Oluwafayokunmi Olutomiwa is a 400-level Electrical Engineering trainee of the University of Lagos. She’s likewise sculpting her own course and setting the speed as a business owner in the printing, branding, and product packaging market as the fore-runner and co-founder of PrintPlaceNg, a fast-growing modern print and branding center. Leveraging social networks advertising and marketing, the start-up has actually had the ability to scale as much as a generate earnings of approximately 15 million naira a year.
We had a chat with her and it was fascinating to learn more about her journey up until now.
You are 22 years of ages at the minute, and PrintPlaceNg is 2 years of ages. Did you begin this organization at 20?
FK: In fact, no. Whatever began when I was almost leaving my teenage years. I indicate I was 19. Never ever would I have actually believed that at that age, a practical company concept might originate from my curious observation. My service disposition began when I recognized the growing need for extra-large T-shirts among youths.
It was viewed to be a cool fashion design. It happened to me that a service concept of bridging the space in between need and supply will prosper in the t-shirt sales market. This birthed my very first organization ‘Tees2Drip’.
Oh, so you didn’t start printing, branding and product packaging?
FK: No, I didn’t. I simply wished to offer large T-shirts and make ends satisfy. Considering how prevented that frame of mind was now, I simply laugh.
How did that lead to full-time printing and branding?
FK: Consequently, I wished to enhance the branding and product packaging of the t-shirts I offered. I imply I wished to make imprints and styles on them that ‘d be strange to me, so that when anybody saw the style, they ‘d right away understand it’s from “Tees2Drip”. I started reaching out to online suppliers who provided printing services.
To my surprise, these suppliers charged extremely high costs. I could not integrate the expense of printing on my t-shirts with the expense of t-shirt purchase and still supply cost for my target market which was primarily trainees.
How did you discover your method around it?
FK: I discussed this interest in my buddy who’s now my service partner. I learnt that he was straight associated with standard printing production. He informed me on the dominance of the supply chain by the intermediaries. From him I got to comprehend that these intermediaries include rates as high as 3 or 4 times the real printing expenses.
Let’s state 100 pieces of company cards with intermediaries is pegged at 6 naira. Straight from the real printing stores it can be as low as 2 naira.
Wow, that’s over 200% rate inflation and earnings!
FK: Yes, however that’s likewise defrauding consumers, which’s incorrect. This discovery was enough to trigger my interest in printing production and led me to do more research study. I went round to printing stores in Shomolu which is the heart of printing production in Lagos.
There, you’ll discover the most significant commercial printing makers you can think of. I combed the loaded nooks and crannies of the marketplace on foot, in a quote to comprehend the marketplace and how the web and innovation can be leveraged to much better my organization and enhance my operations.
What did you find?
FK: I got reactions from a substantial audience and found that just 1 in 15 stores have digital details. And the extremely couple of that learn about social networks do not use it for their services. This is since the knowledgeable intermediaries have actually taken control of the supply chain and cast a thick fog of doubt on the performance of social networks for these individuals. There, I understood a chance for a possibly feasible service in the printing market. I wasn’t going to be an intermediary. I ‘d be a printer with digital branding and product packaging edge and more. A swank one.
The hit was leveraging social media and supplying superior printing, imaginative branding, and special product packaging at inexpensive costs. I understood if I got an excellent hang of it all, the concept might bloom and go on to stand the test of time. The synergy of these possibilities caused the birth of PrintPlaceNg in February 2021.
Incredible work!
FK: Thank you!
You pointed out trainees being your main audience when you began with t-shirts. Is that the very same with PrintPlaceNg?
FK: Oh, certainly. I still offer specifically top quality t-shirts under the Tees2Drip product, now produced and packaged by PrintPlaceNg. And trainees belong to my main audience.
As you understand I’m still a trainee, and it’s simply perfect that I continue catering for them since they are the structure of my organization development. Even when I’m no longer a trainee, I’ll certainly still provide choice.
I’ve experienced a growth in my main target market because the development of PrintPlaceNg which mainly revolves around printing, branding, and product packaging of various products. My main target audience now consists of SMEs and huge business.
Considering that the creation of PrintPlaceNg, I have actually dealt with over 400 small companies and some other significant business like Spleet Africa Lemonade financing Babalakin and co Audacia prime AM Realty Wave beach Mwangwa and far more. I’ve dealt with stars such as Victony and Dorathy of Big Brother Naija season 5 to brand name and plan product for shows and brand names respectively. A good friend of Celebrity artist Praiz when purchased him a T-shirt from Tees2Drip. He used it and enjoyed it! She sent me photos and evaluations!
