The 250 naira book I read when I was 19,That Changed My Whole Life Financially Plus My Black Friday Giveaway...

Good morning, how was your night hope cute…Hmmm Thank God Its Friday, lol…

Today I will be sharing with you something very simple but extremely powerful. When I was eighteen years old innocently I applied for a teaching  job at a school named Gloryland Kiddies Acacdemy, the school I almost acquired when I was 22.

As an innocent young boy, I was living my godly principled life…the way I can until the day this man the proprietor of that school Mr Tony Odigwe, I can’t just forget that name told me to go and buy this particular book and read because it will help me a lot…The book is “The Richest Man In Babylon” by George Clason.

Me that is bookish from secondary school rushed out to get this book when I heard richest..I bought this book for the sum just #250 under Ojuelegba bridge, surulere, Lagos …do you know there lol…

After reading that book my view of money, wealth, riches anything called ego(igbo word for money) changed automatically like a switch.

I came so so conscious of savings, income streams expansion…

As if that one is not enough, Mr Tony called me and asked me how far about the book he told me to buy I told him how the book changed my financial consciousness and intelligence…He said ok that I should try and buy myself this book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki..

After reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad…I started reading other books by Robert Kiyosaki…I found and read

------Retire Young Retire Rich

------Cashflow Quadrant

------Rich Dad’s Guide To Investing

------Why We Want You To Be Rich by Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump

------And others I can’t remember right here.

Gradually I began to diversify my business studies to other authors and believe I learnt a lot and still learning the art of business.

Even when I was in school, I was still studying the art of business and money management on my own, when I came out of school, I never bothered to look for job even though I once did to raise money to invest in my personal business…When I stopped working I concentrated more on my business and God said Amen to it.

I never left my grass root which is teaching, instead I took it a step further by establishing a business empire around my passion…

Today it’s a better story because

1. I run two special tutorial centers….Lazrus Special Coaching Centres

2. A Nursery and Primary School…Unick Private School

3. An internet business…Naira Entrepreneur’s Blog

4. Lazrus Foundation

Hey wait it was not a day job but its worth it…If you cannot endure you cannot enjoy…

---I walk into my office and leave at anything,

---A lot of people are benefitting greatly from my idea

---Im popular

---I have some change…lol

---Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir I’m use to…lol

---I don’t depend on any person called boss because I myself I’m a boss that even pays people that feeds their family.

---Though more still coming In Jesus Name Amen.

---All the same I thank the LORD because without his gift of life, I can never attain this feet…

TAKE A VIEW OF The Chapter Two of this book (The Richest Man In Babylon) and you might want to download it.

Click Here To Join our facebook group,so as to download the book...The book its already uploaded there or download it simply below.

30 Rock Solid Traits You Must Have To Succeed In Business

Hello,do you do business and really want to succeed big time...If your answer is yes then I advise you to sit up take a coffee and read all that is here because in case you don't know they say attitude is everything in life,this saying has a double stressed importance when business is involved infact without some common attitude combination success in business would be off point.Alot of business has failed due to the poor attitude of the owner of the entreprise so one must build positive business attitude combination to ensure he or she succeeds in business...Lets quickly examine the best of these combinations.

1. Do what you enjoy.

What you get out of your business in the form of personal satisfaction, financial gain, stability and enjoyment will be the sum of what you put into your business. So if you don't enjoy what you're doing, in all likelihood it's safe to assume that will be reflected in the success of your business--or subsequent lack of success. In fact, if you don't enjoy what you're doing, chances are you won't succeed.

2. Take what you do seriously.

You cannot expect to be effective and successful in business unless you truly believe in your business and in the goods and services that you sell. Far too many home business owners fail to take their own businesses seriously enough, getting easily sidetracked and not staying motivated and keeping their noses to the grindstone. They also fall prey to naysayers who don't take them seriously because they don't work from an office building, office park, storefront, or factory. Little do these skeptics, who rain on the home business owner's parade, know is that the number of people working from home, and making very good annual incomes, has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.

3. Plan everything.

Planning every aspect of your home business is not only a must, but also builds habits that every home business owner should develop, implement, and maintain. The act of business planning is so important because it requires you to analyze each business situation, research and compile data, and make conclusions based mainly on the facts as revealed through the research. A business plan also serves a second function, which is having your goals and how you will achieve them, on paper. You can use the plan that you create both as map to take you from point A to Z and as a yardstick to measure the success of each individual plan or segment within the plan.

4. Manage money wisely.

The lifeblood of any business enterprise is cash flow. You need it to buy inventory, pay for services, promote and market your business, repair and replace tools and equipment, and pay yourself so that you can continue to work. Therefore, all home business owners must become wise money managers to ensure that the cash keeps flowing and the bills get paid. There are two aspects to wise money management.

