A graduate of
Pharmacy from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Olufunmi Oyediran is the
Chief Executive Officer of Remedi Inc,a health,fitness and beauty
outfit established in 2009. Olufunmi is a Certified Fitness Instructor
with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), and also
holds a Diploma in Professional Makeup and Skincare form the
South-African outlet of Revlon, a cosmetics brand. She speaks about her
business.
Tell us about your business?
I run a health,
fitness and beauty outfit called Remedi Inc. From its name, ‘Remedi’
simply means ‘solutions or remedies’. In my company’s case, it refers
to facial beauty, skin beauty, body beauty and health issues.
We offer face and beauty makeovers for all occasions including weddings, TV and Film,
Photography, Fashion and Runway Shoots. Also,we offer Gele (Headgear)
tying for all functions, beauty and skin consultation, skin nutrition,
fitness and weight loss management, as well as training classes in
makeup and headgear tying. We also do sales of makeup products and
accessories, face painting,especially for carnivals and children’s
parties and many more.
What motivated you to go into business?
For me, it was in
stages. Ever since I was a child, I had always been interested in
looking good, looking fit and in the science of drugs and herbs. My mum
could pop as many as 10 to 15 pills into her mouth and this naturally
made me interested in constitutes those drugs and their effects.For the
makeup , I was adventurous, always trying out different makeup
materials on my face , my father will always wonder about my love for
these things. It was like a way of life for me.I’ve been into fitness,
aerobics and dancing right from my school days in 2005 using my
apartment for group and personal classes as well as going to clients’
houses for private sessions. Immediately after school, I went into
health and fitness business,helping my clients lose weight naturally
with herbal remedies and supplements as well as through exercise. All
these were on my personal time. They were also part of my duties at the
pharmacy where I worked. At work, my growing knowledge and personal
experience with skincare and beauty products helped me deal with
customers’ facial and skin problems. I was then offered a position as
Training/Business Development Co-ordinator for Revlon in Nigeria. So
for me going into business simply meant offering my unique style of
operation.
Did you face much opposition before starting business?
No, I did not.I had
support from family. Of course I had financial challenges like most
people who are venturing into a new business do have, but I thank God,
He saw me through.
What are the advantages of running your business?
Top of the list is
flexibility. My time is my time, so I am able to allot it as I deem
fit. Whether it’s for makeup training or exhibitions or personal home
classes,I am able to juggle demands as they come.
What challenges have you faced over time?
Firstly,finances.
Money has always been a challenge, because what you make is invested
back into the business.My main challenges were procrastination and
finding the time to start fully because of my job at the time. Then of
course, I was afraid of stepping out full time on my own, though I
wasn’t content with what I was making part-time. My family,especially
my husband and my father were instrumental in pushing me out there.
Appreciation for our work as makeup artists was not yet fully
acknowledged nationwide. Brides and other clients want to pay you as
low as possible for a perfect job.
Ever thought of packing up in frustration?
Oh yes I have, but
it was never due to frustration, because I have a passion for my work
and I genuinely enjoy what I do. My reason was purely financial; that
is looking for another job and earning some money to bulk up what I was
making already.
What have you learned that they don’t teach in books?
I have learnt a lot
of what is taught in books. But if there is one thing that I learnt the
hardway, is that ‘the responsibility for yourself, your staff and your
business is solely and entirely yours’ once you step out on your own.
You can only seek advice but implementing it must always be at your own
advantage,or sadly, to your own peril.
What projections do you have for the future?
My lips are pretty
sealed on that because I am involved in a number of projects right now
that warrant my silence, but you can expect to see Remedi at the
forefront of the health, fitness and beauty industry. Already, we are
the first of its kind that is the 3-in-1 combination (health, fitness
and beauty). So, fans,friends, family….WATCH OUT!
What advice would you give potential entrepreneurs?
That’s very easy.
Be sure you are ready to step out before you do. And to those who want
to go into the makeup business, I will advise you to have the desire
and passion to perfect your every step on your client’s face, to always
step back and adjust that step until it’s right, as well as having the
hindsight to identify your mistakes after that job, and avoid them, or
better still, convert that mistake into a beauty step for teaching.
Also starters need to be determined; there are those who didn’t think I
could get this far, who constantly undermined me, it was determination
that brought me this far. Lastly, practice, practice and more practice.
Contact:remediinc@yahoo.com
