Running a creative business is like steering a ship in uncharted waters, and having the right skills is your map to success. As a creative business owner, you’ll need six essential skills to make your journey smoother. From working well with your team to making smart deals, let’s explore these skills that can turn your creative passion into a thriving business
1. People Management and Leadership
Leading with care and guidance is vital for effective people management. It’s about understanding, supporting, and inspiring your team to succeed together. In a creative business, this creates a positive environment where everyone can thrive.
2. Negotiation
In creative business, negotiation is like working together on a puzzle and finding solutions that make everyone happy. It’s about talking, understanding each other, and creating partnerships that go beyond just a simple deal, setting the stage for success we can all share.
3. Sales and Marketing
Marketing gets attention, and sales steps in to seal the deal, creating a cycle of new customers and growth. It’s like a tag team where they each have a role, making sure your business keeps growing and bringing in more happy customers.
4. Decision making
Decision-making is like being the boss of choices. It’s about thinking, picking the best option, and steering towards success. In business, it’s not just one choice it’s a bunch of them that lead to growth and success, like driving a ship to where you want to go.
5. Innovation
Innovation is like having awesome new ideas to make things better or create something totally new. It’s the key to progress, helping businesses grow and stay ahead by finding smarter and cooler ways of doing things.
6. Money Management
Handling your money is a bit like being the boss of your wallet. It’s about making smart choices, like saving up and planning for what’s ahead. Whether it’s saving a bit each month or being careful with how you spend, good money management is like steering your financial ship, making sure you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
Africa is blessed with talented creatives, and Bukola Asafa, CEO of Nigerian brand, Oba Couture is not an exception. Her amazing shoe and bag collections all have indigenous names, and that’s one thing we love about her brand. Read on to see what else there is to know about Oba Couture.
Please introduce yourself and your background.
My name is Olubukola Asafa, I was born into a family of five comprising of myself, mum, dad, 2 brothers and 1 sister.
My Dad worked with the Nigerian Television Authority and my mum was an Entrepreneur. I was born in Ilorin, Kwara State, and moved to Lagos at age 3.
I attended Queen’s College ( Yaba, Lagos) for my secondary school education, then went to the University of Abuja for my tertiary education.
Tell us about your work. How did Oba Couture Limited start?
It started in 2011 while studying for my MBA. I wanted to be an Entrepreneur and I wanted to start to implement all that I was learning.
Prior to that, I had been praying to God for direction. I started selling readymade shoes and bags, but because I love to create and work with my hands, I knew that I had to start making them.
I also noticed that a lot of footwear and bags which were made in Nigeria always claimed to be ‘Made in Italy’. I had many questions and so I decided I would make a difference and bring ‘made in Nigeria’ back. That was my mission.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
OBA means KING in Yoruba Language, but the brand OBA is referring to GOD the King of all Kings. OBA is also my initials: OLUBUKOLA BODUNDE ASAFA.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
My niche market is buyers like me who are fashionable and want something unique and of exceptional quality.
Where do you get the inspiration for your products?
I get inspired from everyday living, time spent with loved ones, my quiet time, and sometimes just interacting with my customers.
Can you remember one of the first products you made? What makes it memorable?
Yes. I remember a bag I made for my Pastor (Pastor Mrs. Bemigho).
She ordered a bag to encourage me when I just started. It was an ankara bag and what makes it memorable is that it was made of carton (lol).
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Some of the challenges are poor infrastructure, inadequate power supply, lack of adequate skill, and unfair competition with imported shoes and bags.
Do you have any regrets venturing into this line of business?
I have no regrets whatsoever. I love what I do and I am very passionate about my craft.
What is your most popular product?
Hmm. It’s difficult to say which one, but customers tend to purchase our unique line of male sandals more than the rest. So I guess those are more popular (lol).
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian (African) heritage for your work?
Our exotic leathers are gotten from the northern part of Nigeria. We also try to make our products as natural as can be. We do not use the professional processing machines used abroad, and most of our products have unique African names.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
For my business, my Short term goals are: Engaging in more unique strategies for sales and marketing , getting the word out and making our products more accessible to our target audience.
My long term business goals would be building a sustainable brand that will stand the test of time and build a lasting legacy.
For life in general, my short term goals would be to read more books and exercise more. In the long term, I’m working towards eating healthier, making every second count and impacting the world positively.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am a shy girl
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this Industry?
I would be a Lawyer
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Do not despise the days of humble beginnings, you don’t have to start big you can start small and then grow.
And finally, please share images of some of your work and tell us a little about each product, and their Prices
OBA ‘Tutu’ crocodile skin bag is made of original crocodile skin and is our most expensive product. It is priced at N220,000.
I also have the OBA ‘Lala’ bag which has an edgy front flap which makes it unique it is priced at N40,000.
See more beautiful bags and Footwear by Oba Couture
Mona Matthews was birthed when Monalisa Abimbola Azeh noticed a gap in the footwear industry, as she could not find shoes that were comfortable and stylish. This led her to start creating shoes for her personal use, and eventually she was led to start a business in designing and producing footwear.Continue reading
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.