1. The money you receive from clients in exchange for your goods and services you provide (income)
2. The money you spend on inventory, supplies, wages and other items required to keep your business operating. (expenses)

5. Ask for the sale.

A home business entrepreneur must always remember that marketing, advertising, or promotional activities are completely worthless, regardless of how clever, expensive, or perfectly targeted they are, unless one simple thing is accomplished--ask for the sale. This is not to say that being a great salesperson, advertising copywriting whiz or a public relations specialist isn't a tremendous asset to your business. However, all of these skills will be for naught if you do not actively ask people to buy what you are selling.

6. Remember it's all about the customer.

Your home business is not about the products or services that you sell. Your home business is not about the prices that you charge for your goods and services. Your home business is not about your competition and how to beat them. Your business is all about your customers, or clients, period. After all, your customers are the people that will ultimately decide if your business goes boom or bust. Everything you do in business must be customer focused, including your policies, warranties, payment options, operating hours, presentations, advertising and promotional campaigns and website. In addition, you must know who your customers are inside out and upside down.

7. Become a shameless self-promoter (without becoming obnoxious).

One of the greatest myths about personal or business success is that eventually your business, personal abilities, products or services will get discovered and be embraced by the masses that will beat a path to your door to buy what you are selling. But how can this happen if no one knows who you are, what you sell and why they should be buying?
Self-promotion is one of the most beneficial, yet most underutilized, marketing tools that the majority of home business owners have at their immediate disposal.

8. Project a positive business image.

You have but a passing moment to make a positive and memorable impression on people with whom you intend to do business. Home business owners must go out of their way and make a conscious effort to always project the most professional business image possible. The majority of home business owners do not have the advantage of elaborate offices or elegant storefronts and showrooms to wow prospects and impress customers. Instead, they must rely on imagination, creativity and attention to the smallest detail when creating and maintaining a professional image for their home business.

9. Get to know your customers.

One of the biggest features and often the most significant competitive edge the home based entrepreneur has over the larger competitors is the he can offer personalized attention. Call it high-tech backlash if you will, but customers are sick and tired of hearing that their information is somewhere in the computer and must be retrieved, or told to push a dozen digits to finally get to the right department only to end up with voice mail--from which they never receive a return phone call.
The home business owner can actually answer phone calls, get to know customers, provide personal attention and win over repeat business by doing so. It's a researched fact that most business (80 percent) will come from repeat customers rather than new customers. Therefore, along with trying to draw newcomers, the more you can do to woo your regular customers, the better off you will be in the long run and personalized attention is very much appreciated and remembered in the modern high tech world.

10. Level the playing field with technology.

You should avoid getting overly caught up in the high-tech world, but you should also know how to take advantage of using it. One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is that a one or two person business operating from a basement can have a superior website to a $50 million company, and nobody knows the difference. Make sure you're keeping up with the high-tech world as it suits your needs.. The best technology is that which helps you, not that which impresses your neighbors.

11. Build a top-notch business team.

No one person can build a successful business alone. It's a task that requires a team that is as committed as you to the business and its success. Your business team may include family members, friends, suppliers, business alliances, employees, sub-contractors, industry and business associations, local government and the community. Of course the most important team members will be your customers or clients. Any or all may have a say in how your business will function and a stake in your business future.

12. Become known as an expert.

When you have a problem that needs to be solved, do you seek just anyone's advice or do you seek an expert in the field to help solve your particular problem? Obviously, you want the most accurate information and assistance that you can get. You naturally seek an expert to help solve your problem. You call a plumber when the hot water tank leaks, a real estate agent when it's time to sell your home or a dentist when you have a toothache. Therefore, it only stands to reason that the more you become known for your expertise in your business, the more people will seek you out to tap into your expertise, creating more selling and referral opportunities. In effect, becoming known as an expert is another style of prospecting for new business, just in reverse. Instead of finding new and qualified people to sell to, these people seek you out for your expertise.

13. Create a competitive advantage.

A home business must have a clearly defined unique selling proposition. This is nothing more than a fancy way of asking the vital question, "Why will people choose to do business with you or purchase your product or service instead of doing business with a competitor and buying his product or service?" In other words, what one aspect or combination of aspects is going to separate your business from your competition? Will it be better service, a longer warranty, better selection, longer business hours, more flexible payment options, lowest price, personalized service, better customer service, better return and exchange policies or a combination of several of these?

14. Invest in yourself.

Top entrepreneurs buy and read business and marketing books, magazines, reports, journals, newsletters, websites and industry publications, knowing that these resources will improve their understanding of business and marketing functions and skills. They join business associations and clubs, and they network with other skilled business people to learn their secrets of success and help define their own goals and objectives. Top entrepreneurs attend business and marketing seminars, workshops and training courses, even if they have already mastered the subject matter of the event. They do this because they know that education is an ongoing process. There are usually ways to do things better, in less time, with less effort. In short, top entrepreneurs never stop investing in the most powerful, effective and best business and marketing tool at their immediate disposal--themselves.

