Fashion market is COMPETITIVE, but big enough for all — Designer, House of Tysedo

Tyna Sedoo Tondo, is the CEO of Lagos-based fashion outfit, ‘House of Tysedo’. The Mass Communication graduate who learnt the art under renowned designer, Frank Osodi revealed tips in this interview on staying competitive and relevant in the industry.

W@BamasVictoria

hat was the motivation behind your outfit?

House of Tysedo is a fashion haven created to cloth women, and to showcase the African fashion. The motivation came from my flair for fashion which started from childhood.

As an entrepreneur, what are your key challenges in the business?

Electricity is one of them as most times, we depend on running the generator and incurring more expenses of fuelling it. The bad economy is playing its role too; people complain so much when you charge them for a job whereas the price of every material in the market has increased.

My gains haven’t been much but most importantly, I have been able to carve a niche for myself and build a strong clientele for my company.

What are the improvements that have made you competitive?

My employees and I stay abreast of trends in the fashion world. We attend seminars and trainings to improve ourselves. The market is very competitive, but it is also big enough for everyone who knows the fashion trend. Our priority is to satisfy our customers and make them always come back.

What are the trainings one should get to do your kind of work?

You either go to a fashion school or become an apprentice under an experienced person. For me, I did both. The person must also attend workshops and seminars, and also acquire knowledge on the business aspect of fashion.

Funding is a task for start-ups, how did you source for yours?

I faced a lot of funding issues when I was about to start as no help came from anywhere. I applied for grants but none was given to me. I had to work in my bedroom and I never gave up because of my passion. I had to start in a small way and gradually the expansion started.

What is your advice to others who seek a similar enterprise?

Firstly, they should be sure that is their passion before they start. They must be ready to work hard to face the challenges; it takes time to build a brand in a highly competitive market as fashion industry. They should always put their customers’ happiness before money. Finally, they must always be willing to learn new things without giving up because fashion trends often change.