With start up of N500,000, years later, Ugochi John soars in her business

Obviously, if you rely only on your educational qualifications to put food on your table, you might need to wait a long time. Especially now that the economy isn’t ‘smiling’ at our accounts. Many people are finding other means to make money and one major way is embracing the entrepreneurial spirit. My Leading Woman for this week has carved a niche for herself in her line of business. She is Ugochi John, the CEO of Hair by Ugo, a hair brand for the confident woman, woman of elegance and poise. With high profiled clients, she has become a force to reckon with in her line of business. She is also the founder of The Hair Laundry. Nigeria’s foremost female hair laundry boutique that’s for the woman of style.

For her, it is important for women to embrace entrepreneurship. So despite her degree in English Language and being alumni of Lagos Business School, Ugo believes women are natural multipliers therefore engaging in business comes to more women naturally. According to her, “I think women play a very vital role in the society. I think we are actually the king makers. Take for example if women like a contestant on a reality show no matter who thinks differently that person wins! So we are not called movers and shakers for nothing. We are built to be determined and to go for it! I actually encourage women to take the lead and start with being the boss in their businesses. It would help them become better leaders.”

Ugo started the hair laundry because she felt women didn’t need to spend long hours in the salon for their bespoke wigs to be made, coloured, washed or styled, neither does she believe that hair weaves be lost in the process of use just because they can’t regain their lustre or bounce.

“We encourage women not to throw away their old weaves, we say repair it for a fraction of its cost .The hair laundry has bridged a gap and has helped a lot of women who in the past lost their weaves to the confused state of things experienced in salons. It is not just in the hair and beauty industry, we sell comfort, convenience and security. Worthy of note is our timely delivery, time is money and we don’t joke with it.” She says.

Ugo has put in a lot of time into research and understands that the Nigerian woman loves quality service. She got her entrepreneurial spirit from her mother who was always into women development consulting as a side job. “My dad was a lecturer in Kogi state and he and my mother expected me to be a professional in some field though we were brought up to be who we wanted to be and to believe in myself, not seeing any limitation” she says.

As long as Ugo is concerned, time and chance and of course determination led her into her line of business. “I had just had my second baby and wanted to ‘up’ my game at the time, which by the way is usually most women’s story and reason for wanting new hair. I started asking about where to buy hair. I found somewhere and got the hair and received loads of compliments so I decided to try my hands on selling hair. I started with N500,000 credit stock and a sales event at Silverbird Galleria”

“I did sales every other day, from Lagos to Port Harcourt to Abuja. I was trying out an experiment which was giving me money. Everything I do, I do with excellence so I totally stood out in no time. I was selling another person’s hair brand at the time and I did so for about 18 months after which I birthed my brand.” Ugo tells me.

Ugo’s clients are women who understand quality and value of service. They see hair extensions and wigs as an investment because when you buy quality product it will last you for years. “Your return on investment might not exactly be physical money in the bank, or value for hair sold years after use but we are getting there, the quality of weaves I sell now I can take them back after years of use and give you money back!” Ugo states.

Ugo stocks her hair line from different parts of the world “I virtually go to the ends of the earth to get these beautiful pieces for my lovely customers. We actually stock from different countries in Europe and Asia. Contrary to what I thought when I started this business and what a lot of people still think and say, that all hair comes from China, I have shocked myself at how far I go looking for hair. I mustn’t hear there is hair in the Pacific Ocean, don’t be surprised am headed there. Luckily, we have the internet and easy communication so we get to every where even without leaving our offices.”

Sharing further about her Hair Laundry store, she says “Hair laundry Bar is Nigeria’s foremost hair laundry store that doesn’t offer any sit-in-salon service. We only do an after care service for wigs and weaves. We knew this was the most challenging part for women. We preach to people to use non oil based serum on their hair as it is one of the highest causes of ruined human hair. Use water instead. More importantly, we encourage women to bring in their ruined hair and we would transform it. Most times, women are too ashamed of how bad they handled their weaves that they actually trash them, others feel the hair sold to them was bad… the hair laundry has no opinion. We sort it out! It’s Simple!”

Giving her opinion on fake hair extensions, Ugo has this to say “The average Nigerian woman wants to look beautiful. My opinion on fake hair extensions is that I think it’s simple however it is relative because you can’t afford an expensive hair piece from a luxury hair store really doesn’t mean the cheap and expensive ones are same, or that all hair is being made in China. I think it’s been a battle of good hair can be cheap versus good hair isn’t cheap… again, it’s relative. I think women know the difference, they choose to however invest where they choose and in what they choose too. The price is number 1 red flag! It tells you original from fake.” She reveals.

Ugo says her customers are phenomenal and have brought her this far. The referrals they send her way, the friendships she built doing this and her network has been amazing. “Doing business in Nigeria comes with its challenges; everyone is on the hustle train so it is indeed encouraging when women support each other even in business. I have enjoyed this privilege and I do not take it for granted in anyway.” She responds in gratitude.

If there if one thing Ugo is looking forward to, it’s her ‘2017 Look Book’ this summer! “This collection is going to feature all our clients in their various professions. Wait for it! We are working on expanding and creating very comfortable hair stores with the best of varieties always in stock. We are open to franchising in other parts of Africa. In a few years, we believe strongly that The Hair By Ugo brand would have set the mark for quality and great value.”

The saying ‘how you dress is the way you will be addressed’ is something Ugo upholds and for her, your hair as a woman has a lot to do in this. Hear her “80% of your selfies show your hair only. Our hair should start a conversation! Sometimes, a change in hair style takes you from Point A-B. Your confidence level raises and you are ready to conquer. It’s like you to get out of your comfort zone and shine!” Ugo concludes.

I ask Ugo what inspires her and her response says it all “I am inspired by success stories. I am inspired by women who came, saw and conquered. I am inspired by growth, when I see my kids growth rate and I think about the fact that in a few years my daughter will possibly start talking about wearing hair extensions, when I see the transformation hair and makeup does to women, and how technology is advancing you can boldly say your business isn’t permitted to be on the same level thanks to social media and technology as a whole. For instance, you can be in Lagos and make a sale anywhere in the world and get paid instantly!”

The current economy of Nigeria has affected a lot of businesses but Ugo has a different view and she ends the discussion on this note “Honestly, I stock up a lot so I think in the last year, I’ve sold accumulated stock, while getting forex from the cheapest easier means possible, so my pricing hasn’t really been affected. The cost of a new hair isn’t a problem for my clients. We are not made of the economy; we are made and kept by the Grace of God. The economy will listen to us and it sure has.”

Kemi Ajumobi