15. Be accessible.

We're living in a time when we all expect our fast food lunch at the drive-thru window to be ready in mere minutes, our dry cleaning to be ready for pick-up on the same day, our money to be available at the cash machine and our pizza delivered in 30 minutes or it's free. You see the pattern developing--you must make it as easy as you can for people to do business with you, regardless of the home business you operate.
You must remain cognizant of the fact that few people will work hard, go out of their way, or be inconvenienced just for the privilege of giving you their hard-earned money. The shoe is always on the other foot. Making it easy for people to do business with you means that you must be accessible and knowledgeable about your products and services. You must be able to provide customers with what they want, when they want it.

16. Build a rock-solid reputation.

A good reputation is unquestionably one of the home business owner's most tangible and marketable assets. You can't simply buy a good reputation; it's something that you earn by honoring your promises. If you promise to have the merchandise in the customer's hands by Wednesday, you have no excuse not to have it there. If you offer to repair something, you need to make good on your offer. Consistency in what you offer is the other key factor. If you cannot come through with the same level of service (and products) for clients on a regular basis, they have no reason to trust you . . . and without trust, you won't have a good reputation.

17. Sell benefits.

Pushing product features is for inexperienced or wannabe entrepreneurs. Selling the benefits associated with owning and using the products and services you carry is what sales professionals worldwide focus on to create buying excitement and to sell, sell more, and sell more frequently to their customers. Your advertising, sales presentations, printed marketing materials, product packaging, website, newsletters, trade show exhibit and signage are vital. Every time and every medium used to communicate with your target audience must always be selling the benefits associated with owning your product or using your service.

18. Get involved.

Always go out of your way to get involved in the community that supports your business. You can do this in many ways, such as pitching in to help local charities or the food bank, becoming involved in organizing community events, and getting involved in local politics. You can join associations and clubs that concentrate on programs and policies designed to improve the local community. It's a fact that people like to do business with people they know, like and respect, and with people who do things to help them as members of the community.

19. Grab attention.

Small-business owners cannot waste time, money and energy on promotional activities aimed at building awareness solely through long-term, repeated exposure. If you do, chances are you will go broke long before this goal is accomplished. Instead, every promotional activity you engage in, must put money back in your pocket so that you can continue to grab more attention and grow your business.

20. Master the art of negotiations.

The ability to negotiate effectively is unquestionably a skill that every home business owner must make every effort to master. It's perhaps second in importance only to asking for the sale in terms of home business musts. In business, negotiation skills are used daily. Always remember that mastering the art of negotiation means that your skills are so finely tuned that you can always orchestrate a win-win situation. These win-win arrangements mean that everyone involved feels they have won, which is really the basis for building long-term and profitable business relationships.

21. Design Your workspace for success.

Carefully plan and design your home office workspace to ensure maximum personal performance and productivity and, if necessary, to project professionalism for visiting clients. If at all possible, resist the temptation to turn a corner of the living room or your bedroom into your office. Ideally, you'll want a separate room with a door that closes to keep business activities in and family members out, at least during prime business and revenue generating hours of the day. A den, spare bedroom, basement or converted garage are all ideal candidates for your new home office. If this is not possible, you'll have to find a means of converting a room with a partition or simply find hours to do the bulk of your work when nobody else is home.

22. Get and stay organized.

The key to staying organized is not about which type of file you have or whether you keep a stack or two of papers on your desk, but it's about managing your business. It's about having systems in place to do things. Therefore, you wan to establish a routine by which you can accomplish as much as possible in a given workday, whether that's three hours for a part-time business or seven or nine hours as a full-timer. In fact, you should develop systems and routines for just about every single business activity. Small things such as creating a to-do list at the end of each business day, or for the week, will help keep you on top of important tasks to tackle. Creating a single calendar to work from, not multiple sets for individual tasks or jobs, will also ensure that jobs are completed on schedule and appointments kept. Incorporating family and personal activities into your work calendar is also critical so that you work and plan from a single calendar.

23. Take time off.

The temptation to work around the clock is very real for some home business owners. After all, you don't have a manager telling you it's time to go home because they can't afford the overtime pay. Every person working from home must take time to establish a regular work schedule that includes time to stretch your legs and take lunch breaks, plus some days off and scheduled vacations. Create the schedule as soon as you have made the commitment to start a home business. Of course, your schedule will have to be flexible. You should, therefore, not fill every possible hour in the day. Give yourself a backup hour or two. All work and no play makes you burn out very fast and grumpy customer service is not what people want.

24. Limit the number of hats you wear.

It's difficult for most business owners not to take a hands-on approach. They try to do as much as possible and tackle as many tasks as possible in their business. The ability to multitask, in fact, is a common trait shared by successful entrepreneurs. However, once in a while you have to stand back and look beyond today to determine what's in the best interest of your business and yourself over the long run. Most highly successful entrepreneurs will tell you that from the time they started out, they knew what they were good at and what tasks to delegate to others.

