How my business has thrived despite the harsh economic climate in Nigeria —Abidoye, home decor expert

Despite holding a degree in Biology Education from the Ekiti State University, Abidoye Kehinde runs AR-Craft Company with the mission to provide homes in Nigeria and beyond with dazzling decorations. She speaks with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI on how her business has been thrivng despite the surging inflation crippling many businesses in the country.

 

AT a time when many Nigerian youths are launching out different businesses to stave off unemployment, you came up with a company aimed at  providing homes with basic decors, tell us more about it?

AR-Craft is a company born out of an unbridled passion for aesthetics or anything called craft generally. I still strive to know more and even give more. In view of this, I am passionate about learning and relearning, and I believe so much in putting my best in anything I do so that it can produce excellence and provide viable solutions to the problems of people within my environment and beyond.

Despite holding a degree in Biology Education from the Ekiti State University, my ambition is to become a successful business mogul and this is an undying dream for me. Also, while growing up, I have always admired beautiful things with little or no idea of how they were made.  But over time, I became convinced that every home deserves a touch of glamour and this indeed has brightened my love for the uniqueness of the brand I’m building. I am out to give a paradise touch to every home. I started out with Canadian smocks which though have been very arduous; nevertheless, my love for the craft is boundless.

I have chosen this path passionately; my designs and crafts have always been a source of pride and continuous inspiration for me to do more. What can be more enthralling than the beauty my hands can create? It gives so much joy. God be praised.

The current population of the country gives my conviction a boundless hope that my business will succeed in both the craft and the fashion industry. I have noticed many great opportunities in this area of business, one of which is the fact that it is an emerging business area that has the capability to engage lots of young entrepreneurs. It offers a promising future for business explorers.

 

Your outfit runs both a production and sales arm, how do you combine these seamlessly and meet up with teeming demands of your clients?

Yes! My passion and love is my major drive. Though the process of production is very tasking, I have a culture of prompt service delivery. Often times, I work late into the night to meet up with delivery for my clients. So far, I have great joy and a sense of fulfillment after each production. Though my sales is both online and offline, it has been my principle to give my clients specific number of working days enough to produce and deliver without any hitch  as I hate to disappoint. Passion, resilience and integrity has kept me going. This strategy has enabled me to manage production time for efficient service delivery.

 

What has been the innovative solution your outfit has introduced into the Nigerian household upgrade?

The innovation that my product has brought affects the fashion and interior decoration industry directly. So far, AR-Craft products can now be worn on dresses. My products provide comfort at homes, offices, inside cars and in the church. My products have on several occasions serve as medium for expressing birthday wishes, complimentary greetings as well as giving cushion comfort. You don’t have to rest your head on the normal boring pillow; a smoked pillow can now be used instead. Homes have been graced with different designs and colours of decorative pillows conveying heartfelt messages to loved ones that may be difficult to express verbally.

 

For someone with an online presence, how has the government ban on Twitter in Nigeria affected your business?

Government policy on Twitter ban came at a time my business was to be registered on Twitter. The current policy on the micro blogging platform has denied me the opportunity to advertise my products to the global communities.

 

Your market is obviously a growing one, what has been the economic challenges and constraints that you have faced since you launched out?

The economic challenges have not been fair on my business, but I am hopeful and will keep moving. Inflation rate directly affects the prices of materials for production to about 17% to 18%. This has generally affected my capital despite the fact the business is very promising. The current economic reality is a major factor currently affecting my sales.

Though the demand for products is currently high, funding for quick production is a task I am currently struggling with. Production is now made strictly on demand for products.

 

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