₦airaland Forum

Are you a certified slowpoke (M O R O N) and a victim of a dreaded condition known as COMPLACENCY.

Do you spend hours selling your time for money whereas building someone else empire.

Do you say "I just don't have the time" to start a business now.


Well you are not alone, I used to say that too but things have changed.

I still work 17 hours a day but I have build a side business that makes me money.

How did I make time or find time to build BuyMart Store?

Well, I will be sharing with you in the next article next week Wednesday how I build BuyMart.com.ng from my No Time Excuse.

Stay Blessed.

Konga - To check sales


Jumia - To check sales


BuyMart.com.ng - To check sales and analytic report.


realmoneyng.com - To post new content, check analytic and reply messages.


Nairaland - To update and reply questions on my thread.


Top Five Must Log On Apps

Facebook Page (buymartng & realmoneyng)


BBC Sport


SellerHQ


WhatsApp


BBM

The dream is free but the hustle is sold separately.

If you don't start you can't succeed.

Go build and start the business of your dream.



Join the community and like us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/realmoneyng

Vycko:
This is an awesome thread. More power to your elbow

Thanks

Tmany:
Hmmmm, see guys chopping money when i dey fire suit for rain.
Nice job Op

You too can start sir.

You can fire suit for rain with more money in ya pocket.

AleAirHub:
Nice And Educative Updates....

Very Soon I Will Also Share My Success Stories On How Is Started My Online Importation Business With $300Dollar Last Two Years And I Have Been Enable To Use It To Pay My Tuition Fees Of $1210Dollar From 100Level To 200Level, Register My Company With CAC, Opening Company Bank Account And Also Have Some Great Cash Flow In The Business. All Credits Goes To God Ist Follow By YMODULUS & Oluwaseun Osewa....

Thanks

Thanks Boss

We are all waiting to read about your journey.

Am sure we have a a lot to learn from you.

Regards

IamOdin:
NICE WORK BRUH!!!.MORE GREASE TO YOUR BALLS.

Thanks Boss

Let everybody say No, if you believe in it, please go ahead. Remember you don't have to get it right but you have to get it going because you can't be great if you don't start.

mybad:
Hello Nairalanders,

I have just made up my mind about paid employment.
I've decided to quit my job of 7 years and start up something. Anything!
I want to be in the league of those who have stopped saying ''Yes Sir'' to other people!
those who make a living from doing their thing whichever way they deem fit.
Take decisions by themselves, whenever and however they deem necessary.
Who work hard, work smart, work late and do anything that translates to money making and business expansion.

I have wondered if the last 7 years of my life would have been better if all the hours i'd put into my work had been put into my personal business.
Would i have been better for it?
Would i be worse off?
The answer lies in what i did with my time.
I have therefore decided that the next 7 years will be spent building a world for me whichever way it turns out.
The only snag is that, i don't know what i'd be doing.

Please nairalanders, i need help with ideas on the way forward.

Boss,

Sorry to bust your bubbles.

The honest trust is that, You're not ready for the business world.

Using your post as a state of mind, if you start a business with that state of mind, the business will fail within a year and you will be back looking for a paycheck.

You don't quit your employment because you're tired of saying Yes Sir or Ma. As an entrepreneurs you have several bosses with no fail safe system called salary.

Beside who said, you can't start a business while still earning a paycheck.

Remember, all that glitters aren't Gold. Entrepreneurs are usually broke. #Smiles

Everything You Need to Build a Profitable Online Store in Nigeria.

I am usually asked,

1. What platform do you use to build your online store?
2. How and Where do you source your product.
3. Where do you register your domain name.
4. Which web host do you use
5. Which shopping cart are you using?
6. Which marketplace should I use to sell my products.
7. Which Payment processor do you use?

I have put together a page which will be useful to you when you want to build your online store.

http://www.realmoneyng.com/resources/


Disclosure - Please note that some of the links in the page are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.

http://www.realmoneyng.com/resources/

babasho1:
Great job op. I stumbled on your thread at about 2am and it took away my sleep until I consumed every dot and cross of your write-ups.

