Mfonobong Nsima-Abasi Iyang is the chief executive officer of Rockdesignersforless, an online store that sells luxury fashion pieces.
Mfonobong, a graduate of Statistics from the University of Uyo, was inspired to establish Rockdesignersforless in 2018 owing to her love for fashion and luxury brands.
Her passion to make luxury clothing brands affordable to low-income earners was also a critical inspiration factor.
“You know luxury brands do not come cheap, but I wanted ways to make them come affordable, and that gave birth to my business,” she says.
“I source for pre-owned or second-hand high-end designer brands and I reproduce them and sell,” she says.
The young entrepreneur started her business in 2017 with N32,500, an amount she got from her savings.
The statistician-turned-entrepreneur says her business has grown steadily since starting, as she has continued to expand her product range.
“I will say God has been so amazing because he has always been my pillar right from the start till now. I started very little with selling only unbranded used bags but I now sell clothes and other luxury items,” she discloses.
She says her business has stood out differently from others and survived the country’s difficult business environment owing to the quality of her products.
“I don’t just bring anything to the table. I source right, making sure my customers get value for their money,” the young entrepreneur further says.
Mfonobong explains that she had to re-strategise her business model to survive the difficult moment of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Speaking on some of her business plans, she says her plan is to have a physical store where clients can walk in and make their purchases.
“I have never stopped expanding my business as I constantly introduce a new line of products. However, my major plan is to open a physical walk-in store,” she says.
The young entrepreneur hopes to be a top entrepreneur through her brand in the next five years. “To be a top entrepreneur that is widely known, that whenever my business name is mentioned, people can easily tell it’s me,” she says when asked about her ambition.
“I want to make people know you can be very successful in doing business and for me to be an inspiration to many.”
On major challenge facing the business, she says, is the border closure policy, which has made it difficult for her to source specific luxury brands.
“Sourcing for specific brands for a customer is never easy. Borders are also closed, therefore hindering these items from coming into the country easily,” she explains.
“Another challenge is people knowing me and being aware of what I sell because I know a lot of people are still out there looking for where to buy these luxury clothing and bags,” she adds.
She urges the government to re-open the country’s border with its West Africa neighbours and also create a platform for entrepreneurs to easily sell their products.
On her advice to other entrepreneurs, Mfonobong says, “Do not disperse the days of little beginning. Do not be afraid to start small. Patience is a virtue; you will need so much of it in business.”
