Exclusive Interview with C.E.O of FOOTROCK Collection,  A professional Leather Work expert and trainer.

This interview was conducted by Batch C, Stream 2, Corps members of CREATIVE WRITING SAED sector, at NYSC Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Kwara State.


CAN WE MEET YOU SIR?

My name is Ojo Oluwatosin Opeyemi, C.E.O, FOOTROCK Collection, I am a specialist in leather works, I make bags, belts, sandal and palm slippers for sale and souvenir, I also train intrested graduates and undergraduate in leather works

HOW DID YOU VENTURE INTO LEATHER WORKS?
I ventureded into this business while in my undergraduate days, 100 level precisely, during the ASUU strike at that time, I was idle and had to keep my self busy I also needed to make a legitmate and reasonable income for myself, this was how I learnt leather work and started making sandals for friends till it turned into a full fledged business, eventually, I birthed footrock collections

WHAT ARE THE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF THIS BUSINESS

The Merits are numerous and demerits are minimal, I say this because if you have interest in what you are doing,  you will see no demerits.  The only demerit would be your competitors because you will look out for them so they don't overtake or do more than what you manufacture, that's it.  So, in anything you are interested in, you will see no demerit in it

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR AN APPRENTICE TO LEARN LEATHER WORK?

First and foremost you will need to have interest in what you do then your interest will now metamorphous into your level of assimilation because if you don't have interest  and you venture into it, at the end of the day you will get tired of it and leave, but when you are interested you can get the nitty gritty within a twinkle of an eye because you would focus and give in your all, maximum of 6 months an apprentice should understand this work.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN GETTING MATERIALS AND ALSO SELLING?

The challenges are, increment in the price of materials and this is due to proximity. For example, you get all materials needed at a minimal cost but I'm here in illorin, so transportation and their profit is always factored into price which makes it exorbitant to buy.
    For the selling,  thank God we have the learned and the illetrates. As a learned person it differentiates your work and also add more packaging.  Also, thank God for internet and social media, I sell most of my goods from my Instagram and Facebook pages.  I have people who promote my market there on a daily basis and also manage my social media accounts and from there they get some little change for their pockets, that's one of the things that motivates them to work more and harder.

HOW PROFITABLE IS THIS BUSINESS

This business is good and intrest is all that matters.The business usually don't yield profit in the beginning like any other business, but, it would provide you a steady stream of income. When you sell on a daily basis that's how you make your income its not a business that if you sell a piece, you make 500 or 600  thousand  Naira but when you sell, a 2000 to 3000 naira gain is guaranteed and you are able to save from it, that's when you realise you are making progress and profit from this work.

SIR CAN BOTH SEX LEARN THIS WORK?

Of course, We all are human beings

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO YOUTHS MANY WHO ARE JOBLESS.

My advice for youths is that, try as much as possible to have a skill because I do tell my students that we have two "S" to acquire in life which are SCHOOL and SKILLS but in most cases SKILLS supersede SCHOOL, your school would be the spice to your white rice (skills)  to make it jollof rice. School, teaches you how to package yourself and products better than those who didn't have the opportunity to go to school. From a single leather,  I can make bags, shoes, slippers and I advise all youths to learn a vocation, even though you wouldn't go commercial easily, learn it, Not all of us can have white collar jobs but you can acquire a skill that would make you independent. Personally I've had many job offers but I didn't take it because I derive joy from what I'm doing.

AS PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS, HOW CAN WE REACH YOU?

For those willing to learn and buy, my office is located at NYSC Secretariat, Ilorin, GRA, opposite Royals eatry, beside police head quarters. My Facebook page is FOOTROCK  COLLECTION and my Instagram handle is FREEMANOTTI1. The name was coined from my nick name "FREEMAN" and the famous ZANOTTI brand.

TO TRAIN AND ORDER?

Call Mr Oluwatosin Ojo 07033670702