I happens to be a self-trained Cms web designer. Somebody gave me this project (ecommerce site) as far back as year 2010. I did it using virtuemart on joomla. I did it but I thought it was not going to work had I known that this will turn out to be the in thing, I would have started mine long ago.

Even the importation business I became exposed to it in year 2009 via alibaba. My self a two of my friend lost a sum of N520,000 to alibaba. And that put me off.

However, with your story. Iam going back to my drawing board. Your story is indeed challenging.

Thanks and congrats on your 1year anniversary.

Thanks for sharing your story and I am delighted you like the articles.

Business is about taking risks and being profitable in business also means being on the verge of making loss.

That is a very huge sum and an expensive lesson you learn.

Please make sure before you start again do assessment report to find out what went wrong that lead to the loss.

Importation is good with great risks. Thread carefully and beside you can also source your products locally or do drop-shipping (Yeah, it works in Nigeria too).

Thanks for the comment and Never Ever Give Up

My sincere apologies to all the great bosses on this thread.

I have received several requests from people to help them build their ecommerce site but were surprised that I said No.

Like I said on phone, email, Facebook chat and WhatsApp messages I am extremely busy to take web design project.

I really wanna help you build it because I love to make money but trust me 24 hours isn't enough daily.

Being a sideprenuer isn't easy in Lagos.

I will however try my best to help you achieve your objectives.

I am currently putting together a resources page on the blog for all newbies who want to build a profitable online store in Nigeria.

I will update the outdated resources page on the blog by tomorrow evening.

Let me give you a preview of what to expect on the blog resources page -

1. Domain Name Registration
2. Web Host
3. Shopping Cart
4. Marketplace
5. Payment Gateway
6. Marketing Tools

The new resource page will be live on the blog by 6pm tomorrow.

You can suggest or recommend great tools you have used and want me to include in the resource page.

Thanks

iamord:
can I have your contact. I will like to discuss some things with ir

Please send a PM sir or ask on the thread.


Thanks

nansng:
Great response bro, As I can see the free shipping offer have seen so far delivers between 2wks and 12wks. did you experience such when you started. or the 12wks there is just a in case stuff, reason am asking is that no one want to wait for that long to get his product.



and Sir. aside from alien express or alibaba which other sites have you shop from.

12 weeks Ke?

Which kind free shipping be that?

Free shipping Max should not be longer than 3 weeks. if it takes more than that na refund sure pass.

You can source your product anywhere. You don't necessarily need to import. Just make sure you get the product at a price you can sell for profit.

nansng:
Great topic IMerchant, Is there any implication for using the product photo i.e. the ones posted on the site where you actually bought the product. e.g. allie express, would konga reject such apps. and the email you left is not going through, can you check again and leave the right mail. Then Secondly, is this business possible to be run by someone living in the diaspora?

Please note that you don't necessarily need to build a photo studio before you start selling online.

I didn't have a photo studio when I start because the cost sef go chase me and discourage me from starting.

My initial startup capital was #10,000 #smiles so I couldn't have possibly build a photo studio when I start this experiment that later manifest to business.

Beside you can hire a good photographer to take your product pictures for you if you are just starting and do not have good images of your product.

The cheapest photo studio will set you back with $350 without camera. The cheapest DSLR camera will cost you more than $400 without other investment in lens and tripod.

So i

nansng:
Great topic IMerchant, Is there any implication for using the product photo i.e. the ones posted on the site where you actually bought the product. e.g. allie express, would konga reject such apps. and the email you left is not going through, can you check again and leave the right mail. Then Secondly, is this business possible to be run by someone living in the diaspora?

Please note that you don't necessarily need to build a photo studio before you start selling online.

I didn't have a photo studio when I start because the cost sef go chase me and discourage me from starting.

My initial startup capital was #10,000 #smiles so I couldn't have possibly build a photo studio when I start this experiment that later manifest to business.

Beside you can hire a good photographer to take your product pictures for you if you are just starting and do not have good images of your product.

The cheapest photo studio will set you back with $350 without camera. The cheapest DSLR camera will cost you more than $400 without other investment in lens and tripod.

So, start small, think big and start today.

jjbest123:
Well at my boss, I intend having a standard E-commerce website just like jumia and konga because that has been passion right from time,as for reading your mind when you are at the right track things goes like that.