25. Follow-up constantly.

Constant contact, follow-up, and follow-through with customers, prospects, and business alliances should be the mantra of every home business owner, new or established. Constant and consistent follow-up enables you to turn prospects into customers, increase the value of each sale and buying frequency from existing customers, and build stronger business relationships with suppliers and your core business team. Follow-up is especially important with your existing customer base, as the real work begins after the sale. It's easy to sell one product or service, but it takes work to retain customers and keep them coming back.

MY EXTRA FIVE TRAITS

1. Clear Vision

Successful entrepreneurs can visualize how they want their future to unfold. They hold a clear picture of what direction they want their company to take and possess a plan to guide it from conception to realization.
The late Steve Jobs is widely considered to have been one of the foremost entrepreneurs of our time; what was unique about him was ability to set the trends of the future. A vital step in determining whether you are suitable to an entrepreneurial lifestyle is your ability to clearly communicate the dreams and aspirations you have for your company. 

2. Determination

It is absolutely imperative that every entrepreneur demonstrate the determination and resolve to stick with an idea when they believe in it. Undoubtedly, all business ventures will suffer setbacks and, like the team captain, the entrepreneur is expected to push on to victory.
After writing Chicken Soup for the Soul, the authors were ready to approach publishers. In the first month, 33 publishing houses turned them down and all together they were rejected by 140 publishers. But, they eventually found a publisher who shared their dream, and the Chicken Soup series has become a phenomenon in publishing history, with more than 100 million copies sold to date, in 170 titles and 41 languages. 

3. Ambition

The daughter of immigrants, Estee Lauder is the embodiment of the American Dream. She started out selling skin creams created by her uncle, but with persistence and personality, she worked her way into the cosmetics counters of department stores. She developed a personalized selling style that put her brand at the top of the industry, with a 45% share of the cosmetics market in US department stores. 

4. Self-confidence

Investors, venture capitalists and business partners require that entrepreneurs be supremely confident about their prospects.
The best entrepreneurs believe they can define their own future and use this self-assurance to persuade people to tie their fortunes to theirs. Virgin Group's Richard Branson ties together a diverse range of businesses – including airlines, beverage companies and music stores – with a powerful personality. 

5. Good Health

A series of interviews were conducted with distinguished entrepreneurs and they were asked what characteristics they felt were essential to success as an entrepreneur. Good health was a characteristic mentioned by every entrepreneur interviewed.
Entrepreneurs are physically resilient and in good health. They can work for extended periods of time, and while they are in the process of building their business, they refuse to get sick.

These traits are very powerful and important to your business success, if you want to embrace success in business then developing them should be your number one priority.

A Practical Life Example of How To Create Wealth In Shoe Business Starting With N80,000 - N100,000...

Footwear ready for export.

Hello happy new week,christmas is fast approaching and also new year, wow thats really cool.This week we shall be examining some business models that you can invest in starting with minimal money and cashing in big time...

Business Model One:Shoe Production And Exportation Business

In quality, design and patronage, Nigerian cobblers are making exquisite pieces that are competing favourably with footwear manufactured in other parts of the world. It is a growing trend that experts say will continue. This edition of SuccessDigest details how anyone can start a promising business in this sector, grow it substantially and make lots of money consistently.
 
Why Enter Shoe Manufacturing Business?
Yinka Olamiti, a lawyer who resides in Ogba, Lagos, says the business of shoemaking in Nigeria is becoming a lucrative one. “Nigerians today have increasingly shown keen interest in locally produced shoes and are beginning to purchase more of them instead of foreign-made shoes or second-hand imported shoes. Because of locally manufactured shoes, people can now change their shoes more affordably. This is especially true of women who want a different pair of shoe for every dress in their wardrobe”, he says.

Okwuchukwu Udeh is the Managing Director of Udeh Shoes, located in Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos. He says, “In the past people saw locally produced shoes as inferior shoes. Now, local shoe brands compete well with shoes made in Italy and other European countries. This fact may not apply to the super rich individuals, but the middle class, who constitute the majority among consumers, currently engage robustly in this growing trend. Shoe making is a low risk business and elementary knowledge of business teaches that if you are selling something that people need, you will always have an entire human race worth of potential customers”.
 
Mr. Femi Omole, CEO, O’tega Shoes says, “The market is big considering the fact that everyone needs to wear shoes. The demand for shoes is a continuous cycle. People need to change their shoes and come to think of it, no one can have only one shoe. Some people are shoe lovers and they can have over 10 pairs of shoes. I think I can categorically tell you that 50% of male folks now patronize local brands and the number keeps increasing on a daily basis. So, the market is very large. If you sell or produce what people need and you do it well, you would never lack patronage”
 
How They Started
Monalisa Abimbola Azeh is the Chief Executive Officer of Mona Matthews Shoes. She is also a trained lawyer who has practiced for 17 years. She says, “I had attempted this business twice. I started and stopped and started again. The first time I made shoes was because I didn’t find what I wanted in the shoes that were available.
 
