�Is The Fashion industry Saturated or Broad?


I laboured for over 14 years in the fashion industry without having much to show because I was unable to answer the above question when I started my fashion business in 2006.


This question is not only limited to the fashion industry, but I'm using the fashion industry as case study because I'm a fashion designer. And my story resonates with questions.


You must understand if your intended business or business is saturated or broad, in order to take that business to a greater level without struggling in vain.


You can only get answers to this question only if you're patient enough to read to the end.


I'm about to expose the secret why I laboured for over 14 years without having much to show for it.


I'll be sharing my failure and what I have learnt in the process with you, in order to avoid such for your fashion business growth.


We concentrated much on successful people to derive business lessons but paid little or no attention to those who had failed in our industry.


But the most interesting thing with people who have failed is that we study the reason behind their failure, so that we can avoid it.


And that set you on the path to success because you're informed about the route to take on your fashion business journey.


You can answer the above question if you read this content diligently to the end and apply the business lessons embedded in it.


What you're about to read was drawn from not only reading business books. But rather, the assortment of my personal business experience and research in finding solutions to my fashion business problem.


I started learning fashion designing in 2001 when I was in JSS 2. I chose to learn the craft by myself without being forced by my parents.


I was so passionate about the skill to the extent that I almost dropped out of school while I was in JSS 3. But my parents prevented that from happening. They insisted I must combine the learning of skill with my education. Alhamdullilah, Today I'm not only a fashion designer, but a graduate of Accounting.


As a young energetic,enthusiastic and passionate young boy, my attention was on the technical skill of the craft. Less did I pay attention to the business skill of the craft.


Fast forward to 2006 when I gained my freedom to practice on my own.


My freedom never came easy because I was a skillful,hardworking and trustworthy apprentice. My boss was not willing to let me go not because he doesn't to be my own, but of the qualities I possess.


It took my parents time to convince my boss to grant me the freedom.


To succeed in business goes beyond gaining proficiency in the technical skill(s). If you're not good in the business aspects of the skill(s), you're doom.


I carried the same mindset of that of an apprentice to my own territory as my own boss.


Pay me any amount, and I'll give you the best of the best job. What was paramount to me as at that time was customers' satisfaction.


I give out value to my customers, even at the expense of my business and personal growth. Less do knew I was shooting myself on the foot.


Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying customers' satisfaction is not paramount for business growth. It's paramount because that's what attracts the money.


But, If the time and energy you're investing in providing such values is no in congruent with the money or value you're receiving, you will end up broke. And will struggle financially.


I'm assuring you. Sooner or later, you'll run from your job like rats run away from cats.


You'll hate your business with the same passion that brought you into the business, if your inflow is not justifying your outflow(time,energy and expenses).


You need to to work on your pricing, if you must continue in business.


If you suck in price your business will suffer financially. And you won't have the capacity to manage your business risks when they show up. Which is inevitably.

Another aspect you need to take note of is - I can do it all by myself syndrome.


This syndrome cost me a lot. And was one of the reasons why I Laboured for over 14 years without having much to show for it. I'm not saying - I have nothing to show for it, but less.


But I would have achieved more if I was able acquired the business knowledge I have today, when I started my fashion business in 2006.


If I was able to gain access to the kind of content you're reading now, Sim Fashion would have to be one of the renowned fashion in Nigeria, probably in Africa.


When I was started out, I knew less about building a brand and I paid less attention to teamwork.


I believe in individuality, I had confidence in myself and my proficiency in my skill. Yet I know little that my technical skills can only put food on my table, but the skills alone won't take me to where I aspired to be.


I was trained in the sewing of men's wears and embroidery design. Embroidery designing is a business line on itself in the fashion industry. Yet I combined it with sewing skills.


I was skilful in these lines of fashion that I felt I can do all by myself.


I hardly give my work to apprentices or any other person who was capable of giving a helping hand. I do all the work by myself, even at the expense of keeping promises with my customers.


I believe that money pursues value. But unfortunately, my definition of value was making a perfect job, without considering other values embedded in the value itself.


I realised there was fire on the mountain when I started losing my customers to my competitors and gaining new customers was a tug of war.


I was frustrated, I felt like the fashion industry was getting saturated. But I can see other fashion designers doing well in the same industry. Why was mine different?


Why me?


The light was diminishing, it looked obvious to me - staying in a room whose light was diminishing is dangerous. Staying too long in such a room is dangerous because going out of it won't be easy when the light is completely gone.


I would rather get out of the room before the light is gone completely.


I took the bull by its horn. I purchased an HND form to continue studying Accounting from The Federal Polytechnic Bauchi. The same institution I was awarded OND certificate.


The aim of such action was to escape from the room (the dying fashion business). I felt that was a wise decision


Instead of staying with the problem, analyse, discover and solve the problem(s). I was planning to run away from reality instead of facing it.


However, the truth is that - cutting off the head is not the solution to headache.


How long have you stayed with your problem(s)?.


Would you rather run away from it or fix it?


Going back to school was one of the best decisions I have ever made. But its purpose was faulty.


My plan was to quit my fashion after graduation to join the labour market.


I met with Mr Sulaiman Ibrahim, the CEO of Prestige Home of Fashion, now my mentor. Having known each other for long.


We had an interesting chat. He told me how far he had gone in the fashion business. And how his fashion business is moving in his favor. His success is obvious, he had added lots of awards and recognition to his name. He's clothing luminaries he had never thought he could cloth.


And that inspired me. He opened my eyes to how lucrative the business I was planning to leave was.


I left his office filled with hope and energy to push harder as the time the going was getting tougher.


Pushing harder on the wrong path is as good as not pushing at all.


I took my time to analyse what went wrong. Where did I miss it?


I was able to figure out that I was solely trying to satisfy everybody. Not knowing that everybody wasn't my customer.


Give me an embroidery design job and I'll do it to the best of my ability as if that was my sole area of specialisation.


I was sewing men's outfits excellently and my embroidery design skill was top notch.


I was unable to figure out at the initial stage as a fashion designer on which of these skills to focus on achieving the optimal result.


Unfortunately, I was blindfolded by the instant gratification. I accept any job that comes my way, without considering which of these technical skills could take me to my dream path.


Success or goal is a process, the end of one success or goal is the beginning of another.


Money was the only ingredient I thought could spice up my journey to greatness.


I was spending my fortune without considering a break in my business cash flow any time soon.


Planning for the future was out of place because I was comfortable with the peanut I was getting from the embroidery designing.


Spreading my time and energy over embroidery designing and tailoring skills.


I was overwhelmed by the job that was coming from these lines of business. I carry out my job without outsourcing because I have the required skills. But lacking the time to meet up with promises.


I just wanted to get all the money for myself, instead of focusing on tailoring and outsourcing for embroidery designing or designer.


The fashion industry is broad, doing all the work by yourself won't take you far. You need a team, you need to outsource when necessary.


Repeat your customers, give them the best they deserve and make sure your inflows justifies your outflows.


I learned my lesson in a hard way, act on this piece of advice to avoid such.


I value my customers, they're my ambassador and my mouthpiece. They communicate to my prospect. Word of mouth advertisement is the best means of gaining prospective customers.

Great one bro

Well done.