I see you have commercial printing devices. How did you get moneying to get them?
FK: Yes, we’ve attempted various financing efforts. The most current financing I used for is a sort of competitors arranged by Paga. It’s for women just and it’s tagged the #HerBusinness effortI’m presently in the last round of the contest which needs voting“
When I started, prior to business began moneying itself, I utilized the financing I received from an engineering scholarship I won. I included that to my cost savings and got my very first printing press maker. I didn’t need to spend for area, the good news is. My mum permitted me to utilize a little shop in your home. I can keep in mind how that location was filled with coolers.
Recalling I’m so grateful. I’ve sourced for financing, I have actually attempted TEF and numerous other grants and structures however none have actually been upcoming. I’ve been growing simply on my consistency, technique, service cash-flow, vigilance and God’s aid. While my working area has actually enhanced in visual appeal overtime, we’re relocating to a much larger area soon! I can’t wait to reveal it! I’m still sourcing for moneying o!
What are the most noteworthy difficulties you’ve dealt with in growing this service?
FK: Nigeria presents a variety of obstacles, from electrical power, to price variations and all, however we’ve luckily been steering those. I believe our most noteworthy difficulty is still presence. It’s enhanced a lot in time, thanks to social networks. Often we run advertisements and they transform. Often they do not. Natural traffic specifically on Instagram has actually been of aid.
There have actually been days where the Instagram algorithm simply chooses to favour our Instagram account and our reel videos blow up, raking in thousands of views. Apart from this increasing our audience development, it likewise transforms to patronage. We keep pressing regardless. The vision is to be the most spoken about print center in the digital area!
What social networks platforms do you actively utilize and how?
FK: Instagram is the very first I’ll discuss. It’s shown to be the most significant chauffeur of our presence to old and brand-new clients. We’ve gotten a lot of leads from Instagram that I’ve needed to double up as a material developer and push PrintPlaceNg out there as much as I can and think me when I state, individuals are enjoying! Individuals are constantly seeing. I am simply grateful for the durability I’ve had the ability to conjure for consistency in content production and appearing even on days when there is little or no inspiration.
Other channels consist of Whatsapp. From Instagram you can reach me on WhatsApp and likewise our main line. I have rather a great deal of Whatsapp contacts constructed in time, so I utilize my WhatsApp status to promote business too. Fortunately, we focus on and provide outstanding work and this gets us recommendations.
Facebook is the platform on which we’re aiming to heighten marketing efforts this year.
You’ve been doing terrific! How have you been able to integrate such a requiring organization with Unilag and Electrical Engineering?
FK: Truthfully, I have actually been at crossroads often times. There ‘d been times when I needed to choose and set a top priority. While I can’t threaten my scholastic pursuit, I’ve developed my company to a point where I can’t pay for to go on a long break. I’ve simply had to console myself with the reality that studying Elect/Elect is simply for the mean time. It will not constantly stand in my method. PrintPlaceNg for me is a long term dream, I am so enthusiastic and positive about what I can pull off with this progressing concept that began in my head.
I have actually had extremely bad days particularly in the middle of tests, since Elect/Elect is simply as hard and dismal as it sounds. And I need to fulfill customer due dates too. You might ask if I do not have assisting hands. Yes l do, however I bring them on agreement basis to handle running expenses. And I can’t absolutely hand them my devices or center. All in all, I’m grateful to God that I have actually been appearing strong on both fronts for over 2 years now. Crazy however worth it!
What other things are you enthusiastic about asides organization and tech?
FK: Woah, that needs to be music! I enjoy music. I enjoy music a lot that I can’t put it into words. It’s quite spiritual for me. I enjoy to sing and I have a distinct and stunning voice if I need to state so myself. I’ve been tops in various music competitors. In 2020 I made leading 5 for the AccessTheStars virtual auditions that began out with hundreds of entrants. The competitors was arranged by Star Lager beer and Access Bank.
A couple of my close good friends state I’m amusing and that I would be an excellent starlet however I’ve likewise left that as simply a pastime, I hope to do music in the future. Possibly when my service is at a point where I can take the rear seat to a big degree and simply supervise operations. For now, we dig printing, branding, and product packaging.
It’s been stunning talking with you Kunmi. Any last words for our readers?
FK: I’m still growing. Looking back at where I began from, I inform you, it gets much better. Start that thing, and keep the larger photo in mind. It improves!
