on offer - African Fashion Brands inclusive of Clothes for both Adults and Children, accessories, Hand Bags, Makeup and Art work.

What does Fab mean? 

It simply means - FABULOUS AFRICAN BLACK

What was your Inspiration for the store?

It was inspired by the desire to have a one stop shop where people can experience Africa and African Creativity in a positive way.

You carry only African brands, most people would have thought this impossible, How did you make this happen and what has been the reaction of the market?

The reactions have been awesome. Most say it is refreshing to have a place to go to experience African fashion.

Can you give us a cross section of the brands you carry? 

+Kiki Kamanu, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Simieogieme, Grey Project, 24 Apparel, Literati, Little weavers, Lady Biba, Didi Creations.

What are the main opportunities that you have been able to leverage to get where you are today?

The fact that the  FAB brand already existed….

Given the chance will you do this again? 

YES!!

What advice will you give to other entrepreneurs looking to launch.

Do not quit your Day Dream!

Connect with us

Visit our website - www.fabshop.africa.com

Visit our store – 25 ODUDWA WAY, GRA, IKEJA, LAGOS

Email – omotayo@fabshop.africa.com

Call- 01-4531963