My feet are not the standard size type of feet, so it takes some kind of specialization to make my shoes. When I was much younger, I could find shoes that fit me even if I travelled abroad but as I began to grow I discovered that I couldn’t find my size even overseas. In fact on a particular trip I couldn’t find a shoe to wear so I just bought some slippers. But I came to realize something - that some people, most especially our drivers, house helps; youngsters were actually wearing real leather and the so called ‘elite’ were wearing synthetics because most of the people selling shoes in Nigeria were going abroad to bring in shoes made in China.
 
“The elite will buy from the boutique, shoes made in China; while their drivers, cleaners, messengers would go to a local shoe maker and have them make shoes or pam sandals from real leather or buy from a second hand market, real leather used shoes from abroad. 

After my observations I realized two things, one, that there were shoemakers in Nigeria who actually make real leather shoes that an average human being could wear. I also realized that we have real leather in Nigeria.
 
So I started asking questions: Where can I get a shoemaker? I eventually got one but when I told him I wanted to make shoes, he said he doesn’t make shoes for women; but as a person I don’t take no for an answer.  Reluctantly, he agreed to make the shoe for me. I was just glad about the fact that I would be wearing real leather and something that fits me. But when my friends saw it, they were asking me where I got the ugly shoe I was wearing? They told me of someone who could make something better and who apparently had been making ladies shoes and was disposed to the intricacies of making women shoes.
 
Having found the right person all I then needed to do was to design and he would make them for me. When I started wearing the shoes made by this other experienced guy, friends began to ask me again who made these shoes for me, saying that they like it and they wanted it and I knew it was genuine interest - so I made for them. I also made for some family members and colleagues. There was really no vision for it then because it was a side thing at that time. But when orders started coming in and the shoemaker started messing up, I just put the whole thing aside.
 
“Time went by, I changed jobs, changed my church and I got another job. Before I knew it, orders started coming again and I knew it was time to do something with my life but I just didn’t know what to do because I studied Law and I had run my own chamber successfully before I got born again and started working in church. And because I also love music and have done quite a few things in that direction it was a real dilemma: should I go into music or do the shoe business?
 
“So I had to meet my pastor and told him I wanted to move on and he asked me what I wanted to do? I told him my options, and he asked me to seek the face of God - so I did and I heard God said to me, “Go and make shoes”. Of all the things I could do I was wondering, why shoes? But because I knew God had spoken to me, I had no doubt in my mind and that was how this whole thing started.
 
“One of the female pastors met me one day and said she heard I was leaving and wanted to know what I was going to be doing and I said I was going to be making female shoes. She was my very first customer, she gave me a deposit to go and start the job. That was how I started. It wasn’t as if I saved for it. My passion and my creative mindset launched me”.
 
Omole says, “My starting was by God’s divine intervention. I was one of the bankers that got laid off during the banking crisis in 2009. I had worked as a banker for about 8 years before I was told to go. When we were asked to go, initially, I didn’t see losing my job as an unfortunate incident or challenge because I felt I could easily get another job because of my experience. But after several attempts without getting a job, the reality dawned on me. So, one day, I sat myself down and was thinking of something else I could do to feed and maintain my family. I was just thinking about the everyday things people make use of and that was how the idea of shoemaking came.

“So, I went into the market and did my own personal research. I was already familiar with shoe materials because that was the business my father did. He was importing them so I knew exactly what and what I needed and where to get them.
 
While sampling, I realized that another challenge would be the finishing. If you check some Nigerian made shoes - and not only shoes, other products - their finishing is always very poor. So, I had to source for good shoemakers. I got about 10 of them and after testing their skills, I selected just two and they are still the ones working for me till today”.
 
Mr. James Livinus, is the CEO of Yakason Global Best Ventures, manufacturer of Yakason Shoes. He says, “After my secondary school education in my native Kaduna State, I was waiting for admission and during that period, I got to know about a school that offers a course in footwear technology. So, I applied, and fortunately I was given admission and I took Shoe Production - footwear manufacturing as a course, which I ran for over two years.
 
This actually led me to gaining a lot of interest in shoe production. So, when I left school, there was no big industry that could really accommodate us, but I had been picking some of the little machines - like the filing machine, lasts, among others and I began to sell myself to people around - about my capability. Later, I worked with Total Nigeria Plc. I produced a shoe for one of the staff after which many others began to order. After that, I was no longer living on my salary, as I was selling my shoes and saved a lot of money.
 
“Later, I met with a Director of National Directorate of Employment, NDE who saw a footwear I made and thought it was an Italian shoe. When I told him it was produced by me, he was really surprised and said I shouldn’t have been wasting my time in that company. He gave me a note to a director of NDE in the Southern part of Kaduna, where I come from. Getting there in 2002, I was enrolled into a training on how to run a company and write a business plan. I was thinking everything would be okay after that move and got lots of promises from the government, but nothing eventually came out of it.
 
“That disappointment actually prompted me to give it a thought that I could start my own shoe manufacturing company. So, in 2004, I registered a company and in January, 2005, I received the certificate. Immediately, I discovered that there is a local shoe manufacturing company in Lagos, so I came down to Lagos and luckily enough, as I came down, I was slated for an interview and at the venue, it was one of my lecturers that was slated to take me. So, I was given an employment immediately, and I continued to improve myself - after four years I left there.
 
