Miss Anukanti Judith Chidinma, an ex-corps member with NYSC Code No: FC/14C/2683, is now an entrepreneur who is already making a living out of bead making with a vision of making it a global business. In this interview with JOHN OBA, Judith who is supporting beads making with fashion design and make-up, says fund has been the major challenge on her way up.
Tell us about yourself?
I am Judith, a former corps member in Abuja; I read economics from the University of Jos
What prompted your desire to venture into bead making?
The idea of bead making does not just come to me at once; it was my sister that gave me the idea of the bead business. I find her making beads when I got to her house during one of my holiday visits and it was interesting and she urged me to try it out and I at first wanted to do it for fun not because I wanted to go into the business initially because I felt I don’t need it. So reluctantly I started with her and gradually I made some and I like them, and then understand that there is money in the business if I continue. So I went into marketing them, initially it wasn’t funny, I didn’t succeed at first but I don’t give up, I continued until now I am proud I am into the business and I am not making something out of it.
So what impact does the entrepreneurship training you went through in the camp had on you?
Yes, I joined the ICT group, I don’t join the bead making group because I felt I have the knowledge already. I would rather wish I am an instructor, so as to teach others, so I don’t go into bead making training in the camp.
When you got into the camp and discovered that corps members are being encouraged to go into skill acquisition training, does that encourage you the more in your venture?
Yes, it does because I saw corps members going into several training, some went into make-up, food and beverages making etc., because I had seen a friend who made juice as taught from the SAED training. SAED is a good entrepreneurship scheme for corps members.
How do you get fund for your business?
Though I am still sourcing for fund, but I started in a small way. Initially it was my sister who was buying the beads for me little by little until I started selling the ones I made and started getting little money from it. Also, since we are being paid allowance as corps members, I was using part of it to support it because there are some customers that would ask you to make bead for them without initial payment, so you have to source for money to make it and get it back when they buy it. Sometimes you may not be paid immediately but as a beginner, one has to take things gradually.
So do you have other people working with you now?
Right now I have people I am training, I have about three people, though there are others who have indicated their interest to learn but have not started. I met a woman in the vehicle and showed her my product, she got interested and later called me about three weeks later that she is interested in learning, though she is working and would only be available on weekends and I told her no problem once she is ready she should inform me. At least if I train you for one month, you should be able to learn it.
Because I learnt mine for only two weeks and I was able to learn the basics. But for someone that feels does not have enough time or that may be slow in learning, I can extend his/her teaching for one month. If you have time daily, that would be okay but if you want weekends, I can extend the period for two months. But there is something about beads making, designs keep coming up, there are always new designs so you keep learning on the job. The main thing is know the basics and be creative, know colour mixing and if you see any design you find difficult to do, then you can meet those who are good at it, probably better that you and they would teach you.
Are you making profit out of it, and how much do you make per month?
Yes. It depends on the mode of the business, when business is moving, am sure of making profit of N60,000 in a month, which is the least. I have made N100, 000 a month before and I can make more if I go into it on full time basis.
How do you market your products, any particular mode of advertisement?
Right now, I haven’t done any of that but I advertise on Facebook, WhatsApp, but I am not on Instagram, but in the next one mouth I should be on Instagram, and I am still working to start marketing online, a friend just introduced me into it, but I just want to know the system better.
Hmmmm, the major marketing place now is my office, when I am free, I walk into some of the offices and market it from there they started exchanging my contact with others, people I don’t even know before have been calling to order theirs. Also whenever I meet people outside, either in the markets, banks etc. and I perceive they use beads, I walk up to them after exchanging pleasantries I will introduce myself and inform them about my products, drop my contacts in case they are interested. I had sold to some corps members who are serving with me here and at my CDS venue after lecturing them on the important of entrepreneurship, I had to go with my products to show them and some bought my products.
How do you know those that wear beads?
Actually, it is by intuition, though sometime I may be wrong, but most times you get them, some I persuade them and they try it out.
