I often wonder most times when people ask me, “what business can I start”. Truth is there are tons and tons of businesses and business ideas out there you can deploy. You can get a business idea from virtually anywhere and from anything, and guess what, your business/business idea mustn’t be a NEW or Never-Done-before business; you just have to open your mind.
More reason I can’t tell you what business to go into is because it has to align with your passion and your know-how of the business. Don’t go into a business you know barely nothing about and or you are not passionate about.
This week’s episode on the SME Digest’s SME of the week features a passion driven, can I call him a ‘dermatologist’ right now.. Opeyemi happens to get his business idea while walking on campus and overhead the problems of two ladies discussing, and boom!!!, a business idea clicked on, and see where it has taken him today.
Let’s welcome Opeyemi Fuad on the podium, there are a lot to learn from this episode. Sit back relax and enjoy..
Q: Can we meet you?
I am Opeyemi Fuad Bolarinwa, an agropreneur and social entrepreneur, founder and C.E.O of Bolanature World Limited. A graduate of Agricultural Economics from Osun State University, Osogbo, and currently running Agricultural Development and Policy analysis as the second degree at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. I am the Osun State student representative of Africa’s Young Entrepreneur Empowerment of Nigeria (AYEEN), and have volunteered as a member and partner for several groups in Nigeria. I am a fellow of Barrack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Regional Leadership Center, West Africa, Accra, Ghana, cohort 10. I enjoy focusing on the areas of economic growth, food security, gender equality, and has a strong passion for youth empowerment and social change. The first company has being running successfully and we are currently working on another startup called Agroloaded, a data driven agritech platform.
Q: Tell us about your Business, how you started and what inspired you to go in that line of business.
Bolanature World Limited is an indigenous grown company incorporated in 2015, into Agribusiness and skin care production. We are committed to delivering natural solutions from nature’s goodness, with the mission to enrich the lives of our consumers by producing quality & natural products and best business opportunities to create sustainability.
I started as a normal regular student back in the first degree days with the passion for entrepreneurship, to proffer solutions to skin problems. On my way back from lectures in those days, I eavesdropped two ladies discussing about their skins problems, and how far they had gone in search of solutions, and having discovered the negative effect of most of the skin care product outside which are indirectly harmful to skin, I decided to work on a natural skin care solution product perfectly made for all skin types.
Q: What were the Initial Challenges you faced when you started your Business?
The challenges faced then were getting the appropriate capital followed by penetrating the market; earning people’s trust because some skins are sensitive but after testing our product, the feedback has been excellent. Also the attitude of some people towards locally produced goods but we are overcoming that.
Q: What is that thing you wish you did differently?
I wish I could have been exposed to this problem earlier so that more of skin problems would have been solved through my product.
Q: Who or What is your Main Inspiration: Business/Personal?
The passion for making impacts and spirit of entrepreneurship inspired me. The fact that I have the opportunity to proffer solutions to skin infections and to maintain good health and well-being, and as well turn my passion into profits while creating best business opportunity and employment opportunities.
Q: What makes you different from your Competitors?
The differentiating factors of our business are; the essential and uniqueness of our natural products, it’s bigger and affordable for all classes of people with maximum effectiveness that helps in achieving optimal health and wellbeing, it works! We are sensitive to our consumer’s need and constantly improve on our products. Unlike other businesses in our field, our business is based on quality and it proffers immediate solutions to skin issues as well as apt management decisions when necessary.
Q: Would your Business still be around in 5years?? Why do you think so?
Definitely. Since the products are valuable and the raw materials are sourced locally, and concerted efforts are being made by our policy makers to delve more into local products, it is a plus for us, in our drive to maintain, and through positive feedbacks, upgrade our production lines for better and more affordable products that will meet international standards, hence, exporting intentions…
Q: What does it take to start a Business like yours?
It doesn’t take anything special than just to find a purpose aligned with passion for solutions to likely problems while setting goals towards achieving it.
Q: How has your Business made you a better person?
For humanity fulfillment, it gladdens my heart that I am equally contributing actively in ensuring the actualization of the sustainable development goals through active involvement in Poverty reduction, Good Health and Wellbeing, in addition to promoting food security, clean water and sanitation adherence.
Q: In what ways have you given back or is your business giving back to
the Society?
Our business gives back to the society through our partnership with non-profit organizations, through community development programme been organized and outreach to local communities. Our raw materials been sourced locally in turn provides extra income for the local dwellers, and our business provides employment opportunities.
There is a massive plan to get the youth empowered through taking them on soap making techniques, with a view to encourage them to go into similar line of business.
In fact, getting them formed into co-operatives after the training in order to have access to grants and soft loans are part of the plans that is in the pipeline.
Q: Do you currently have Expansion Plans? Can you share with us?
Yes, we continue exploring the nature while increasing our product line. With the plan to have our products been distributed to more reputable skin care stores in Nigeria, and have our products spread to more countries. Additionally, with our intentions to hire sales reps that would move the products faster into different region/state for wider acceptability. The planned recruitment of these sales rep is purely based on commission based on quantity of products sold once pushed into the market. We are always open for partnership just in-case…
Q: Favorite Quote you live by:
“Do not get addicted to escaping. Face your shit, handle your business, and triumph. No battle was ever won by people who run.” -Gregory Anthony.
MESSAGE TO ENTREPRENEURS
Q: What would you like to tell the person who is scared for one reason or the other to start a Business?
Take the risk (reasonably). In life if risk is not taken, then everything is at risk. And don’t go into business just to make money without making any solution.
Q: Message to other Entrepreneurs:
The road may not be smooth but keep at your passion. Keep working on your models till it gets right and don’t put two eggs into one basket.
Q: Message to would-be Entrepreneurs:
Find a purpose and live up to it. To be an entrepreneur, you must come up with innovative ideas in your proposed business venture.
You can reach Opeyemi Faud via the details below;
Office address: Behind Bowen University, Service Area, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
Telephone: 09020008771, 08144429226.
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bolanatureherbal/
Website: www.bolanature.com