Adebisi: From Side Hustle To Thriving Multi-Stream Empire

For Orekoya Adebisi, entrepreneurship is more than just a profession, it’s a lifestyle. As the visionary behind Busbis Fabrics and Mazel Partners Limited, she has spent over 15 years growing what began as a modest side hustle into a thriving multi-stream business empire. From supplying premium fabrics to Nigerians both locally and in the diaspora, Adebisi has expanded her footprint into consulting, coworking spaces, and lending—proving that resilience and vision can turn passion into profit.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, Adebisi shared, “I’ve been an entrepreneur all my life. I don’t believe in depending on just one stream of income. If you truly want financial freedom, you must be ready to work hard and diversify.”

Adebisi’s journey began with humble roots, sourcing Ankara fabrics from local markets to support herself through school. Even while working as a banker, she couldn’t settle for a monthly paycheck alone. ‘The fabrics business was my side hustle. Its what I did to meet expenses and avoid compromising my values,’ she stressed.

.Delivering orders from the boot of her car, Adebisi eventually opened her first shop in Oshodi market, a bustling commercial hub in Lagos. That shop is still running, she noted, adding that, ‘we later expanded to a luxury outlet at Royal Prince Supermarket in Gbagada.’

Her commitment to quality led her to travel outside Nigeria to understand the global fabric trade firsthand. I wanted to know the fabrics myself, not just rely on suppliers, she said.

Recognising the risks of relying on a single industry, Adebisi founded Mazel Partners Limited, saying, “we started as a co-working space, renting offices for meetings and training. Then, we got a lending license from Lagos State and expanded into business registration and travel consultancy.”

Today, Busbis Fabrics sources and sells premium textiles from Switzerland, Korea, China, Austria, and India. The company caters to wholesale buyers, resellers, and Aso Ebi customers, offering customised orders.

Despite her success, Adebisi laments the lack of local fabric manufacturing. “Almost everything is imported. Local factories have closed down, mostly due to infrastructure issues. One machine can’t make all designs, and power supply is a huge challenge,” she said.

Still, she dreams of changing that; “I want to set up a factory in Nigeria. With the right investors and solar energy, we can train workers, create jobs, and reduce imports. This business is rich and better than collecting a salary.”

Adebisi’s entrepreneurial instincts paid off when she realised her Oshodi shop could sustain her full-time. “I opened a new shop while still at the bank and transitioned fully last year. Since then, business has grown. More customers, a stronger online presence, and increased sales.”

Her banking background informs her business strategy, focusing on high turnover and affordable pricing. To her, “About 40 per cent of Nigerians are selling fabrics. Profitability depends on volume, not just margins. I love training startups and sharing knowledge. The more we all sell, the better for everyone.”

Challenges

Running a fabric business in Nigeria isn’t without hurdles. “Competition, pricing, power supply, shipping delays, and clearing fees all eat into profits. Sometimes customers delay payments, and you can’t always stock every design. But I don’t dwell on challenges. I focus on where I’m going,” she noted.

Advice

For those looking to break into the fabric business, Adebisi’s advice is clear: “Don’t be covetous. Start with whatever capital you have. Waiting for millions means you’ll never start. Be disciplined, know your market, build your brand, and keep learning. Success takes patience, resilience, and a clear vision.”

Adebisi’s advice younger ones to approach stocking in pragmatic way. “It’s not about what you like, but what customers want. Sometimes, the fabrics I dislike sell the fastest. You have to offer variety to meet different tastes and occasions.”

Biography

Orekoya Adebisi is the managing director of Busbis Fabrics and Mazel Partners Limited, two thriving Lagos-based companies specialising in quality fabrics and business servicens. She is a graduate of Yaba College of Technology and the Uiversity of Lagos, with degree in accounting, and boasts over 20 years of experience in Nigeria’s banking sector.

While working as a banker, Adebisi nurtured a passion for entrepreneurship, starting her fabric business as a side hustle to support her schooling and supplement her income. Over 15 years, she grew Busbis Fabrics from selling Ankara sourced in local markets to operating multiple shops and importing textiles from Switzerland, Korea, China, Austria, and India.