Ommo Clark runs multiple businesses from the computer. She speaks on running businesses taking advantage of digital space in this interview with OLUYINKA ALAWODE.
Businesses
iBez Consulting originally started in England in 2008, and then in Nigeria in January 2011. I went back into paid employment in 2012, and put the business on hold then re-started in January 2013. Handy-Jacks, the repair and maintenance business, was started and formally launched in 2014.
Lets-Share.com (House and Flat Shares in Lagos and background checking on prospective house/flat mates) will be formally launched last quarter 2014.
Naija Tradespace (Information on doing business in Nigeria, industry reports by local experts, and background checking) will be formally launched last quarter 2014. Black Lace and Garters (Online Lingerie Shop) will also be formally launched last quarter 2014.
Inspiration
I started iBez Consulting because I enjoy the technicalities of building software from scratch and the intrinsic satisfaction gained from creating something that is of immense value to someone else or a business from just an idea in their heads. I also believe that in this day and age, every business no matter how small, should be technology enabled and run as a digital business and that software technologies should be affordable and available to all businesses.
The idea for Handy-Jacks – The Repair and Maintenance People – came as a result of my personal experience in getting artisans to do work in my home when I first moved back to Nigeria in 2009. After going through a number of incompetent and untrained artisans, I eventually found a very good plumber. It turned out that this plumber had been to technical college but didn’t have the financial means to advertise his services or compete with the big boys. I did some research, interviewed a lot of people and discovered that many Nigerians faced the same problems in getting good artisans, so I decided to start a business where we vetted, trained and promoted good artisans online and then people that required their services in their neighbourhoods could find them very easily.
The idea for all the businesses came because I saw a need.
Starting out
I didn’t have a lot of money to start with and have been boot strapping, which means that I have not been able to run as fast and quickly as I would like to. The businesses have grown marginally but not as quickly as we would have liked.
Target clients
Target audience for iBez are micro, small and medium enterprises, government ministries, departments and agencies and individual brands. Target for Handy-Jacks are middle to high income earners, target for Lets-Share are professionals, target for Naija Tradespace are foreigners wanting to come into Nigeria to do business, Nigerians in Diaspora and returnees. Target for Black Lace and Garters are all ladies!.
Background
I started work as an application support consultant with Real Asset Management UK (a Software House) and was there for a number of years before joining the investment bank, Lehman Brothers UK; here I worked in the Mortgage Capital Division as a team leader tasked with leading the web development and support teams in online mortgage origination, products development and application support services. I left Lehman Brothers after four years to work with Icelandic Investment Bank, Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander also based in the UK as an IT project manager and led the software development team in developing various banking applications before returning to Nigeria. I worked with EnterpriseWare, a subsidiary of Soft Solutions Ltd, Nigeria as head of project delivery and support, and then with an international development firm, Rimsom Associates as chief operating officer before leaving to run iBez Consulting full time. I graduated from London Guildhall University UK with BA (Hons) Business Admin, and from Brunel University UK with MSc Information Systems. I am passionate about software services and using IT to contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Challenges
The key challenge has been funding. I have also had challenges with marketing and visibility. As a technical/creative person, my natural inclination is to sit in front of my computer and just focus on crafting my work.
Staff
I have part-time employees and freelancers that I engage on a project-by-project basis.
Advice
Before giving up their day’s job, I’ll ask would-be entrepreneurs to plan very well, research and understand their market. They need to have enough start-up capital, learn about financial management and marketing. For existing entrepreneurs, I’d say, do not give up on the dream.
