Babe Ruth said it's hard to beat a person who never gives up. Alafia
Gbadebo, a young entrepreneur who started making millions at age 21,
the founder of Strands Event Company, shares how it all
started.(Culled from Daily Independent Newspaper)
"I started off with a trade fair when I was still a student at UNILAG.
That was seven years ago. I realised that immediately schools resume,
students go to different places to get their school needs. If you want
clothes, you go to Yaba; if you want a laptop, you go to the Computer
Village in Ikeja; if you want electronics for your room, you go to
Alaba market, in Lagos. I thought instead of students going all around
Lagos buying things, why couldn't the companies bring their products
to the school and be in one place within the school. Also, I know that
students do not have high purchasing power; so, when I was to start,
the aim was that exhibitors should sell their wares and services to
students at low prices or at discounted rates. That way, students can
buy their needs in one place and at cheaper prices. Also, I knew that
there are many companies that have promos that are targeted at the
youth. The best place to get their target market is the school. So,
the fair was borne out of necessity. It is an avenue for both buyers
and sellers to meet. That was how we started the first students' trade
fair in 2006."
He said being independent motivated him. He continued, "What has
always motivated me is that fact that I want to be independent. When I
was in Year One, I started by selling recharge cards. It was a new
business then, and I carved a niche for myself.
I would tell people that they don't need to come to me to buy credit;
they should just send me a text and I would send them the credit and
get my money later. That was how I sold cards to a lot of students in
UNILAG. I have always been an enterprising person. I had always known
that I would not work for anyone. So, when I was planning to start the
fair, I did not have money, but I started by making friends. I knew I
would need to go out a lot to get exhibitors. So, I made friends with
people that had cars, and students that are from wealthy background
that I could get money from.
I knew I would need people who are purpose-driven like me; so, I made
friends with people like myself. I had all these partners who helped
make the first fair a success.
Though, we did not make money at first, we knew we had a sellingbrand."
To be continued......
Gbadebo, a young entrepreneur who started making millions at age 21,
the founder of Strands Event Company, shares how it all
started.(Culled from Daily Independent Newspaper)
"I started off with a trade fair when I was still a student at UNILAG.
That was seven years ago. I realised that immediately schools resume,
students go to different places to get their school needs. If you want
clothes, you go to Yaba; if you want a laptop, you go to the Computer
Village in Ikeja; if you want electronics for your room, you go to
Alaba market, in Lagos. I thought instead of students going all around
Lagos buying things, why couldn't the companies bring their products
to the school and be in one place within the school. Also, I know that
students do not have high purchasing power; so, when I was to start,
the aim was that exhibitors should sell their wares and services to
students at low prices or at discounted rates. That way, students can
buy their needs in one place and at cheaper prices. Also, I knew that
there are many companies that have promos that are targeted at the
youth. The best place to get their target market is the school. So,
the fair was borne out of necessity. It is an avenue for both buyers
and sellers to meet. That was how we started the first students' trade
fair in 2006."
He said being independent motivated him. He continued, "What has
always motivated me is that fact that I want to be independent. When I
was in Year One, I started by selling recharge cards. It was a new
business then, and I carved a niche for myself.
I would tell people that they don't need to come to me to buy credit;
they should just send me a text and I would send them the credit and
get my money later. That was how I sold cards to a lot of students in
UNILAG. I have always been an enterprising person. I had always known
that I would not work for anyone. So, when I was planning to start the
fair, I did not have money, but I started by making friends. I knew I
would need to go out a lot to get exhibitors. So, I made friends with
people that had cars, and students that are from wealthy background
that I could get money from.
I knew I would need people who are purpose-driven like me; so, I made
friends with people like myself. I had all these partners who helped
make the first fair a success.
Though, we did not make money at first, we knew we had a sellingbrand."
To be continued......
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