Good day good people of Nairaland. My wife learnt tailoring/fashion designing and is now ready to setup her own establishment (though small scale). From our estimates, she needs one million Naira to startup.
Problem I'm having is that, here in Uyo, the business doesn't seem profitable as you would see almost 5 tailors in one small stretch of road. This condition has brought gains to almost zero.
So, my people, should we go ahead with this business or look for something else. Although, she is hellbent on starting it up.
Your contributions to making this venture profitable is highly welcomed. Thanks.

Tammynator:
Good day good people of Nairaland. My wife learnt tailoring/fashion designing and is now ready to setup her own establishment (though small scale). From our estimates, she needs one million Naira to startup.
Problem I'm having is that, here in Uyo, the business doesn't seem profitable as you would see almost 5 tailors in one small stretch of road. This condition has brought gains to almost zero.
So, my people, should we go ahead with this business or look for something else. Although, she is hellbent on starting it up.
Your contributions to making this venture profitable is highly welcomed. Thanks.

Since there are so many tailors, she should engage very good tailors to service areas where there is a shortage of tailors ( like Lagos). Sew in Uyo, sell in Lagos or PHC

Smarttravels:
Since there are so many tailors, she should engage very good tailors to service areas where there is a shortage of tailors ( like Lagos). Sew in Uyo, sell in Lagos or PHC

That is, sewing and selling online? Is Lagos and other cities not also over saturated? Cos, I see lots of fashion designers in Lagos. She even follows some of them on Instagram.

Tammynator:

That is, sewing and selling online? Is Lagos and other cities not also over saturated? Cos, I see lots of fashion designers in Lagos. She even follows some of them on Instagram.

She needs to find out the demography of people that are under serviced. And Lagos does not have enough tailors, the good ones are few

One million at a go

Start small and scale up the business as you grow.

Except she's employing stylists she doesn't need more than 2 IM she can support with electric smaller ones

'Pouring' all the money at once is not a good idea except it's the office space that's taking all the money

yomalex:
One million at a go

Start small and scale up the business as you grow.

Except she's employing stylists she doesn't need more than 2 IM she can support with electric smaller ones

'Pouring' all the money at once is not a good idea except it's the office space that's taking all the money

My brother, from the business plan we drew, that's the least she can start with.
2# Mannequin
1# industrial sewing machine
1# manual sewing machine to add to the one she has already (3 sewing machines altogether).
Rent of 200k or less.
Mirror
Show glass
generator
Fan
Shelves
Materials for stocking (zips, shiffon, thread, shoes, Ankara, etc). These are to complement the sewing. Considering sewing alone is very cheap.

Uyo. When I was done serving, I had 400K, wanted to start same business but my targets were school uniforms, when I did my market survey finish, I had to run to Lagos. And 1M is a scam. Sum1 that just finished training sef

Bluehill1051:
Uyo. When I was done serving, I had 400K, wanted to start same business but my targets were school uniforms, when I did my market survey finish, I had to run to Lagos. And 1M is a scam. Sum1 that just finished training sef

How do you mean it is a scam? Will it not be enough? What made you run? I understand every business has challenges but, I still believe people are profiting from this same business. I actually need suggestions as to how to maximize profit in this line. Because, madam is hellbent on starting this business. She has even learnt rug making to complement the business.

If she's very good, her customers can be anywhere. And they will be high-end customers. My sister started with one manual machine from the house. She made sure her finishing was perfect. Gradually she got a small shop not far from the house just for concecntration. She npw has electric machine and some other ones. Her customers are not where her shop is. Her customers are very faraway. Do a good job, the customers will come. 1m is too much. She will pay her assistant per job

Tammynator:

How do you mean it is a scam? Will it not be enough? What made you run? I understand every business has challenges but, I still believe people are profiting from this same business. I actually need suggestions as to how to maximize profit in this line. Because, madam is hellbent on starting this business. She has even learnt rug making to complement the business.

