“I started with five hundred naira feeding fees I saved at the age of seven”.
Minuel Faleti, 28,is a Shoemaker and the founder of Minuel Foot wears in Lagos. He tells our Editor,AAT about his career in this interview.
Sparklight News: Why did you jettison your University Degree for Shoe making?
Minuel Faleti: I was involved in shoemaking at an early stage, in my teenage year’s right in secondary school. So, going to university to study business administration was to understand the nitty-gritty of business, and that prompted me to study Business.
Sparklight News: Do you think Nigeria appreciate locally made shoes like yours?
Minuel Faleti: The issue is not if Nigerians appreciate locally made shoes, the point does your shoes or products match up with the International standard. Quality control, one must be able to display finesse, excellence. Nigerians will buy any product if it’s of good quality and I am a testimony to that.
Sparklight News: How were you able to get Bank of Industry support during NYSC for your shoe business?
Minuel Faleti: I was not going all out to get funding from BOI but I was recommended by NYSC. Sometimes my story sound like the lucky guy from the lucky town but to be quite honest, preparation always meet opportunity.
Sparklight News: In all honesty, how much is the entire capital you started with?
Minuel Faleti: I started with five hundred naira feeding fees I saved at the age of seven.
Sparklight News: How many people do you have under your employment now?
Minuel Faleti: I have more than a baker’s dozen. And every one of them is part and parcel of the Minuel long term goal. They follow the company’s policies and procedures. That calls for incentives and appraisal because they are the one that is helping the brand foster the goal by putting in their resilient effort.
Sparklight News: Since Start, what can you say about Minuel Faleti designs??
Minuel Faleti : We are growing, and we are learning. We have passed the test of charity stage in business; I know the maturity level calls for more hard work and tenacity. Our scope of expansion explains why we still exist and the fresh impact we are going to make in this shoe industry, not just in Nigeria or Africa but the globe at large.
Sparklight News: Have gotten any support or partnership from the government apart from BOI at the initial?
Minuel Faleti: Not any, it’s only BOI and I truly appreciate them.
Sparklight News: Any regret since you started the company?
Minuel Faleti: No regret or sort, I have grown to know the most difficult places to thrive produces the best-drilled CEOS because they have conquered every possible challenge that will never make them rise to chase their dreams. They have the mindset, skillset and the commitment to their goals. And I am proud to say every lesson we learnt during the humble beginnings and even now are part of the process.
Sparklight News: Fondest memory in this business?
Minuel Faleti: When I use to chase Celebrity to wear my shoes and I get the opportunity to offer them some pairs in exchange for pictures.
Sparklight News: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Minuel Faleti: Minuel brand in Milan
Sparklight News: General advice for Entrepreneurs?
Minuel Faleti: The entrepreneur also are risk-takers, they are opportunist, they are selfish to their wants and they starve their personal need to identify problems or gap and provide opportunities which in turn is something for something (Value in exchange for value).
If you want to be an entrepreneur, you must be a shameless fella at first. This is the first rule then others follow.