Well like I said, you're very good at reading minds. You will make a fortune if you develop your capacity because me self want the abilities to read minds but only customers minds #Smiles.

You have to start from somewhere. Konga start as an eCommerce portal likewise Jumia.

Both companies official launched their marketplace platform last year (2014) and that have help them host variety of products on their site.

Am sure Sim Shagaya, doesn't plan to sell cars and trailer load of Dangote Cements on the platform if not t
he marketplace. Now konga sells a lot of products that you can never imagined when they start.

You have to start from somewhere maybe as an eCommerce site, build your brand etc.

Konga and Jumia have several millions of Dollars in investment already.

nansng:
On alie express, I can see that orders take between 15-60 to deliver from China to Nigeria, how do you deal with that?

Aliexpress is a marketplace with different sellers.

Use the search button to look for what you want to buy and use the filter button too to see which seller offer free shipping for what you wanna buy.

I have bought stuff less than $20 and still get it shipped to Nigeria for Free.

I have also bought stuffs and get free DHL shipping to Nigeria.

nansng:
Great topic IMerchant, Is there any implication for using the product photo i.e. the ones posted on the site where you actually bought the product. e.g. allie express, would konga reject such apps. and the email you left is not going through, can you check again and leave the right mail. Then Secondly, is this business possible to be run by someone living in the diaspora?

The one on aliexpress are great but generic. They are sometimes watermarked by seller on aliexpress.

Konga will not reject your your product listing as far as you get good images with white background of the product.

Yes you can as far as you have someone that will handle delivery. When people order for your products you have to deliver. If you're a merchant on Konga, when you get orders you have to deliver at drop off centre.

eCommerce business gives you the ability to be location independent as far as you can arrange your deliveries to the customers.

iamord:
This is one of the best threads I have come across.

Thanks Boss

iMerchant:
Thanks for sharing in the joy.

Abeg, let me ask you a question, are you a wizard abi una get supernatural powers to read minds like Kyle XY?

I have said before in my previous articles on this thread and our blog that Photos sell products online. A great product with a bad image will not sell.

I recently (Classified - Don't tell anyone this secret ooooooo or else I will ban you on Nairaland #Smiles) start building my photo studio for product photography.

I am 75% done. I will share the experience because I am currently doing A/B testing.

There are different types of studios you can build depending on your budget and products.

If you sell portable items like bags, Jewelry or wristwatches you can buy either of the following:

1. Softbox
2. 2 or 3 light stands
3. A tripod (Camera Holder)
4. DSLR camera or use your phone camera if you have a good megapixel.

or

1. Product Table
2. 3 Lighting softbox with stand
3. Tripod
4. Camera lens (If you want to use your phone)
5. DSLR camera.


If you're selling clothing materials or big items you need the following:

1. Background stand (White, Black, Red or Gray)
2. Light stand with softbox
3. Tripod
4. Camera Len
5. DSLR camera

The pictures below are taken with Infinix Zero.

jjbest123:
Hello I merchant,
First of all I must say congratulations on your success,it is not easy more grease to your elbow. I must say thank you for creating such a nice and educating thread here for we the novice to learn from,I more than happy to come see it. As a novice there are lot if things I would like to know about and am going to be asking the question one after the other on this thread for others like me to learn from,so saying am going to start by asking this question,
What are the requirements one needs to build a photo studio for capturing images?
Like I said I will be asking the question one after the other, looking forward to your replies.
For newbies like me I will be contributing my own quota to this thread starting from what you should know about your site before launching an online presence.

Thanks for sharing in the joy.

Abeg, let me ask you a question, are you a wizard abi una get supernatural powers to read minds like Kyle XY?

I have said before in my previous articles on this thread and our blog that Photos sell products online. A great product with a bad image will not sell.

I recently (Classified - Don't tell anyone this secret ooooooo or else I will ban you on Nairaland #Smiles) start building my photo studio for product photography.

I am 75% done. I will share the experience because I am currently doing A/B testing.

There are different types of studios you can build depending on your budget and products.

