I find fulfillment in making caps

How did you start the cap business? I lived in Maiduguri before I travelled abroad for studies, so when I returned home, I saw a lot of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of the insurgency. While driving, you will see a lot of them coming to beg for money. We gave them money […]

How did you start the cap business?

I lived in Maiduguri before I travelled abroad for studies, so when I returned home, I saw a lot of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of the insurgency. While driving, you will see a lot of them coming to beg for money. We gave them money and food but I said to myself, “how long will I continue this”.  So, I wanted a business that I will do that the people will be helped and I will make profit as well. So, it’s a win-win situation. It’s not a charity; it’s a business to empower people.

I recall that during Jonathan’s regime, people wore the South South attire a lot. So, when I visited Lagos, I saw Lagosians wearing the northern attire. In the airport I saw non-Hausa natives wearing the caps, so I was intrigued. I was pondering about doing the cap business, then one of my family members said to me, ‘Deanne’, have you thought of making caps? And that was a confirmation for me. And I told my mum and siblings and they all supported me.

How did you begin?

I bought the materials and got 10 IDPs to sew them for me. 85 per cent of my staff are from the IDP camps. I got someone that knows a group of them from Bama who sews the cap very well.  So, I sketched my designs and they sewed it and it came out really well. So, when they finished it, I decided to brand it. I had a pouch; I had a bag because I wanted it to be a brand I can export in the future to places like Morocco, India, Dubai and the likes.

What is the price range?

I sell them for N35,000 and then a few of them for N50,000. It’s a good cap and if you save, you can get them. They are handmade. You can buy them for Eid-el-Kabir or Christmas or any special occasion. It’s specially made. So, I sent to China, to get the pouch and the bags for packaging.

I started with 10 boys but today, I work with about 120 boys. I pay them N10,000 for each cap they sew. I source my materials from DMC France. The threads I am using as well are from France.

How is the clientele base for the caps?

I have clients everywhere: from Lagos to Abuja and some other places. The market is growing. In the last one year, I have made about 400 caps.

How long does it take to make a cap?

It takes each person about a month to make one cap. The caps for 50,000 take a longer time. Recently, I brought 10 of the boys working for me to Mararaba, Abuja and I got a house for them. They work faster and are more efficient working here than when they were in Maiduguri. In Abuja, a guy can make two caps in a month. But in Maiduguri, they are distracted because some of them don’t have a home. Very soon, I will add 10 more boys to the 10 here already.

I started the business on 18th April 2016. The business is a year old and I have empowered about a hundred people. In the next five years, we hope to empower about 600 people, especially when we start exporting the caps.

What is your educational background?

I studied Business Management from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Doing this makes me very happy. When I go to where my staff work, I feel fulfilled. I am looking for opportunities to empower more Nigerians. 

When they finish sewing the caps, I need a machine that will assemble the caps together. This takes another two days, I want to go to China to get a machine that can assemble them, not sew them because sewing them has to be done with the hand.

What opportunities do you see in this business?

By exporting this, it generates income that will boost our economy. Also, I am empowering people already. As they sew, they are being paid.

What advice do you have for other young entrepreneurs?

Never wait for the huge sum of money to start. Start with what you can. It’s good to dream big. I have big businesses I want to do in future, but start something small. I am working from home now but hope to get an office later. Don’t think of making big money in the first year, think of something that gives you fulfillment.

I feel happy seeing people wearing my caps. This makes me happy. When I see your attire, I can match it with your cap.

How do you overcome challenges that come with doing business?

I have learnt to be patient. People can drive you crazy sometimes. Some of these IDPs don’t think they can do good things. Sometimes, I have to encourage them that they can do well. I tell them you can be financially free by sewing this thing instead of depending on people.

There was a time I asked them to make 4.5 sizes of caps, they made it at 3.5 and they made 56 cap pieces. I did not know what to do. I told myself, I just have to move on. It’s a mistake, when you lose the first time, don’t give up. Keep pushing. I am not there yet, but I keep pushing.

What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?

My mum is an entrepreneur. She does different businesses and she is very innovative, doing a lot of things. So I know I have inherited that trait from her and this will lead me to financial freedom.

Also, it will enable me spend more time with my kids, husband and family when I get married. So I am happy doing my own business.