At 24, Ameera Abraham has established her firm, the Nail Bar. She speaks with Kemi Lawal about her life as a young entrepreneur
Why did you go into business immediately after your university education?
I am a graduate of Politics and International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London. I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur and own a place like the Nail Bar. I knew that I was going to turn my interest into a lucrative business sooner than later. While at the university studying, my heart was already set on getting my beauty qualifications and starting up my own beauty place whether in Nigeria or the United Kingdom. I was ready to actualise that dream by setting up the Nail Bar. Starting a business outlet is a huge risk for a young graduate. There is always that element of fear when one is venturing into the unknown. But my passion definitely overshadowed any fear and doubt. I was mentally prepared for the challenges and I had a good support. That cheered me on all the way.
What informed your choice of business and the location?
I opened this business because I have always been passionate about beauty and nail care, in particular. Secondly, I found that there was no salon or spa in my line of business in Abuja.
I established the Nail Bar in 2011. It has been exciting two years of entrepreneurship. Though it has its difficulties, I will say it has also been fulfilling.
As for the location, Abuja was an untapped market. Lagos, on the other hand, has several beauty and nail places. So, I felt conquering the Abuja market first would provide me with the experience and expertise to capture the Lagos market easily.
How did you source your start-up capital?
I put together my business plan and presented it to my mother. She fell in love with it and felt it was worth investing in. It was her graduation present to me.
Not everyone is lucky to receive such gifts to start their dream business. What other ways would you have explored to raise money to start the business?
Apart from exploring government and private initiatives, paid employment would have been another avenue. If I was not fortunate to receive financial support from my family, I would have probably remained in a salary job and saved. I could start small by offering a mobile service, which requires less capital and I would have catered for customers during the weekends. Where there is a will, there is a way. If you have that attitude, nothing is unattainable.
What were the early challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
My major challenge was finding the right employees and training them to an excellent standard. This took a lot of time as I had to educate them first before training them and teaching them the importance of customer service, timely service delivery and professionalism. I invested quality time in on-the-job training and necessary courses. My members of staff are key to the daily running of the business and it was important to me that they understood how best to deliver quality service and professionalism.
Running a business in Nigeria is also no easy task and I am sure many people can attest to this. Being young and physically small also does not help matters. I constantly have to prove to my employees, customers and the public that I deserve their respect and trust. It has been a tough journey but I thank God that I am where I am today and I am waxing stronger despite the numerous obstacles I face on a daily basis.
Like any other business operating in Nigeria, I am still dealing with unstable power supply and the high running costs associated with generators. This also represents some of the challenges I have to face as a young entrepreneur.
How do you handle the day-to-day running of the business?
I am thankful for being able to handle it well so far. Running a business in Nigeria can be frustrating. It sometimes gets overwhelming, but I have the wonderful support of my family and a great team, which helps take some pressure off me.
What do you need to start the business?
In my line of business, it is easy to start. For example, one could start a mobile therapy business offering treatments to clients at home until one raises sufficient funds to set up shop.
What is your long-term plan for your business?
One of our aims is to have similar five star nail spas and wellness centres in Lagos and Port Harcourt. We will also be introducing our own range of nail care products later this year. We also hope to have global distribution of this brand.
Have you started making profit and is it enough to encourage you to sustain the business?
I am blessed to be running an extremely profitable business. I attribute the success of my business to our passion in ensuring an amazing customer experience, which I believe is a prerequisite for the profitability and sustainability of any business. It is necessary for a business to be adding value to the lives of its clients.
Was there any time you felt like quitting?
When I was setting up my office, I felt like quitting every day. I suffered terrible setbacks due to the delay in the arrival of my goods and equipment. I changed my inauguration date at least seven times, However, once everything fell in place, I realised it was worth the wait and everything works out in God’s time.
Who are your target clients and how do you reach them?
My services are designed for individuals who understand and appreciate beauty treatments. My clients range from 16-year old to 70-year old people. I provide what I like to call affordable luxury offering, high quality treatments at not so ridiculous prices. I believe this is what attracts people to the Nail Bar.
Do you think government is doing enough for young entrepreneurs?
The government has the YouWin Initiative, which I think is a great platform for young entrepreneurs looking to raise capital and start up their businesses. This is a step in the right direction. However, a lot more can be done through financial reforms in the banking sector that will allow for easy access to funds and competitive interest rates for those looking to borrow.
What advice would you give to intending entrepreneurs?
Becoming an entrepreneur can be a very fulfilling journey. However, it is important that before you set up your own business, ample research is carried out. It is necessary to have knowledge of the industry you are getting into. There will always be surprises, but with research, you’ll reduce them to the minimum. Setting up the Nail Bar, I learnt to be resilient, you need that when venturing into your own business. It is not an easy undertaking, there will be many challenges, but you need to trust your carefully thought out and researched plans and do not give up.
From your experience, what are those things that can have negative impact on a business?
For a business like the Nail Bar and it is the same for a lot of service businesses, your workers and providing the services, can make or break a business. I cannot be a one-man shop and provide the services to everyone that walks through our doors. That is why I take employees’ training very seriously and invest in ensuring that the people who work at the Nail Bar can more than adequately represent the brand by providing professional and excellent service to our customers.
Do you still have time to attend workshops or seminars?
Self-improvement is very essential. I am constantly seeking ways to improve on my entrepreneurial abilities and make myself more of an expert in my field. I am currently taking an entrepreneurship course at Philips Consulting and will be participating in the Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference next month. In addition, I am a certified dermalogica skin therapist, qualified aesthetician, certified artistic gloss technician and I have a diploma in advanced natural product.