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Ekanem Lydia is a make-up artist who loves making women look more beautiful. She is the chief executive of @gg_base, an online-based make-up business. A graduate of Mass Communication, she started this business in 2016. She speaks with Jonathan Aderoju on the industry and her plans for expansion.
What inspired the business?
Firstly, I love everything that has to do with beauty, which I believe is the true essence of life. So, making other people look beautiful inspired me to establish the business.
What was your initial start-up capital and how were you able to raise the fund?
I started with N15, 000, that’s apart from the initial money used in learning the art. I got my start-up fund from my personal savings. Whatever I got as ‘pocket money’, I used to remove some amount for this purpose.
How would you say the business has grown since you started?
My business has grown a lot better than how I started. I now have better products I work with and more clients compared with when I started.
Do you have employees?
I have four students working under me.
Where do you source your raw materials from?
I buy my products, mostly online, from trusted brands.
What are some of the challenges confronting your business?
Capital is the major challenge preventing my upgrade. So right now, I really don’t have enough money to run the business, especially because some of my clients will need home services and I really will not want to disappoint them.
How the challenges be addressed?
Government should help with grants to assist start-ups like myself to push our businesses forward. This can be in the form of loans.
Why should anyone buy your products?
Because I render services that are affordable and I also do a great job on your face. My present clients can testify I don’t disappoint.
What are some of your expansion plans?
I really would love to get a good camera to enhance my photography because it is one of the added benefits for clients, having nice pictures after their makeup sessions.
Going for upgrade classes to improve my skills for more satisfaction and getting a space of my own for clients’ convenience are important to me.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other start-ups?
From my experience, I will advise that anybody going into any business should be focused, work hard and never give up.
