Adesipe Praise is the managing director and CEO of Inners and Beyond. The brand is the type that sells pyjamas, loungewear, body shapers, underwear, indoor slides, hair bonnets, and every other item that makes you feel comfortable in your home.
With varieties for men, women, and, of course, children, there are also back-to-school items for kids, such as; school bags, lunch bags, food flasks, water bottles, and plates, among other essentials. These can be seen on Instagram at @innersnbeyond and @inb_kidscorner.
According to Praise, the business began in 2020, when schools were shut down at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with little or no capital.
“I believe it was a difficult period for me, both mentally and financially. So, the desire to achieve financial independence in the most rewarding way motivated me to start the business. Hence, I considered my options and chose this line of business.
She also said there was the hard decision of what business to start, with several considerable options running through her mind. “But then, I have always been fascinated by pyjamas, so I decided to go with what I love, and luckily for me, there is a market for it,” she noted.
Lucrativity
To her, “It is a lucrative business. Most of these nightwear items are gotten at very affordable prices, so, it is easier for one to resell them at a reasonable price and make a profit from them.”
Challenges
According to her, “there are so many challenges that anyone can become susceptible to in the course of running a business. I would be lying if I said there are no challenges. On a personal note, I experienced lots of challenges with logistics (dispatch riders and bus drivers). These people and disappointment seem to always go hand in hand.
“Another challenge has to be disappointment from the suppliers. I have been faced with situations where a customer would place an order whose availability had been confirmed with the supplier. On getting to the supplier to purchase it, you would hear that it had been sold out.
“In a situation like that, you either refund the customer’s money or persuade them to buy something else. All in all, the customer can’t trust your services to be reliable from now on.
Some people will not patronise you because you do not have a walk-in store. As soon as they ask if you have a walk-in store and you say no, that is the end of the conversation. These situations can be so discouraging.”
Advice
She urged young entrepreneurs to be courageous enough to pursue their dream, adding that, “if you cannot stop thinking about it, then it is time to take action. Using myself as an example, when I told my parents about my business idea, my mom tried to discourage me. Her reasons were that I needed capital to start a business. But I did not let that discourage me because I had a vision. I could have given in to the ‘no capital, no business’ idea. That is why beginners need to find the conviction in their hearts to push through no matter what. If you do not have it, you will falter easily.”
For those who are already business owners,she said: “ I would like to say that every business is not a roller coaster. You can do something this week and sell out. You do the same thing next week, and you sell nothing. Do not give up. I know that when things are slow, it can be draining and discouraging.
“Just maintain consistency, and your efforts will never be in vain. Also, the last thing you ever want to do is compare your business with other businesses. In life, we all have different timelines; you should work at your own pace. You never know, but your present situation is probably someone else’s goal. Be proud of yourself and celebrate your little wins.”
Biography
Adesipe Praise Omolade is the C.E.O. of Inners and Beyond, a company that sells pyjamas and other clothing. The Olabisi Onabanjo University graduate is from Ijebu Remo, Ishara, Ogun State. She also holds a national diploma in mass communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ). In 2022, she expanded her business with “I&B Kids Corner”, a portfolio for back-to-school children. She currently resides in Lagos State and runs the company from there.
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