I recently hung out with the owners of the website - porcelain.com.ng- sisters-
Zara and Didi. And from my short chat with them, these girls seem driven,
working hard to get there and intent on making a name for themselves. With a
physical store already under their name, the duo set out to launch a website in
order to accommodate more customers, and are already looking to open up a depot
store in Lagos soon.
Story behind. Why retail?
Didi: Females are addicted to shopping and so retailing
targeted to women seemed like good idea. We deal with mainly clothes coz they
are easier to sell off than shoes or intimates (if people don’t find their
size).
Zara: Also financial independence was a major drive to
starting it!
Challenges
Didi: Cause we get our supplies from outside the country,
shipping at the beginning was a challenge, especially as when you are new to
the shipping game. Right now, publicity and advertisement
Five years from now…
Zara: Ruling the West African market in various sectors that
are our interest lies – online retail; FlirtyFitnessNigeria which is the nutrition
and fitness which right now focuses on diet aids, but we hope to expand to
workout classes and more; Speed dating and date auction events which we call Socials,
Viviretail which focuses on African designed brands, and Porcelain kitchen
which focuses on catering for barbeques.
Best and Worst moments so far…
Didi: It feels good knowing and seeing that when you work
hard, you reap the benefits.
Zara: The worst is bargaining! People want to send you back
to living in the village!*laughs*
Just for fun- Guys in boxers or briefs?
Both: Boxers! Well, except you are in the navy, then you are
permitted to wear briefs.
Favorite lipstick
Zara: Purple
Didi: Nude
Word of advice to anyone rising out there…
Zara: If the door is shut on your face, keep going. Force
your way in somehow! It’s a forceful world.
Take advantage of your youth. You are a shark! Money doesn’t
sleep.
Didi: You can afford to beg people now for opportunities and
favour and be less shameful about it, than when you are older:-)
Porcelain is currently giving out
N1000 discount on clothes sold on their site till July5th. Visit their website-
porcelain.com.ng to order clothes, accessories and ‘N500 Items’. You can check out their blog –
porcelainboutique.blogspot.com.
@PorcelainNig