If you sell portable items like bags, Jewelry or wristwatches you can buy either of the following:

1. Softbox
2. 2 or 3 light stands
3. A tripod (Camera Holder)
4. DSLR camera or use your phone camera if you have a good megapixel.

or

1. Product Table
2. 3 Lighting softbox with stand
3. Tripod
4. Camera lens (If you want to use your phone)
5. DSLR camera.


If you're selling clothing materials or big items you need the following:

1. Background stand (White, Black, Red or Gray)
2. Light stand with softbox
3. Tripod
4. Camera Len
5. DSLR camera

veegirl:
I guess "Happy Birthday" is in order. Keep shining.

Thanks

dbestguy:
congratulations bro... And well done for all these tutorials, tips and lessons

Thanks

skentelelady:
I hope to celebrate like this one day

Congrats bro.

Many more prosperous years ahead

Thanks Ma.

Just like they say, a journey of a thousand miles start with a step.

I never anticipated it will be this awesome with so many lessons and great experiences.

I can remember the first of everything.

1. The first return.
2. The first lost sales.
3. The first enquiry.
4. The first unsuccessful delivery.
5. The first time I got free DHL shipping from a supplier.

Thank You for sharing in the joy.

Happy Birthday

It's a celebration.

My experiment and first venture into entrepreneur world just turned 1 years old.

Here are some crazy facts:


1. My first product sourcing was made on May 29th, 2014 ($69.19)

2. First Sales Online was done on Kaymu (22/07/2014)

3. First Sale on Konga (10/08/2014)

4. First Delivery was done at Ojodu Berger, Lagos

5. First delivery outside Lagos was via Konga to Port Harcourt.

6. First sales on Facebook page was delivered to Alaba.

7. First WhatsApp sale was delivered to Festac.

8. Our weekly sales have exceed our startup capital.

9. The first successful sale was done in my room.

10. The first Call To Order sale was delivered to Ikota.

11. The first "Free Delivery" sale was delivered to Ojodu Berger.

12. The first sale on BuyMart.com.ng was delivered to Lekki.

What more could a proud sideprenuer ask for?

Thank You for being awesome and we appreciate your business.

MissTechy:
Hello Everyone,

I recently took a survey and I noticed that Nigerians would love to comment on gossips blogs about other people's lives and not on tech information that can benefit them in their workplace or homes.

I am saying this because I know how hard it is to get comments on a tech blog given the fact that I run one (misstechy dot com), I have also searched top tech blogs in the country and noticed the same trend. Even noticed the trend on Nairaland, anytime a tech post is out on frontpage, people hardly comment or even view it.


Is it that the contents are boring or what?

Why would you choose to comment on other people's trouble but not on something that can benefit you in several ways -
Oya Nairalander answer

Nice Observation.

I think it is the way we are wired.

SUN/PUNCH/VANGUARD newspaper sell more copies than Business Day and other tech related newspaper or magazine.

CNN/BBC have more viewers than History Channel or NatGeo.

People are emotional being with empathy and envy. The girl next door is more interested in what is happening in Kim K life, her new dress sense blah blah blah than and the guys are more interested in sports (football) than business and tech.

Stories about their favourite stars are NEWS with more deeper connection than business or tech stories.

.

Abeg, sorry

You can't buy petrol online now.

Maybe later.

We are in the same boat.

Times like this call for deep reflections.

If Virgin Atlantic flight from Lagos to London was delayed for 2 hours because they have to fuel in Ghana. Radio stations now have to ration their operating time and telecommunications giants are warning that there will be service failure because of shortage of diesel that power their base stations nationwide.

What happen to small business owners. What happen to the frozen food sellers that need constant electricity. Now that PHCN doesn't have light how do we expect them to give us light.

I can't remember the last time PHCN give us light - oh sorry, last week Thursday - the frozen food seller on the street have to buy black market to power his generator for at least 4-6 hours daily.

Who borne this cost. I (the consumer) will not surely buy a kilo of turkey #1,500 because it used to cost #850 before the fuel scarcity.

Tomorrow is Monday, my employer is calling. The journey to the office is now 5x the normal cost. Please who do I transfer this cost to?

What happen to the civil servants that State Governors are owing like 3-7 months salaries. How will they survive this untold hardship when the state house is powered 24 hours by generator with tax-payer money.