Some people may be thinking it belongs to traditionalists. How do you fear this challenge?
No, beads business is striving now, because lots of people now know about beads and beads making. Right now, wearing is fashion now, almost everybody wants to go into it now, there are other ways you can wear beads not only for occasion, some people use it to office, it only depends on how you used it.
You can use beads for English or native wears, but how you use them matters a lot and brings out the beauty of the beads.
So do you coach people on beads fashion?
Yes, I had to explain to some customers what to wear, a particular colour, say gold, Silva, white and black are colours that don’t select, they go on almost all cloths you wear. Like you wearing a gold beads on a yellow dress, blue or black or white dresses. Another thing that determines the colour of beads you wear sometimes is your shoes, or your hand bags, and sometimes, your shoe and bags don’t even affect the beads. You can put on a black gown or black top with probably a jeans shirk or trouser, it doesn’t matter what are you put on your legs, you can wear your gold beads and it would come out fine.
But for mothers that wear natives in occasions, their wrappers most times determine the beads they buy or their blouse determines the beads they buy. Teel green is another colour that goes with almost other colours. You can wear a blue top with gold wrapper but your scarf and shoes determins the beads. If you are wearing a tee green mixed with red, you can put on a green, gold or pink top but your wrapper or shoe will determine if the beads will match.
So can you use beads for any occasion?
Yes, you can, these days, people use beads for white wedding, normally, people go for costume, but these days we have beads that work better. You can buy pears or crystal beads or other good beads and make something better for your wedding.
Are there challenges?
Yes, there are challenges, aside from finance, the business doesn’t come always and the capital to start up. Especially if one has not gotten enough customers to buy from her, one will need to sort for fund because the materials are capital intensive. One needs to have enough money to get good materials. For instance, to get coral beads, it is expensive in the market, but mostly we ask the customers to deposit some money upfront but some may not give any deposit and since one will not want to lose her customer, you will be forced to source for fund elsewhere. A times, the materials are scares; one will need to travel to get them. So fund is the major challenge. Another challenge is the materials, getting the materials pose some challenges too.
So how do you get your materials?
I get my materials from Wuse market, or Utako market, and sometimes we will need to travel to Lagos or China to get them. For now, I have not started travelling to get materials but I will soon start once I am through with my service. Because it is cheaper getting it from Lagos. Those who go to Lagos to buy may not even get enough, because people normally rush the materials and if you are not there on time, you may not get good materials. But what I normally do is to buy materials whenever I see them, I may not need them at that particular time, but I buy and keep it done. Because sometime the materials are scarce.
So what quantity can you produce in a month?
It depends on demands, some may take me two days, some a day.
Let’s talk about packaging?
Well the package are not customized now, but as time goes on I will get people to customize mine the way I want it. But for now, I am buying from the markets.
What is the name of your company?
My company name is Dinma, I am still planning to go into fashion designing to complement the beads making. I will start that next week, I have my plans in place already, I will be starting my tailoring tutorials and within the next six months I should be through, then I will cap it up with make-ups.
Wouldn’t you like to get a government job?
Well, not that I don’t like to get a government job but as a beginner, capital is the challenge and the level I want to get to in my business is high, I still need fund, so if I can get a loan fine but if not, if I get a job, it is another means of getting fund. So if I get a job today, I can be injecting some capital through my monthly income.
How much do you think will comfortably help you take off in your business?
Well, considering the beads making with my fashion making, I can start with a million Naira.
Have you tried exploring any of these organizations that supports entrepreneurs?
I haven’t given it a thought, but I will put that into consideration now.
Any advise to other corps members and the government?
I will counsel them, not to give up on themselves even If things are not working the way they expect. Also meeting with good people who can encourage and give them proper advice. There is need for them to continue in those things they have passion for. And most importantly, they should talk to God for directions.
I will urge the government to assist the youth in terms of financing and opening up opportunity for trainings that will help them actualize their dreams.
