How I combine schooling with business – Shoemaker, Hareera
Hareera Siman is the only daughter of her parent. Growing up in a family house in Kaduna metropolis, she got to know much about life. The Statistics student of Kaduna Polytechnic, combines studies with business as she excels in shoemaking. She tells her stories. Text by Simon E. Sunday @SimonEchewofun & Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola
How I got into the shoemaking business Shoes business has been my passion right from the onset so I decided to take it up since it is lucrative and is a good means of creating employment for fellow youth in the society. Though the business is quite lucrative, I was not after the monetary gains, but rather I aim at contributing to the society and becoming a role model to other youth who are still bent on getting white collar jobs.
What it takes
to venture into shoemaking
There are quite some significant barriers to entering the business line. They include stringent government regulations or prohibitive capital expenses. Nevertheless, someone can start a shoe store with as little as N20,000 and not necessarily with a huge initial investment capital. Depending on your inventory selection and shoe location, one can excel in no time because the right location is extremely critical to the success of a shoe retail store. I am also into making unisex T-shirts as part of my collections.
I make satisfying fortune monthly
In a month, I could make up to N80,000. To me that is quite impressing as there are some graduates in this country that their monthly salaries may not be up to half of my minimal monthlu income.
It’s late to dump shoemaking for office job
I don’t think I can drop my shoemaking business for a white-collar job. At first I was discouraged but with time I got to know the importance and benefits. I even got to know how learning a handiwork is quite helpful and I have since preferred it over any salary or white-collar job.
My pleasure in the business pressure
In my field, what I enjoy the most is dealing with a lot of people. I also get to go for shows and Expos to exhibit the collection and sell my shoe products there.
Combining business with academics, my greatest challenge
Combining the business with my education is the most difficult task but I try to overcome it always. Beside this the lack of adequate materials challenges my expansion. I also have some customers who default in paying for products I supplied to them.
I am creating jobs for fellow youth
For now I have two workers, a cobbler and a grinder. Although the number is not much but it gives me satisfaction that at the age of 26, I have been able to empower two people and counting. My expansion plans While I work hard, I have left my expansion to Almighty Allah and I am hoping that three to five years from now, the sky will be my start point.
Youth should rise up for change, be enterprising!
Idle times lead to wastage of destinies; it can be even be years already. So instead of waiting, it is advisable to be creative and at least get something doing that can fetch the least income. Who knows, that little business could explode and become bigger than expected.