Meet Olaniyi Omodara, founder, designer and principal craftsman of @evaapparel Extra Valuable Apparel (EVA), a footwear company in Akure, Nigeria. He is a self-taught craftsman who started making slippers for his family in the early 1990s. Omodara is now producing “bespoke” shoes, customized for a client and made to order. His vision for EVA is to “manufacture world-class leather products through superior designs and quality materials
What was your inspiration for starting up the business?
Eva Apparel: My main inspiration so far as being God almighty because my skill is self-thought skill and secondly, my love for good shoes.
What have been your major obstacles?
Eva Apparel: The obstacles or shall I say some of the challenges I have had to and still deal with are;
1) Energy is one big one in Nigeria, I generate my own power half of the time I am in my factory which is quite expensive.
2) Double figures interest rates on bank loans.
3)
Insufficient awareness that could encourage enough human resources
which is always a barrier to increase in rate of production.
How has social media helped your career?
Eva Apparel: Social media as being of a great help to my products in the aspect of sales and marketing as it has made reaching out to people all over the world easier
What are your milestones/success?
Eva Apparel Continuity in production has being a plus to the standard of my products and its ability to compete with world class shoes. My shoes are distinct due to its attributes of it being comfy, trendy and neater than all other Nigerian handmade shoes and a geometric growth in customer base. Just recently my story was featured on https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/nigerian-entrepreneu…/ i trust that this will give me an international exposure and a platform to market my products internationally
When, where and how did you make your first move?
Eva Apparel: My
first move for foot wears was in the year 1993 when i lost my slippers
which i made with materials from my environment .The punishment for
misplacing my slippers actually prompted me to find an alternative which
made me discover that i could make a foot wear .I officially got my
business registered with the CAC in the year 2012.
Word of inspiration to others who want to start up a business?
Eva
Apparel: My advice for others who want to start up a business is to
start with what they have and never wait for that perfect time that will
never come_Olaniyi Omodara
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