Miss Nwiba Helen Ogochukwu is the Founder and Creative Director of HELENZ FOOTWEAR, a Nigerian brand specialized in producing quality and standard beaded footwears using locally sourced raw materials. In this interview with Port Harcourt Spectator Newspaper, she gave insight into her drive towards promoting made in Nigeria goods and her motivation.
Excerpts:
Tell us your background and how it all started?
My name is Nwiba Helen Ogochukwu, I’m the second daughter and child of the six children of my parents. I was born on November 8, 1991 and grew up in Anambra State where I attended All Saints Primary School and Queen of the Rosary College before I got admission at Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, Imo State to study Microbiology.
I’m the founder and creative director of HELENZ FOOTWEAR, an indigenous brand because all our products and raw materials are sourced locally and we are working towards promoting, “Made in Nigeria and African Brand.”
My journey to HELENZ FOOTWEAR started after my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). I was desperately looking for a job. After several job search and interviews, job wasn’t coming my way that was how I got on the internet and started making research on a business I can start with my little NYSC allowance savings.
I then came across a beautiful footwear. So, I went on to make further researches, because it was my first time seeing such footwear online. It happened that it was produce in Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania. That was how the journey of an African beaded footwear begin. I started watching videos online how they are being manufactured and I started practicing at home. At first it was so difficult that I felt like given up, but here I am today thinking on how to grow the business and take it to a higher level.
What’s the motivation, why this line of business and what has kept you going?
Challenges are my motivation. Being a graduate without a job or assistant was really frustrating and Nigeria is a country you must work before you can eat. It is written in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that “One who is unwilling to work shall not eat”, so after several job search and disappointment, I advised myself that I need to look for something to get myself busy and not waiting for white collar job that’s not forth coming.
I chose my line of business (African Beaded Foot wear) because I needed to do something different from Nigerians. Everyone can’t be into one and same kind of business.
What kept me going in the business is the passion and uniqueness. sometimes I feel like given up because of the much time it takes to produce my footwears, but at the end I will find out that I can’t even stay a day without touching my work. Passion arise where there is need for it.
What are the aims, objectives, dreams and vision of HELENZ FOOTWEAR?
HELENZ FOOTWEAR major aims and objectives includes:
To create a product base retail store whose primary goal is to exceed customer’s expectation.
To increase the number of clients served and to stop most Nigerians buying beaded footwear from other African countries.
To develop a starting business that could survive on it’s own cash flow. Our vision is to become the leading and world class brand in beaded footwear production and to establish our presence in every state in and outside Nigeria.
Our mission is to provide Nigerians with a wide range selection of customized unisex beaded footwear and outstanding customer service, to make sure Nigerians do not travel down to other countries anymore to purchase beaded footwear.
Also that as much as fashion market is saturated, we intend to carve a niche for beaded footwear because they have high aesthetic value and our business is working towards preserving the African Heritage
What are the challenges setting up a business in Nigeria as a woman in the shoe business. How was it for you?
The challenge were much because I started the business with little capital and with the fact that I wanted to maintain a good standard and quality, it was a big challenge because we are not after the money but to get more people to patronize us and see the quality we have. As a woman in shoe business I was scared when I started the shoe business because of many competition in the shoe industry and market, we have so many shoe maker and shoe brand in Nigeria that was why I darted my own shoe making to an African beaded footwear to have something outstanding out different from what. Others are doing and it has been making way for me.
Tell us about the set backs and moments of regrets, and were there times you felt like you have made the wrong choice?
The set back movement was the period I couldn’t get people to assist me in the bead work because of the amount of time it consumes. I wanted to give up thinking I have made a wrong choice by doing such cumbersome work but due to the passion I have for the work, I couldn’t quite.
Where do you see your journey taking you to in the next five years?
With the hand of God beside us and what we do, in the next five years I see HELENZ FOOTWEAR going global, having one of the biggest footwear factory that will create massive employment for both graduates and under graduates. In addition, we will ensure that we invest in regular training and development of our workforce. We will not stop at exploring customized African beaded footwear from all part of the word.
Tell us about some of the triumphs, victories and millstone?.
At HELENZ FOOTWEAR, we have several milestones, early on business plan completions. This will serve as the road map for the organization, it will be an indispensable tool for the on- going performance and improvement of the company. They includes: Profitability, set up store front and improve revenue basis. The victories has always been where, I see my journey taking me to and what I stand to achieve in years to come.
Lessons learnt, tells us about the journey so far?
Being an entrepreneur is not easy at the early stage, you’re going to be broken careless, because you are meant to put in every money you have to get the best.
But I think being an entrepreneur is the best for myself. It has exposed me to meet a lot of people, interact and get ideas.
Lesson learnt so far is that when you work for yourself you will value what business or opportunity that comes your way, you learn how to nurture your business like a baby and all you have to think daily about the progress of the business and the areas you would want to improve on. The impact of the business would not just be for you but the society as a whole.
Expansion and partnership. Will you welcome partnership or investors willing to take the brand global?
Yes Of course? We are ready to partner with serious minded people and investors as far as it will help us achieve our aim at the end.
Last words as an emerging female entrepreneur charting a new course of business that is predominated by male drivers what would you have done?
As an emerging female entrepreneur, aside footwear making, another male driven business, that I would have love to do is construction of local machine using metals because the society has not put much interest in the business , everyone is after importing machine from outside or I will rather go for paint production and design.