There is not enough traffic. Although I haven't been to eket, oron side, I did my survey for uyo , etinan and abak. N small into ikot ekpene through that Bishop "something" road from abak.
1m is too much for a start, else you'll end up having too many machines with little job.
When I got to Lagos I got machines from Alaba intl, tokumbo. U wouldn't even know, n they are not china.
Remember my focus is on school uniforms because that one comes in contract and I wouldn't have to wait till customer wants to sew ankara n the rest.
Here are what I bought.
Sumec firman 3000 ... 70K. Got that in Uyo, Nepa line. Aft Ekomima. Abak no get Nepa at allll n I can't stay without light. Got this even b4 I had plan for the biz.
Straight manual (2) ...50K or so
Straight industrial.. 60K
Overlock 2 needle 4 thread 1.. 70K
Overlock 2 needle 5 thread 1.. 80K
Tapping machine 2 needle 4 thread... 110K
Cutting machine... 45K.
Button hole machine (small 1, like those small monogram machine) got this at Tom jones idumota.. 35K. It's automatic o, computerized.
Even with all these machines I have handled 700pcs of job in 1 single batch n all didn't work at once.

Bluehill1051:
There is not enough traffic. Although I haven't been to eket, oron side, I did my survey for uyo , etinan and abak. N small into ikot ekpene through that Bishop "something" road from abak.
1m is too much for a start, else you'll end up having too many machines with little job.
When I got to Lagos I got machines from Alaba intl, tokumbo. U wouldn't even know, n they are not china.
Remember my focus is on school uniforms because that one comes in contract and I wouldn't have to wait till customer wants to sew ankara n the rest.
Here are what I bought.
Sumec firman 3000 ... 70K. Got that in Uyo, Nepa line. Aft Ekomima. Abak no get Nepa at allll n I can't stay without light. Got this even b4 I had plan for the biz.
Straight manual (2) ...50K or so
Straight industrial.. 60K
Overlock 2 needle 4 thread 1.. 70K
Overlock 2 needle 5 thread 1.. 80K
Tapping machine 2 needle 4 thread... 110K
Cutting machine... 45K.
Button hole machine (small 1, like those small monogram machine) got this at Tom jones idumota.. 35K. It's automatic o, computerized.
Even with all these machines I have handled 700pcs of job in 1 single batch n all didn't work at once.

With what you outlined so far, we are already over 500k. You have not added, showcase, mirror, store rent, pressing iron and cutting table. Remember, I said she will augment with some sales of materials.

Tammynator:

With what you outlined so far, we are already over 500k. You have not added, showcase, mirror, store rent, pressing iron and cutting table. Remember, I said she will augment with some sales of materials.

Does she need Tapping machine? Not all tailors do. Those that sew native won't need it. U nerf it for hemming Polo only. Same with the overlock 2 needle 4 thread. You need to know for certain what kind of tailoring she's venturing into for proper cost estimate. Those machines were what I needed for my line of tailoring. I don't do aso ebi or ankara stuffs

Tailoring business in Nigeria is arguably one of the biggest enterprise one can ever venture into, I know this because my Mother was one of the top tailors in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state at the time, I and my siblings where basically trained to the University level from the proceeds. Tailoring opens you up to different categories of people, the highly connected and otherwise.

Bluehill1051:
There is not enough traffic. Although I haven't been to eket, oron side, I did my survey for uyo , etinan and abak. N small into ikot ekpene through that Bishop "something" road from abak.
1m is too much for a start, else you'll end up having too many machines with little job.
When I got to Lagos I got machines from Alaba intl, tokumbo. U wouldn't even know, n they are not china.
Remember my focus is on school uniforms because that one comes in contract and I wouldn't have to wait till customer wants to sew ankara n the rest.
Here are what I bought.
Sumec firman 3000 ... 70K. Got that in Uyo, Nepa line. Aft Ekomima. Abak no get Nepa at allll n I can't stay without light. Got this even b4 I had plan for the biz.
Straight manual (2) ...50K or so
Straight industrial.. 60K
Overlock 2 needle 4 thread 1.. 70K
Overlock 2 needle 5 thread 1.. 80K
Tapping machine 2 needle 4 thread... 110K
Cutting machine... 45K.
Button hole machine (small 1, like those small monogram machine) got this at Tom jones idumota.. 35K. It's automatic o, computerized.
Even with all these machines I have handled 700pcs of job in 1 single batch n all didn't work at once.

A true entrepreneur. Your head dey there.

Many people think business returns depends on how much money you throw at it as a beginner. A recipe for failure. Bulk projects are the most lucrative. We did one for a client and it took us through the entire 2016 to complete. Made millions from it. We even had to bring in guys from Benin Republic to assist because the work load was too much.