CEO of Lady Cobbler& Company Nigeria Limited, Tosin Dekalu, speaks on her passion for entrepreneurship
What has sustained your brand thus far?
I have been running The Lady Cobbler,
for a little over a decade but the brand has existed for over 35 years. I
can boldly tell you that my passion for the job has kept me focused.
I’m also motivated by the positive feedback that we have been receiving
and the fact that we have customers who have been with us for over two
decades.
for a little over a decade but the brand has existed for over 35 years. I
can boldly tell you that my passion for the job has kept me focused.
I’m also motivated by the positive feedback that we have been receiving
and the fact that we have customers who have been with us for over two
decades.
Not a few are aware that your mum handed over the business to you. Can you throw light on this?
My mother actually closed down the
business in 2000 and this was because at that time, none of her children
lived in Nigeria. My siblings and I lived abroad and my mum didn’t
think any of us was ever going to return to Nigeria. I was the first of
my siblings to relocate to Nigeria and when I did, I wasn’t involved in
the business. This was because I worked in the banking,
telecommunications and oil and gas sectors at different times. Having
garnered some valuable work experience, I embarked on a one-year hiatus
to reflect on the next phase. It turned out to be Lady Cobbler.
business in 2000 and this was because at that time, none of her children
lived in Nigeria. My siblings and I lived abroad and my mum didn’t
think any of us was ever going to return to Nigeria. I was the first of
my siblings to relocate to Nigeria and when I did, I wasn’t involved in
the business. This was because I worked in the banking,
telecommunications and oil and gas sectors at different times. Having
garnered some valuable work experience, I embarked on a one-year hiatus
to reflect on the next phase. It turned out to be Lady Cobbler.
At what point did you decide to make the switch to Lady Cobbler?
As the youngest child of my parents, I
was already somewhat knowledgeable about the business. Although I
studied Law at University of Westminster, I already knew so much about
shoe repairs. I played with materials at the store before I turned six
and they became a part and parcel of my life. When I took over the
business, I refurbished the machines and engaged the services of some of
the cobblers who had worked with my mum in the past. Because they knew
me since I was a child, they put me through and in 2006, we were open
for business.
was already somewhat knowledgeable about the business. Although I
studied Law at University of Westminster, I already knew so much about
shoe repairs. I played with materials at the store before I turned six
and they became a part and parcel of my life. When I took over the
business, I refurbished the machines and engaged the services of some of
the cobblers who had worked with my mum in the past. Because they knew
me since I was a child, they put me through and in 2006, we were open
for business.
Was transiting from paid employment to becoming an entrepreneur easy?
It was an easy switch. In hindsight, I
am glad I had garnered valuable work experience. I feel like I was born
to do what I currently do. I have also learnt a lot on the job and
working with my brand comes naturally to me. Although we render a
necessary service, it’s quite thankless.But, I think it is unfair to say
so, because we do have customers that appreciate what we do. So far, I
have no regrets.
am glad I had garnered valuable work experience. I feel like I was born
to do what I currently do. I have also learnt a lot on the job and
working with my brand comes naturally to me. Although we render a
necessary service, it’s quite thankless.But, I think it is unfair to say
so, because we do have customers that appreciate what we do. So far, I
have no regrets.
How do you find working in a male-dominated industry?
I attended a cocktail party recently and
a guest asked what I did for a living. As soon as I told him, I was a
lady cobbler; he asked to look at my hands because he found it difficult
to believe that I was being serious. When people complain about their
shoes. I tell them that we can do a size reduction or make it bigger if
it’s too tight. If they say that the heel is too high, I inform them
that I can reduce the heel. They find it hard to believe that we are
able to do all that I have listed. We do have the machinery, and
experienced staff; some of them have between 20 to 30 years experience.
a guest asked what I did for a living. As soon as I told him, I was a
lady cobbler; he asked to look at my hands because he found it difficult
to believe that I was being serious. When people complain about their
shoes. I tell them that we can do a size reduction or make it bigger if
it’s too tight. If they say that the heel is too high, I inform them
that I can reduce the heel. They find it hard to believe that we are
able to do all that I have listed. We do have the machinery, and
experienced staff; some of them have between 20 to 30 years experience.
Aside from overseeing the business, how involved are you. Do you also repair shoes?
I do shoe expansions. My mum taught me
that my staff can hold me to ransom when they realise that I know close
to nothing about the business. To earn the regard of your workers, they
need to know that you know your business. When I can’t carry out the
repair myself, I can instruct my workers accordingly. For example, with
regards to heel recovery, (this becomes necessary when a heel becomes
trapped and damaged in interlocking stones, and has to be wrapped.), if
you don’t put the heels in the heater and allow the trapped air bubbles
to get out before you wrap it, you won’t get a smooth finish. This is
one of the many tricks I have had to teach my cobblers.
that my staff can hold me to ransom when they realise that I know close
to nothing about the business. To earn the regard of your workers, they
need to know that you know your business. When I can’t carry out the
repair myself, I can instruct my workers accordingly. For example, with
regards to heel recovery, (this becomes necessary when a heel becomes
trapped and damaged in interlocking stones, and has to be wrapped.), if
you don’t put the heels in the heater and allow the trapped air bubbles
to get out before you wrap it, you won’t get a smooth finish. This is
one of the many tricks I have had to teach my cobblers.
How do you handle competition?
Competition is healthy and good for
business because it keeps us on our toes. I know we are offering a good
service and one of the best in town. I know my cobblers will do their
best and we will go as far as we can to satisfy our customers.
business because it keeps us on our toes. I know we are offering a good
service and one of the best in town. I know my cobblers will do their
best and we will go as far as we can to satisfy our customers.
What is your most memorable moment on the job?
My most memorable moment on the job was
when an international airline engaged our services as official repairer
for their luggage. It literally fell on our laps because we didn’t lobby
for it. We later realised that an old customer of ours who didn’t live
in Nigeria any longer recommended our services. We now have two stores
on the Island and another on the mainland.
when an international airline engaged our services as official repairer
for their luggage. It literally fell on our laps because we didn’t lobby
for it. We later realised that an old customer of ours who didn’t live
in Nigeria any longer recommended our services. We now have two stores
on the Island and another on the mainland.
How do you unwind?
I like to go on holidays a lot, read and spend quality time with family and friends.
How do you keep fit?
I go walking every morning on the
Ikoyi-Lekki Bridge. My brother is a fitness trainer/physiotherapist, so
he helps me out with my fitness regimen.
Ikoyi-Lekki Bridge. My brother is a fitness trainer/physiotherapist, so
he helps me out with my fitness regimen.
Do you love fashion?
I love shoes and bags; I think I got
that from my mum. I love classic pieces and I don’t follow fashion
blindly. My first bag was a Hermes, which was passed on to me by my mum.
The bag was much older than me and I was still able to use it because
it’s a classic piece. Trends come and go but classic pieces are
timeless. I can’t always afford classic pieces because I’m not wealthy.
But,when I save enough money to buy something, I look out for timeless
fashion pieces.
that from my mum. I love classic pieces and I don’t follow fashion
blindly. My first bag was a Hermes, which was passed on to me by my mum.
The bag was much older than me and I was still able to use it because
it’s a classic piece. Trends come and go but classic pieces are
timeless. I can’t always afford classic pieces because I’m not wealthy.
But,when I save enough money to buy something, I look out for timeless
fashion pieces.