Folayemi
Agusto is the Chief Executive Officer of The Artisan Gift Company, an
establishment that was registered in January 2014 to provide services to celebrants
and event makers. As an entrepreneur, Agusto who was featured in the premier
edition of GT Bank SME Market Hub ‘Merchant Monday’ programme, said her
expectation when beginning her business is very different from the reality she
has gotten. In this interview with UZEZI ADESITE, the graduate from University
of Virginia, USA, discusses her business and issues in the event management
industry.
Tell
us about The Artisans Gift Company?
The Artisans Gift Company is a gift and favour business
based in Lagos Nigeria. We sell a range of gifts and favours for all sorts of
events like baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, birthday parties and also package
corporate gifts.
Why
did you set up this business?
I started this business because I am very into event
management and planning. I have attended lots of events in Lagos over the years
and I never liked the gifts that were given out. I have seen vegetable oil as
gift, I have seen garri. My cousin received bleaching cream last year. I have
seen so many buckets and trays; so many odd things that people might not really
need at home. So I wanted to change this industry I guess and change the gifts
that were given out to things that are more practical, more useful and
functional.
Why
the name ‘The Artisan Gift’?
It is called The Artisans Gift Company because an
artisan is someone who makes things by hand and is skilled in their crafts so I
offer a range of unique and hand crafted gifts.
Do
you make any of the items you package personally?
I make some samples, because I know how to sew. For
instance if I need to make a tote bag, I can make a sample, but I don’t make
any of them personally myself.
Since
you started, how has it been so far?
It’s been good. It’s been interesting. I have learnt a
lot about myself and how to run a business in Nigeria.
What
were your expectations before starting? Are you meeting them?
I have been getting orders consistently every month
since my first order in April. But I really thought I would be bombarded by
orders and everyone will just run to me and it would be so easy, but obviously
I haven’t had that experience. I thought it would be so fabulous and I would be
so rich, but unfortunately, the reality is that I am taking it day by day and
month by month.
Who
exactly are your services for?
I work for anyone who wants to give our gifts and party
favours. Like at weddings, I can work for the couple, the bride’s mother, the
groom’s mother, friends of the couple, I can work for the event planner,
company, anyone.
How
do you get to meet your clients?
I have just relied on my network and friends for the
moment. My first order was actually through my cousin who works in the company.
They were hosting an event and I asked if she knew if they needed gifts or
souvenirs for the event and if there was an email of someone to contact she
could help me with. I wrote in and was asked to send in a catalogue which I did
and we went from there. Also if I know someone that is getting married or any
of my friends know, I ask to be introduced. So I just try to grow my business
from my network. And I use the internet as well. I use Instagram a lot to share
pictures of our gifts and favours and I also rely on event planners because
that is a huge and growing industry in Nigeria, so I talk to them if they can
refer me to their clients. I have just been trying to build my network
basically.
What
kind of gaps have you noticed in the event planning and management industry
since you started?
A database of suppliers and other useful people the
industry needs. For instance, let’s say I am looking for someone to do screen
printing. It is hard to find the needed people. I have to ask around if anyone
knows someone who can do screen printing, who is reliable and does it well.
There is nowhere I can go online to find a database of people who are capable
of doing screen printing, or bag making, leather goods etc. I just have to ask
around whenever I need any of these things.
What
was starting like? Did you exactly need any funds to begin?
I started with my own money. I started with N50, 000 of
my own money. I used it to order samples and so far I have just been
reinvesting most of the money I make from each order back into the business to
grow the business. So there are so many businesses people can start without
tons of money. If you are into bag making for example, I am sure you can attend
a bag making course in Nigeria for like N25, 000. During the course, you make
some bags and use as your samples to make more bags for people so it is not
every time you need a large sum of money to start your business.
Where
do you sort the gifts and favours you package?
I try as much as possible to have things made in Nigeria
and support the local economy so I have many things made in Nigeria and at the
same time I import some products that I cannot get here.
How
affordable are your services for clients?
I have things from all different price range. I have
items as cheap as N350 and some go up to N12, 000 per item.
A
lot of youths complain about lack of jobs, not seeing the opportunities around
them. What can you say to them? How can they be focused enough to look around
them?
I guess sometimes, it depends on your interest. I was
really passionate about even management. For me, it was like, if I wasn’t an
event manager, what else can I do in this industry? Which other gaps do I see
in this industry that I can provide a better service than what is been
currently offered? So that is one way. You can find something you are
interested in and look around for the gaps or find what you can do better than
other people are currently doing. I would like them to know it is very easy to
start a business in Nigeria depending on the skill of your business. If you
think you can do something and you are focused very hard in doing it, you most
certainly can do it.
What
are your future plans?
I am taking it day by day. I wrote a business plan but
to be honest, I haven’t followed it to the T. I am actually just taking it day
by day, trying to grow my business. I want to be better and better.