I had run through various departments, leaving there as one of their designers. From there, I moved to Lennards Nigeria Plc to become the Production Manager between 2010 and 2011. Immediately, I left that place, the Federal Government came up with a programme known as Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN), which is a Business Plan competition. I enrolled and with God by my side, I was picked as one of the winners. So, with the little machineries I previously had, joined with the award prize won in the competition from the Federal Government, which was about N10 million, I kick started my own shoe manufacturing company - Yakason Shoes”.
 
Mr. Badmus Idris is the Creative Director of Captain Bosbain- a shoemaking and accessories outfit. He says, “We basically make shoes, slippers, sandals, and belts for men and ladies locally. I started the business about five years ago, while I was in the university, and since then it has grown much bigger than I originally envisaged. I started as a merchant and as the years goes went by, I decided to focus on designing my own shoes which comes so easy for me, and it has been so exciting and fun”.
 
Mr. Femi Oladipo is the Creative Producer, BFEM Manufacturing/Services Ltd - an indigenous shoe manufacturing company. He says, “Actually, I started in 2009, first by retailing; then later I went into production with about eight (8) boys. Our production is on a weekly basis, producing at least 50 pairs per week, which amounts to 200 pairs per month. I believe what motivated me into shoe production was the fashion trend of Nigerian men, because when I started, I actually started with men’s shoe designs before I delved into women’s designs.
 
I believe we have issues with what kind of shoe to wear alongside our outfit in Nigeria. So, I stepped into what I think is suitable for men to satisfy their fashion needs. In my own case, I didn’t actually go to school to learn shoe production, but I learnt it from a friend, who is also a shoemaker. Well, I started by buying from him to resell, but in the course of buying from him, I did help him out in coupling the shoes before taking them to the market. So, it was from this guy that I learnt the rudiments of shoe manufacturing, as I studied another course entirely in school”.
 
Equipment And Capital Needed
Omole says, “The major equipment one needs are sewing machine (industrial or manual), filing machine, scissors, adhesive gum, pliers, hammer, etc. Raw materials include soles, lining, and leather. I always preach that one should start small but to start the business with almost all the necessary things needed, one can budget between N80, 000 to N100, 000”.
 
Livinus says, “Startup capital is really an essential issue. Like me, while I was in Total, I was able to get Roughing machine and Last - a replica of the feet. I am encouraging those without work out there and are waiting for a particular cash to flow in; if they have about N20, 000, they can get the Roughing machine for about N14, 000 or so, get Last and training for them to start with producing pam sandals, which every Nigerian wears.
 
So, gradually as they are producing that, they are building their experience and getting more challenges that will really push them out to move higher. Also, through that, they can move to see someone who will feel happy with what they are doing and will like to invest. But if they want to start only after they have all the required mechanized machineries, definitely, it will cost them nothing less than N15 million.
“Meanwhile, before a shoe will be produced, the Last must be used, if not, it will not come out very well. For instance, if we are to produce for someone size 42, we will therefore make use of Last of size 42”.   

How Important Is Training?
Livinus says, “Well, it is obvious that shoe production needs training and at times retraining and the experience that has been gathered through the training is possibly what will really help one to establish properly. For instance, before I joined FAMADS, I had an encounter with a white lady in one of the shoe universities abroad through email and when I asked her how to establish a good shoe manufacturing company, and she told me to get a shoe manufacturing company and work there - even if I’m not paid - to understudy the system of operation. Definitely, it is not easy to make it in shoe making without training.
 
“As testimony, when we started after the getting our YouWin grant, the first set of experienced workers we employed just worked for a while and left at once. So, with this, if I wasn’t really exposed enough to stand in the gap before prowling for new workers, the company would have suffered. But immediately the old workers left, I was working day and night to face the pile ups of the job. So, shoemaking definitely needs training”.
 
How Do You Source For Materials - Imported Or Locally Sourced? Azeh says, “All our materials are locally sourced, most especially our major raw material which is the leather, Nigeria has one of the best leather in the world. Our materials are all sourced here; we don’t import anything on our own. But in the embellishment is where my creativity comes in because I can embellish shoes with anything. This is what makes Mona Matthews, Mona Matthews”.
 
Livinus says, “Well, as Nigeria is, we are blessed with raw materials, as we have lots of tanneries operating in Nigeria and they are producing us the leathers we use. Meanwhile, the tanneries are in Kano and once we give them the specifications, they give us what we want - that has not been a challenge. Though, we have still not been able to get it directly from the tannery, we buy from middlemen, because one needs to drop some millions of naira before they start dealing with you directly - that has been a challenge to us.
 
