From University to Hustling Diva

This T-shirt brings back memories. I was doing some cleaning and saw this rumpled Tee, squeezed behind the bookshelf.

I recognized it at once!

My name is Precious Chidubem Enebeli and this is my story.

How it all started; the journey to being a hustler for survival. From graduation, to national youth service and finally to entrepreneurship.

It was the very first T-shirt from my supplier.

Late 2016, I had taken my younger and only brother, Ebuka to my friend’s shop on the Island to get some T-shirts because he had just got admitted to the university.

We got some t-shirts, jeans and other things.

This T-shirt was among them, but after paying for the ones my brother picked, my friend had asked me to pick any T-shirt of my choice, for free.

I picked this one because of it’s uniqueness.

A 2- shade dull yellow coloured tee, with ‘beach’ inscribed on it.

Since it was almost Christmas, a period of many get togethers and outings, I had imagined I’ll wear it to the beach.

2017, NYSC, allowee N18,500 🙄🙄wetin that one do?

Before I continue, I should state here that I have ALWAYS been business minded.
During my university days, I sold bags, shoes, jewelry, okrika clothes, makeup etc.

I was a marketer extraordinairé at Elmada Hostel, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

In 2016 after university, that pressure to have something doing came and a dear friend, Ik introduced me to his sister Maggie who at the time was a jagaban in online marketing.

Prior to that, I didn’t know that people sell online sef.

Maggie took her time to lecture me; I soon joined her in drop shipping shoes.

I would go to Balogun market, take pictures of shoes and advertise on my page, Pregina-collections.
When people place an order, I’ll go and plead with the owner of the shoe to allow me go and sell before returning the money.

I soon made friends with some sellers in the market; they indulged me.

Kai! it was very stressful oo, sometimes you would go to the market after taking an order and find out that the particular shoe is out of stock or that the size of your customer is no longer available.
Very stressful times mehn!

But, I made good money and was able to buy myself a Techno phone, one of the L series back then.
Soon, I started adding watches, hand-made shoes for men etc., until my call up letter for NYSC came in 2017.

I was posted to Akwanga, Nasarawa state.

At first ehn, I was distraught because all my friends were posted to cool places such as Anambra, Imo, Delta, Lagos and Abuja. Only me naim dem throw for inside bush.

My service year, however, turned out to be the best one year of my life sha; story for another day.

So, after my first allowee, I realised that, ‘e go hard oo’.

I have always been a hustler for the better part of my life so, money dey almost always dey my hand.

N19,800 come be wetin?

I remembered my friend that sells T-shirts when I came back to Lagos for Xmas break. We discussed and he gave me about 30 pieces of T-shirts on credit, with the promise that as soon as I finish selling, I’ll send his money. God bless him.

I returned to Akwanga and that was how my mini T-shirt business started.

Less than two weeks, I had sold almost all 30, sent his money and placed an order for more. E shock me oo.

He waybilled double the first time.

I started taking my T-shirts everywhere; CDS, PPA, church, EVERYWHERE!

I told everyone that cared to listen to come and buy
T-shirts oo.

That was how I sold T-shirts and made extra money and lived fine during NYSC oo.

Late 2018, I was done with NYSC, came back to Lagos, submitted more than 300 applications, but only marketers called back.

Finally, through a cousin I got a job at Victoria Island as a secretary, where I earned 30k monthly.
My boss was/is one of the best people to work with; he paid my transport fare sometimes, bought me food, etc, but distance! Heck! I was going from Olodi Apapa to VI with 30k, sometimes, two weeks in, my salary don finish and I’ll borrow from my mum.

Three months in, I decided the stress was too much because there was no day I got home earlier than 9pm.

The last month before I resigned though, I started thinking about my T-shirt business again. The one that saw me through service.

I contacted my friend again, and just like he did in 2017, one morning, on my way to VI, I stopped at CMS and went to his shop. He gave me 40 pieces of T-shirts; I took them to work, and by evening, I had sold 25.

Wow!

Him too eh, e shock am, I gave him the ones I didn’t sell, and money for the ones I sold.

That was how I continued oo. Going from office to office during my break time and when there was no work to do, till it made my resolve to quit stronger!

I started selling T-shirts fully around 2019. So since then till now, na the matter we dey oo, getting stronger and bigger!!

I named my brand; 2ktshirtsnaija because I thought it was something I’d do for the time being to just get by. But, it’s getting so big that I am thinking of rebranding.

A business I began just to make ends meet is now something I am passionate about. Since I started in 2019, I have sold close to 5000 pieces of T-shirts online. I have since added polos, shirts and shorts to the mix.

It’s not aways been smooth, but I enjoy what I do and I do it so enthusiastically.

In the weeks, and maybe years to come, I shall relay most of my strides here because I document most of my journey; the good, the not-so-good.

Soon, I’ll look at this post and really smile. I am constantly paying my dues, e go pay me back soonest! Amen.

Indeed, by my calculations, the tshirt my sister is wearing in the photos attached is 4years old😋😋😋

Also, my friend, the one that came through for me with T-shirts on credit back then, is still my supplier till date. When I go to ‘carry’ my goods, his neighbours try to lure me to come buy from them but I’ll just smile and wakapass because in my mind, ‘can you do what ‘dgstsmmms’ did/is doing for me’?

The journey has only just started…