POVERTY CHALLENGED ME TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS – CHINWENMERI
Joy Chinwenmeri Onwubuariri, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) graduate of Agricultural Economics has narrated to BENUDECHUKWU.COM how she painstakingly challenged poverty within eleven years after graduation.
33 year old Isuikwuato, Abia State born Joy is symbol of an amazing girl child, idea of enviable daughter, the face of stardom and an inspiration to the younger generation.
Chinwenmeri has moved from classroom teacher, make up Artist, bead maker, tailor and blogger to being a merchant of Skincare Products, making wave with Honey Sugar and Milk (HSM). From an itinerant low-profile business, HSM has become a six thousand customer base online business with wide range of beauty care products.
Read Chinwenmeri:
My years in school weren’t so easy because I wasn’t from a rich home.
My parents tried their best for me but as a young girl I had needs. I remember when we lived in Akwakuma and had to suffer severely because of leaking roofs. It was so bad that I lost all my childhood photos to leaking roof. If it was easy, we would have found alternative accommodation.
Poverty and circumstances surrounding it nearly pushed me to do illegitimate things to survive. Honestly, it was God that saved me. I was also mindful of bad records.
In 2012 ,When I graduated, I had wanted to serve in an elite city like Abuja, Portharcourt or Lagos where I could easily find highbrow jobs or oil company jobs as we were told in school, “Make a 2’1, read and get good grades so you can land a good job were the words of my lecturers.
When NYSC posting came, I was so disappointed to find out my posting was not in any of those elite States I had long desired. I was devastated.
The first job I got after youth service came with a N250k salary and an official car. I was to pick up my appointment letter in Lagos. But I was called on phone by the Oga in charge to come to a hotel and do what I have to do before I can resume. I could not do it because I figured out that if I did and I got the job, it would be a regular thing to sustain the job.
The reason I switched to different jobs was because I needed to gather experiences in different fields in order to conquer poverty.
I learnt how to sew so I could be able to make dresses for people and get paid. At a point, I went into make up artistry and sales of make up products. I also made beads at some point. I worked as a Front desk Officer in a hotel in 2014 while doing consultation for an Agro Allied firm by the side.
What I consider a remarkable break through yet was the idea of starting a Beauty Care Product business with nearly zero capital. I didn’t get any grant or External capital. I saved up the first 2k and added another 5k from my savings.
I went with my mother to the market to see what we could buy. We could not afford containers or even water proof. We used waterproof from tissue wrap, we would cut the parts that had something written on it. I sold my soap in Waterproofs at first. The waterproof I mean is the one used for selling groundnut. Then I got my first customer. I was so overjoyed. I ploughed back little profit and bought the first containers. A friend helped me pay a sticker person to do face cream stickers for me. My dad paid waybill fee for me for my first ten (10) customers. So, that was it. There were no millions anywhere for start up. I did my first logo by myself because I could not afford to pay a logo designer. We started with three (3) products in 2017 and developed it to almost 40 products.
HSM became the baby that would finally push me to realise my dreams. Though it’s largely an online business, with honesty as my watchword, what started with few online referrals has grown to a strong 6,000 customer base, scattered across the globe. I discovered that with consistency, amazing customer service, hardwork and the strong backing of God, one can reach beyond the sky. Given that the Skincare field is highly competitive what I did was to carefully carve a niche for myself as a non bléaching skincare products formulator. Today, HSM has wide range of products like: Toning herbal soap, Exfoliating body scrub, Spot eraser Face Cream, Express Glow face cream and the Rose Water Toner among many others In order to accommodate students and their low income (I remember when I was a student), I formulated the Student Packages for Soap.
I wouldn’t say I am there yet but when I look back, I cannot but thank God who delivered me and my family from the shackles of lack. I encourage the young entrepreneur to be consistent and honest. Above all things, let him/her not be ashamed to be proud of what puts food on his table. The business environment is slippery, one only needs to do things differently to make the difference.
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