They say hunger inspires creativity, well I support the motion because if not for the hunger that wired me ehn, I wouldn’t have gotten up and started my business.
Let me just give myself the credit because I am brilliant! I run a pet care business, basically a daycare for pets. I know you’re like “in Naija”? Well yes! So many people have pets in Nigeria, so many have to work, travel, go out, etc. And they can’t take their pets along with them so, that’s where I come in.
When I first got the idea for this business my friends laughed, I got so many nay-Sayers and a lot of “big boy like you”? toh! Big boy wey no get money.
To be honest, I was actually doing this business for free at first, my neighbor would come to my house and ask me to please look after his pet because he had to go to work, Afterall I no dey go anywhere, I no get work and I personally liked this neighbor of mine, very important information. I always did it willingly until one day I jokingly asked my neighbor for pay and surprisingly he paid me.
After that day I began to think about it, I could actually make this a legit business, so I started to research it; checked out pet grooming pages, learned about different breeds of dogs and animals. The second step I took was creating an Instagram page, a logo, and a contact card, I only still had my neighbor as my only customer but I was content and hopeful.
I got a lot of inspiration from this Canadian page on Instagram. They had dog toys, dog food, and games, etc. I knew those were going to be mighty expensive but again I was hopeful. My neighbor got me, two other customers, I was so excited, A Pitbull and a cat; honestly, this job had turned me into a veterinarian. I was studying animals and stuff, me that read English, hmm Naija my country, anyway na me dey find the money. My other customer got me two other people and before you know it, I was taking care of 5 pets in total.
Something miraculous happened as well, a pet in my care got pregnant and the owner was kind enough to give me some puppies which I then sold and got enough money to get a small place solely for my babies.
I say babies because I was getting attached to these pets, I got pet equipment and facilities, I even hired an extra hand because these little ones could cause a ruckus, and let’s not talk about the poop.
I later expanded the business to a fool pet care service: veterinary services, grooming, care, learning, and even entertainment for animals. Hired staff; a vet doctor, groomer, and trainer. The growth was surprising even to me.
I’m currently the number one pet care service in Lagos and it feels great.
Basically, people, if you put your mind to something you can definitely achieve it. Sounds like all these perspire to aspire talk but it’s true.
