Looking to create the perfect Ambiance for your Home with scented candles & Fragrances? Then Scentify is where you go...
By Kemi Mobuse - Saturday, March 19, 2016
When you get to a tastefully furnished home, the impression most people leave with is not necessarily the beautiful furnishings, it is usually for me, the kind of ambiance that abounds in that home.
Creating the perfect ambiance for your home can sometimes be a tough call, as most times, all the fragrances and scents are supposed to blend perfectly in harmony with one another. Scentify is here to help you, so why worry?
Lets meet the ladies behind this unique business/Brand....
Kemi Mobuse blog: Good Day, can we meet you?
Scentifyng: My name
is Bukola Akinmboni, I am co-owner of Scentify, an indigenous home and body
fragrance brand.
Kemi Mobuse blog: What do you do and what
inspired your business?
Scentifyng: Currently,
I juggle two functions. I have a day job at House of Tara. I am the Marketing
Manager there and I also co-run Scentify with my partner Bolaji Tomoloju.
Well, I must say
the inspiration came from God. My partner and I have tried to go into different
business ventures. We were very keen to start up a business but none really got
off the ground mostly because we did not have enough start up capital. One day
Bolaji got the idea for us to make scented candles because the barrier to entry
was very low and we thought at the time that there were no local brands making
scented candles and so we would stand out.
I also have a
passion for fragrances and home decors so I was very interested.
However I must say
that the business was one God called us to do because, what we birthed as a
very small idea has grown into a huge vision that seems to be bigger than both
of us – sometimes it is scary. But ever since we decided to run with it, God
has made all things work together for our good.
Kemi Mobuse blog: Why this line of business
in particular?
Scentifyng: Like I
mentioned earlier, I particularly have a natural passion for fragrances. I’m
particular about things, places and people smelling nice always. My partner
Bolaji is more of the business mind, she identified that this was virgin
territory hence we could stand out more easily and the barrier to entry was
quite low. She also saw that the business was very scalable. The original idea
was just scented candles but now we are aiming to be a total fragrance
solution, be it body, home, or office.
Kemi Mobuse blog: Nice one, from the pictures
I have seen, you have clients from all over, how old is your business now? And
how has the market reception been?
Scentifyng: Well we
actually started working on Scentify from October 2014, learning the business,
acquiring skills, procuring raw materials and practice! Practice!! practice!!!.
We started selling in December 2015 and it’s been great so far. We have got
some very positive feedback – our clients have said our candles and diffusers
smell great! We have also had a few constructive criticisms which we have taken
on board and applied.
Kemi Mobuse blog: What is your motivation to
succeed and what is your own definition of Success?
Scentifyng: We want
to build an empire, not just have a business, not an SME. But we recognize
there are steps to getting there and we are ready to go through the journey of
building a business legacy. Personally I want to have the means to help people
in need on a very large scale. I know Bolaji is also very passionate about
contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy through the creation of jobs
and opportunities that can help provide a better living. We therefore see
success as ‘being blessed to be a blessing’
Kemi Mobuse blog: What challenges have you
experienced since inception that almost made you gave up?
Scentifyng: Time;
Both partners work full time so sometimes it just felt like it was all too much
and we couldn’t cope.
Increasing Costs:
most of our raw materials are sourced abroad and so the escalating forex rates
put a lot of pressure on the business and made us to negotiate and review cost
of raw materials and other overheads.
Kemi Mobuse blog: Is this your sole source of
livelihood? Or can you see yourself doing anything else?
Scentifyng: For now
it is not. However the plan is for both of us to face this full time as the
business grows
Kemi Mobuse blog: What have you learnt from
being an entrepreneur?
Scentifyng: Being
an entrepreneur is very addictive, you just keep thinking of what you can do
better, how to break out and this pushes you even further than you think you
can go. As an entrepreneur, the failure of your business rests solely on your
shoulders, there is no one to put the blame on so you just have to pucker up
and do what you have to. Being an entrepreneur has taught me self-motivation; it’s
taught me perseverance, tenacity and focus – staying true to your vision/goals
even when the whole world seems to be crashing around you. It’s taught me to
always remain positive and that if I can dream it, I can do it!
Kemi Mobuse blog: What was the worst advice
you have been given since you started your business?
Scentifyng: We
don’t see any advice as bad advice. We just believe people speak from their own
experiences; so we listen to every advice we get whether it sounds good or bad,
weigh what is being said, remind ourselves of our vision, take it to the Lord
in prayer and wait to hear what God has to say.
Kemi Mobuse blog: Since inception of your
business, what has been your defining or most memorable experience?
Scentifyng: Our
business is still quite new however I think our most memorable experience was
our first sale and more importantly the positive feedback we received from the
sale. It was surreal that someone will actually pay for our product – made in
my kitchen and this person actually thought it was a great product. It gave us
all the confidence we needed to forge ahead.
Kemi Mobuse blog: What do you think is your
defining factor that sets you apart from the rest?
Scentifyng: Our
products are made from the heart, with love. and so we do not compromise on quality
because we want to give out the best experience. It’s like food your mother cooks
for you, it is made with love and no restaurant’s food can beat that. There’s
just that difference when something is made from love, it’s more authentic, and
it has you at the centre of every decision – that’s what Scentify is - ‘Made
with Love’
Kemi Mobuse blog: Any advice for future
entrepreneurs?
Scentifyng: We
believe in starting small, that way your mistakes are manageable. Once you have
a vision, just get started, don’t wait for more money, more time, more
anything, Just start.
Kemi Mobuse blog: how can your future clients
contact you?
Scentifyng: You can
visit our instagram and facebook pages @scentifyng or call 08189088779 or email
us at info@scentifyng.com
More of their works below:
1 comments
I love this
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