Gladness Daniel is the Training Coordinator at Guiex Fashion Academy and Creative Director of Guiex Bridals and Apparels in Abuja. The female entrepreneur who has been in the fashion industry for over two decades shares some of her success points in the industry in this interview.
What was the business like when you started?
I started out making conventional female wears after my training in Lagos with my first outfit – Differences. We were strictly making garments: hats, wedding dresses and other fashion accessories. Thereafter, in 2006, I initiated a name change to Guiex Bridals and Apparels to integrate the bridal wears concept. We got involved in made-to-measure wedding gowns and bridal wears for both Christians and Muslims. Because of the passion to see other people empowered, I started the training arm, which is Guiex Fashion Academy, in 2010.
What was the motivation for the enterprise?
Having seen the constant rise in unemployment in our nation, beyond just empowerment, I felt the only way I could be of great value was to impact on the youth, especially the female gender, with tailoring and fashion skills. I also noted that youths, particularly the female gender, in our environment, because of very poor mindset, derail into unproductive lifestyles, restricting themselves to societal vices without playing a major role in the society. Considering that, I was touched to see how I could reach out and help them harness their in-depth potentials and have a life beyond family life.
Could you describe your typical work day?
My typical work day is usually busy because we have trainees who come in from 9:00am for classes, and because one of our core values is excellence; we ensure that every input to the training session is thorough. Therefore, it demands strict and close supervisory roles in line with the curriculum. Sometimes when trainees close, I also attend to customers to meet up target dates.
Great businesses often come with challenges, does yours have any?
Yes, a lot of challenges; as you solve one, another comes up. Apart from the harsh economic environment where there’s shortage of power, easy access to raw materials and high cost of machinery, we have the challenge of managing human resources, both in the personnel and customers. One critical challenge is prompt delivery, even though over the years we had to develop a system to ensure effectiveness in that regard. But because source of power is very expensive and epileptic, it often slows down our production.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am working on producing a handbook that is self-explanatory for both the basic and advanced courses in fashion and design which will help trainees grab the rudiments of the training much faster. The goal is to debunk the idea that you need to learn fashion and tailoring in the allotted timeframe and achieve it. I am also working on an NGO for the purpose of reaching out to the less privileged who also need this training sessions.
In what other ways are you empowering others in this business?
We are in the process of registering an NGO in order to collaborate with like minds so that we can have a wider spread and reach out more effectively. Often times there are opportunities in small groups and religious settings that have business summits and personal counselling.
What is your current staff and trainees strength?
Basically, because of our society, we have challenges in sustaining our workforce, but presently we have two fashion instructors working alongside with me and 27 trainees. Since it is a training institution, we have trainees coming in from time to time and the number varies.
How sustainable is this business in terms of funding?
Our income is basically from school fees paid by trainees and often times when we render services to our numerous clients by way of cloth making. The funds that come in are used primarily for overhead cost, purchase of equipment and financing growth and expansion projects.
What are your plans for expansion in the short term?
As a skills development centre and entrepreneurial outfit, we look forward to having a centre through our NGO that will give opportunity to the less privileged and youths from local communities. The idea is that they will come in from wherever their locations are; enroll for the training of their choice after properly being counselled. The fees are subsidised, if not free. Our plan is to provide boarding facilities to allow stay-in, enhanced concentration and a re-orientation of mindset towards entrepreneurship.