Also, we don’t produce and stock, but we produce based on demand. I can say this is our season - from September when children are going back to school, but we have not been able to meet because we did not have enough raw materials. So, what we do is that, if you are able to deposit some cash for your production, we will then buy raw materials and produce”.
Oladipo says, “Raw material is one big challenge in the shoe manufacturing business in Nigeria, because right now we don’t make do with our own locally made leather - most of the things we use are imported from China and Europe”.
 
And Who Are Your Market And How Do You Promote Your Product To Reach Them?
Azeh says, “Our target market is really easy for us to define. They are people who demand and recognize good quality shoes. We also deliberately design shoes for people with large feet because we realize that that segment of the market is underserved. We let our shoes speak for us, we focus on consistently producing high quality so our customers are our brand ambassadors, they tell other people about us.
“We also hold events when we have a new collection, a new piece of our work and we also attend exhibitions where we showcase our work. We also try to maintain a presence on social media so we have a page on Facebook; we are currently upgrading our website and have also begun the process of engaging our audience more via Twitter and Instagram”.
 
Omole says, “I promote my shoes via the social media. People that have me on their BlackBerry list and also my friends on Facebook can testify to that. Right now, you can also get my shoes to buy on Jumia.  There was a time I was always going to offices to sell my shoes but I don’t do that anymore. My shoes now sell themselves. My customers are now the ones that help me tell their friends about my shoes. Because once their friends see their footwear, they would want to know where they purchased it and when they tell them it is locally made, they are quick to collect my contact details”.
 
Livinus says, “Well, until recently, as regards military style boots, we were selling to [one of the largest private security companies in the country, a household name], but for some reasons, we decided to drop their order. We as well sell to private schools across the country.
 
For instance, we have a production at hand that is going to Kaduna State and there is another one to follow suit, which is going to Ondo State. We have customers in Warri, Port Hacourt, Sokoto, Abuja and Ibadan. We also believe that, very soon, we will get [contracts to supply the military], as we have designed a product that can really serve them. The Police Force is well in our target list with a product we have at hand that can satisfy them and compete with international products. We also have our websites there to showcase our products”.
 
Idris says, “Our customers range from children to adults (both men and women). The medium we use are exhibitions, social media platforms, and online market places. Our partnership with Konga, Jumia and Dealdey has been encouraging and very effective. Also, our turnover has increased and we’ve been able to reach a larger audience”.
 
Oladipo says, “My target market has to be the businesspeople, those who are in the corporate world - like I sell to bankers, lawyers, among others. Our resellers have only one issue to deal with, which is the issue of where the shoe is from. For instance, some of our clients sometime ago told us to label our shoes as “Made in Italy,” as some customers won’t buy made in Nigeria shoes because they believe it is not of high quality.
“So, what we do is that, we basically tell our customers that this our shoe is made in Nigeria, therefore the manufacturers to be on ground for after-sales service. Meaning that whatever issues you have, in the course of using our products, we are always on ground to attend to you. Also, customers can give us their specifications - if you want your shoe to have your name, signature, initials or you are giving it out as souvenir, you can tell us. Here, you can see the manufacturer, not that you have to travel to Paris or to Italy.
“About our marketing strategy, we have channels used to distribute our products and one of it is by giving it to our wholesalers who sell to the final consumers. We have them in some strategic locations on Lagos Island, in Ikeja, Yaba, among other locations. We also visit companies like the banks and other corporate places”.

What Are Your Major Challenges And How Have You Overcome Them?
Idris says, “Firstly, as a local designer it’s been very difficult to propose our products to some clients. Reason being that, some of them are used to foreign brands and are not ready to shift their taste or choice of brand. It takes a lot of convincing and assurance. Local acceptance is still a major challenge we face every day. Gradually, we are getting there”

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Reference:Successdigestonline.com

See you tomorrow.

100 Business Ideas You Can Start Up Here In Nigeria And Be Making Cool Money For Yourself

Are you looking for small business to start either for fulltime or parttime concentration,well I  have a goodnews for you not that I'm dashing you money ,hmmm but the list below should reveal some small businesses you can begin right here in Nigeria with little money too and start seeing yourslf making money provided you have ...

1.A good business management skill

2.A good advertisement skill too

Now lets chat out the list...make your choice and also feel free to add whatever business you think its not included as a comment,thanks.

