Hello guys, glad to be here again to share with you guys. Happy holidays to those celebrating as we take sometime off work to enjoy and relax with the family.
Everyone talks about how we should all strive to have side hustles or a business of our own. Something that we can rely on to help us grow our financial lives. Something different from our normal lives maybe. At least it’s a side hustle when you’re still schooling or have something else doing.
Almost everyone in my dm is into some sort of business. It’s either they are selling bags, shoes, clothes, veils, braiding hairs, or trading cryptocurrencies. Everyone seems to have taken this seriously and is working hard and smartly to achieve their goals.
I am glad to have been introduced to hive which is helping me financially and personally but before hive, I had invested into something I always thought of and had interest in doing.
I started a business 2 years ago, my second level in the university. Covid had just ended and school was back to normal. Before I returned, I made an investment into turtle necks and other clothing so my mates in school could purchase.
Initially, I started selling at home and my friends and family patronized me. That gave me a lift to continue selling in school.
So I did just that. I brought them to school and some of my mates showed interest. It was here I learned there were different kinds of customers. I am the kind of customer that when I do not have funds, I do not make purchases and I do not show interest in clothes especially. The newbie seller in me couldn’t believe the other buyers I encountered.
I was dumbfounded to see friends of mine buy on credit and not make payments. Till date, some have not paid me. Where is the motivate to continue selling when I don’t make profits?
I had just started so I was making free deliveries on time and was always active to respond to potential patronizers. I was striving to keep my customers happy. As a new business, one thing I learned I should have was patience, good customer service, passion and zeal for what I was doing.
Although, some of my friends were not paying for what they bought, others did and were my kind of customers. I did not find it hard to deal with them which probably is one of the reasons I stayed in the business that long.
With where I am headed, you all know by now how that ended🤭. My first business ended quite badly and I just had to accept it was not working out and stop.
I have started selling again though, but on a low this time around. For now, I am only focussed on clothes for the Eid celebration that is due in like 2-3 weeks. I am no longer selling on credit and it’s just on a first come first come basis.
If I haven’t learnt anything from my first time selling, I have at least learnt to not be shy in collecting what is owed and try to avoid selling on credit. Maybe that’s not the best solution but I do not want to go through what I did the last time.
This is how my first business went and what I learnt. I’ll be glad to hear the advices you have for me to help make my business more successful.
All images belong to me unless stated otherwise.