Now you're mega rich, very lucky or super connected if you use generator in the street.

Folks in the street who have inverter at home need electricity to charger the batteries.

If your smartphone is still powered up, you definitely have a super reliable power bank.

I really think the next billion dollar idea will be how to solve our electricity problems without using fuel.

How do we generate a reliable and dependable electricity without relying on PHCN, Generator, Inverter Batteries or the unstable solar power.

The next billionaires will be those that can figure out solutions to this problems. We have a population of over 170 million people who currently rely on PHCN and fuel to generate electricity.

God Bless the Federal Republic.

Before You Quit Your Full Time Job


Many people aren't happy with their full time job and will like to start a business. They have different reasons for disliking their Day Job.

Some people dislike their job because:
1. The salary is too small
2. They aren't promoted.
3. Expenses are growing at geometric rate whereas their income grow at arithmetic rate.

If you have a full time job looking to go solo, you need a very strong reason to quit your job. Starting a business and sticking with the business is not an easy decision.

I have seen people start businesses, they fail and immediately dust their resume, go back to look for jobs. Nothing is wrong with failing in business but such people didn't have a strong reason to quit their full time before starting the business.

You need determination, gut and a very strong (STRONGER) reason to become a successful entrepreneur. Don't believe the hype and quit your full time jobs because of the following filmsy reasons:

1. You Need to be Your Own BOSS: Don't quit your full time job because of this hype. Being your own boss is not a very good reason to quit your job and start a business. When you start your business, you have plenty bosses that hold you accountable.

Business people have several Ogas at the top that they answer to. As a business man/woman, you answer to your:

1. Customers
2. Creditors
3. Investors
4. Regulatory Bodies.
5. Landlord or Shop Owner.
6. The Tax Man.
7. Utilities Bills - PHCN, fuel, telephone etc.

So if you want to quit your job because of your boss, just remember that starting a business isn't the answer.

2. Your Don't Like or Want to Work Long Hours - Please stay at your full time job if you're lazy and don't want to work long hours. As an entrepreneur you will work longer than your employees just like your present employer is doing. Entrepreneurs work permanently. They work longer works.

3. You want to make more money - Hahahahahahahahaha #Smiles. If this is your motive I suggest you hold on tight (very tight) to your full time job. Entrepreneurs are broke financially. Don't expect money from your business immediately, infact my friend, you need to be extremely careful about spending as you no longer have a guaranteed pay check at the end of the month.

When you start your business, you have to immediately reduce your personal expenses. You need to grow your financial intelligence and be very smart with money. No one will pay you salary if you fail at your business.

Entrepreneurs increase their living standards after their business grow so my dear friend, don't start a business because you need or want to make more money quickly.

4. You're the Most Valuable Employee - Some people start business because they think their present employer is taking undue advantage of them.

Entrepreneurs that are successful and who are exceptionally good in business aren't so because of what they know but because of their insatiable need to know more. The major problem with most failing businesses is not that their owners don't know enough about finance, marketing, management, operations and administration-they do, but those things are easy enough to learn. They fail because such business owners spend their time, resources and energy defending what they think they know.

5. Your business is a reflection of you: Yes Boss, your business is nothing more than a distinct reflection of who you are.

If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy. If you're disorganised, your business will be disorganised. If you're greedy, your employees will be greedy, giving you less of themselves and always asking for more. If your information about what needs to be done in your business is limited, your business will reflect that limitations.

Therefore, if your business is to change and be successful, you need and must change first.

Being the most valued employee with limited knowledge will not translate to successful business.

Conclusion

You will loss money - Business is about profit and loss. You win some battles and loss some battles. Entrepreneurs loss money. Every decision you make or made as an entrepreneur have financial implications.

Don't just quit your job to start a business because there is a huge difference between an ordinary man (employee) and a warrior (entrepreneur). A warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything either as a blessing or a curse.

Its been a while I update this thread.

Please accept my apologies.

I am currently cooking a delicious meal in the kitchen. Once it is ready, I will drop it here on the table so you can devour the meal and have more energy to carry on.

Stay Tuned.

Svelteb:
Nice 1 op, i think it'll b nice to follow the thread

Thanks and Welcome to the thread.