Let’s start by knowing you.
My name is Ime James Ekop, I am from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. I am also a graduate of computer science from Heritage Polytechnic, Eket. I am rounding up my master’s programme at the National Open University. Currently, I am into the importation and sales of oil perfume and my perfume brand is called Tinted Scents.
Who introduced you to the business and what convinced you to go into it?
I got into the business due to my love for good scents. I stumbled on oil perfume in 2018 and it captured me so I decided to go into the business. The good quality of the perfume was the driving force because I applied it in the evening and I could still perceive the perfume on my dress days after.
Why did you not go and look for a job instead? Why did you prefer business?
How many applications will one send out? I needed something more than just going to the office daily and then collecting salary at the end of the month. I wanted to be more productive, I wanted to stretch myself more and I wanted to also be an employer of labour. That is what gave birth to Tinted Scents.
How many years have you put in so far?
Tinted Scents is four years.
What’s the experience like during this time?
The oil perfume business has been very tasking and competitive but I have always been on top of my game because of the grade of oil perfume I sell. That is what stands my oils out, that is what makes seven people out of every 10 people you meet choose my brand, Tinted Scents.
What would you say are the positives and negatives of this business?
The advantage is that you will smell really good all day without breaking the bank. Secondly, oil perfume business is a vast and lucrative business. Thirdly, the oil perfume business is classy and handy, meaning that you can put them in your handbag while going out and selling. You don’t need a shop and you don’t need to stress much to sell, you can be a walking advert through your sweet smell!
That’s how I sold in Keke (commercial tricycle) some days ago because I was smelling too nice and the passenger just couldn’t help but ask what perfume I was wearing.
Talking about the disadvantages, the first is adulteration. So many vendors have adulterated the oils and by doing so they tend to sell cheaper which will make it difficult for people like me who don’t adulterate to sell.
Oil perfume is in grades and many people don’t know this. So if someone happens to buy the lowest grade which is not as long-lasting as the grade I am selling, it will be difficult to convince that person to buy the higher grade because he or she must have concluded that oil perfumes don’t last.
That’s interesting.
For people like me who import, another challenge is that it is capital-intensive. There are also the issues of bottling and repackaging.
As a woman, do you face any gender-related challenges in the business?
Not at all, I have not experienced any. Oil perfume business is versatile enough and it sits well with any gender.
Can you tell us how profitable the business is?
The oil perfume business is very profitable. I started four years ago with N26,000, but today I have been able to get a walk-in store. I am now importing the oils in large quantities and distributing them to people who are reselling them across Nigeria. So I say with my full chest that the oil perfume business is profitable. If you start with N20,000, you will make more than N10,000 gain, sometimes you can make a 100% return on investment.
Wow! How do you get your customers?
Number one is social media. I make mega sales from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp. I make sales through referrals a lot because when people buy my oils and wear, people will be asking who they bought from and then I will be referred.
I also do offline marketing, so yeah I make sales all around, I utilise every opportunity.
Would you advise other young people to go into the business?
Yes, and always. Anytime, I will advise students, stay-at-home parents, and people who already have 9-5 jobs among others to do the business. The business is flexible and lucrative so I will advise people to venture into it. I have started the business for a good number of people too. I have made it very easy for people to start on their budget, you can even start without a Kobo through dropshipping. It is that beautiful.
What would you advise other young unemployed people?
Please don’t sit back and fold your arms because you are unemployed, stand up and be productive. You will be amazed at the outcome. I truly didn’t believe I would get to this level in this business, though I used to envisage it, I did not know it would be this sudden.
You can make a lot of money from home, please get up, make up your mind, start from somewhere and be consistent with it and watch it pay off big time.
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