Exquisite Magazine got the opportunity to interview Oreoluwa Ayobami Oke, a serial entrepreneur who has a logistics company, and several fashion brands. Let’s read up on her story and learn a thing or two.
Tell us about yourself and your business
My name is Oreoluwa Ayobami Oke. I obtained my BSc in zoology and environmental biology at Lagos State University. I am an entrepreneur and my brands are Ayo_classie_logistics, ayo_classie_wears, Ayo_ jeweller, and Shollydee_collections.
My friends call me ‘’Ceo jama jama’’ and I have been running these businesses for about six to seven years now, and all I can say is God is faithful. My logistics business will be 3 years this year and my wear business will be 6 years in December 2023, shollydee_collections was named after my mom and brother and it is all about fashion and styling.
How do you solve your customer’s challenge?
Well, I will say dealing with people requires a lot of patience, a whole lot of patience, especially in the logistics business. I have to calmly talk to my clients to make them understand the situation of roads, unforeseen circumstances, and why riders and deliveries are delayed.
Sometimes some clients do not help because what concerned about is how their packages will be delivered swiftly but logistics is beyond that.
Can you describe/outline your typical day?
My day starts from 5:30 am to 6 pm. As early as 6 am when clients send me a message and I don’t reply, they assume my riders are not working. Although I am used to the timing I don’t need an alarm to wake me up. I check on my phone to attend to customers’ requests and enquiries.
By 9 am I would have outlined my rider’s route and mapped out the important ones. If I have any market runs, I make sure I have given the riders enough details that they may not need to contact me for a couple of hours I’m out. I grab breakfast or lunch anywhere I find myself and I have to make myself online to attend to clients and riders.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
I would say being an entrepreneur has a lot to do with your mood. Next minute a customer is satisfied with your services, another minute you are trying to fix one or two things.
It brings out different shades of me, but I can say my parents are my biggest flex. They always come through. Most importantly when I need to rant, I just call my dad and I know I will feel relieved some days my mom would be the one to help me charge my gadgets whenever I sleep early.
What motivates you?
I have a lot of people that have contributed to how far I have gone in business today, they are always there to help out and encourage me I can’t even start mentioning names I can’t remember how many times I tell my best friend Sherifat I am tired of sales, riders attitude, customers pressure and all. My friends and families and my customers are my biggest flex.
What is your greatest fear?
Starting all over!
Fears of starting to restrategize, and getting customers, this is more or less like getting broke in a nutshell. let me say going broke.
How do you define success?
Well, the number of people that are referring to my brands and using my logistics company. I get a lot of referrals almost every day and I have some clients I have been their stylist right from school days. Referrals I must say are everything for me.
What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
The alerts! And customers reviews.
If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I would strategize!!!
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
1- Have good customer service skills
2- Strategic thinking and planning skills
3- Know how to check and balance
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
I would say, I take my time to plan and I make sure I achieve whatever I plan for.
What advice would you give to people who want to become entrepreneurs?
It requires a lot of determination it is not something you will start and want to quit it isn’t always easy at first before you gather clients making them trust your brands and satisfying them also knowing their scale of preference which matters a lot you have to be, you need to be open to suggestions from people that are also into the business you want to venture into.
What business-related book has inspired you the most?
I am not a reading person so I would say none for now but I look forward to grabbing a copy soon.
If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it?
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