1. Proposal writing

2. Real Estate Agency

3. Information Marketing

4. Blogging

5. Web publishing

6. Selling Fruits

7. Baking confectioneries

8. Selling honey

9. Home tutoring

10. Freelance marketing

11. Freelance writing

12. E-books publishing

13. Affiliate marketing

14. Crafts business

15. Bead making

16. Weight loss classes

17. Exercise Instructor

18. Party Planner

19. Business plan writer

20. Business broker

21. Aerobics Classes

22. Carpet Cleaning and car washing

23. Corporate Cleaning Services

24. Computer instructor

25. Dance Instructor

26. Graphic Designer

27. Web designer

28. Computer programmer

29. Computer Repairs

30. Mobile Phone Repairs

31. Charging of car and phone batteries

32. Time management consultant

33. Cooking service

34. Cosmetic sales

35. Dating Service

36. Directory Publisher

37. Editor

38. Email marketing

39. Employment Agency

40. Event Management

41. Event Planner

42. Fruit Selling e.g Apple, Pineapple etc

43. Export Agent

44. Ezine Publishing

45. Facialist

46. Hair Stylist

47. Beautician

48. Make-up Artistry

49. Freelance photographer

50. Ghost writer

51. Greeting cards designer

52. Food Delivery service

53. Home made story books

54. You tube Videos

55. Information broker

56. Infopreneur

57. Internet marketing

58. Internet service provider

59. Internet recruiting

60. Interpreter/translator

61. Foreign Language Teacher

62. Mailing list service

63. Market research

64. Monogramming

65. Music lessons

66. Nanny Service

67. Online internet training

68. Painting

69. Payroll service

70. Martial arts instructor

71. Pet training

72. Selling Pet products

73. Proof reader

74. Public Relations Agency

75. Public/Motivational Speaker

76. Reporter

77. CV/Resume Writing service

78. Self Improvement Seminars

79. Self Publishing

80. Song writer

81. Teaching

82. Technical Writer

83. Telephone Answering service

84. Tour Guide

85. Travel Agency

86. Scholarship and Overseas Study consultant

87. Typing service

88. Mobile supermarket

89. Writing press releases

90. SMS marketing

91. Excursion Service

92. Holiday Camp

93. Video game Center

94. Viewing Center

95. Day care center

96. Car wash service

97. Selling chilled Zobo Drinks

98. Youghurt

99. Home Business Center

100. School Dropping and picking service
-------------------GBN

Don't hesistate to contact us on 08066862889 if you have any business arrangement or enquiry.

Robert Kiyosaki Says This Story Will Determine Your Financial Future

Yeah,how are you doing today and this week in general,hope the money is really rushing in,smiles…I know it is, first the registration for the seminar below should be ending today since it begins tomorrow, if you have my advice is you better do…Click here to register

Now let’s go to the business of the day.

The story below will explain to you exactly what you are doing presently to your financial future, so you better sit up, get a cup of juice read gently and sip…Let begin.

Once upon a time there was this quaint little village. It was a great and perfect place to live except for the fact that it has one problem, which is water availability. The village has no hope of water unless I rained. To solve this problem once and for all, the village elders decided to put out to bid the contract to have water delivered to the village on a daily basis. Two people volunteered to take on the task and the elders purposely awarded the contract to both of them so as to create a little competition in order to keep prices low and insure back up supply of water.

The first of the two people who won the contract Ed immediately ran out bought two galvanized steel buckets and began running back and forth along the trail to the lake which was a mile away. He immediately began making money as he labored morning to dusk hauling water from the lake with his two buckets. He would empty them into the large concrete holding tank the village had built. Each morning he had to get up before the rest of the village awoke to make sure there is enough water when it wanted it.It was hardwork but he was very happy to be making money and for having one of the two exclusive contracts for this business.

The second winner contractor, Bill, disappeared for a while.He was not seen for months, which made Ed very happy since he had no competition.Ed was making the money all alone.

Instead of buying two buckets to compete with Ed,Bill had written a business plan,created a corporation, found four investors, employed a president to do the work, and returned six months later with a construction crew. Within a year his team had built a large volume stainless steel pipeline which connects the village to the lake.

At the grand opening celebration, Bill announced that his water was cleaner than Ed’s water.He knew that there had been complaint about dirt in Ed’s water.Bill also announced that he will supply the village with water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ed could only deliver water on weekdays…he could not work on weekends. Then Bill announced that he would charge 75% less than Ed did for this higher quality and more reliable source of water.The villaged cheered and ran immediately for the faucet the end of Bill’s pipeline.

In order to compete, Ed immediately lowered his price rates by 75% bought two more buckets,added covers to his buckets and began hauling for buckets each trip.In order  to provide better service, he hired his two sons to give him a hand for the night shift and on weekends. When his boys went off to college he said to them, Hurry back because some day this business will belong to you.’

For some reasons, after college his two sons never returned. Eventually Ed had employees and union problems. The union was demanding higher wages, better benefits and wanted its members to only haul one bucket at a time.

Bill on the other hand realized that if this village needed water then the other village must need water too. He rewrote his business plan and went off to sell his high speed, high volume, low cost and clean water delivery system to villages throughout the world. He only makes a penny per bucket of water delivered, but he delivers billions of buckets of water every day.

Regardless if he works or not, billions of people consumes billions of buckets of water and all that money pours into his bank account. Bill had developed a pipeline to deliver money to himself as well as water to the villages.

Bill lived happily ever after and Ed worked hard for the rest of his life and had financial problems forever after.

THE END

With this story in mind one should be reasonable enough to ask himself/herself these questions.

“Am I building a pipeline or hauling buckets?”

“Am I working Hard or am I working smart?”

My friend look into your personal life and answer these question because the answers will determine how your financial future will become.

Make sure you don’t neglect answering these questions.

See you at the top.