‘If it will make your neighbor happy and will earn you a decent income, then by all means go out there and do it’ – Udoka Uju
NMO: Tell us about yourself.
UJU: My name is Udoka Uju. I am The Lady Painter. Nigeria’s number one creative wall designer. I work with my team of professional painters. We paint interiors and exteriors of residential and commercial spaces and provide wall maintenance services. I am a graduate of University of Port Harcourt where I studied Economics.
NMO: What were you doing prior to starting your business?
UJU: I was a full-time banker and part-time interior designer before I became a painter. I worked with one of Nigeria’s leading banks.
NMO: How did the idea for your business surface?
UJU: Hmmmm…first I started with interior design. I used to work for a real estate firm right after my NYSC where we build and sell houses. While I was there, I developed interest in everything that had to do with architecture and design. Hence, I decided then that I wanted to be an interior designer which I continued as a part-time job even after I joined the bank. Being an interior designer, I had to subcontract the paint jobs to some painters, but I wanted more than I was offering my clients and I couldn’t get it from the painters I was using so I decided to do it myself. That’s how I became a painter.
NMO: Tell us more about The Lady Painter.
UJU: The Lady Painter is a registered trademark of Olympas Home Studio Ltd (that’s my interior design company) and has its head office based in Lagos, Nigeria. The Lady Painter is made up of a team of professional painters (male and female) that have years of experience in providing unequaled painting services. We offer different kinds of painting services: decorative & faux finishes, wall maintenance, wallpaper installation & removal etc..
NMO: How do you go about marketing your business/brand?
UJU: I dress like a painter (laughs). When I step out of my house to work, I wear my paint-stained branded t-shirt, stained boots and pants. That’s one way I advertise my business. When people see me in my getup, they take a second look which arouses their curiosity and that gives me the opportunity to tell them about my business. Also, I make sure my business is very active on all the major social media platforms (this has helped me a lot).
NMO: What were your goals when you started?
UJU: Funny, the goal I had when I started was just to paint homes beautifully (laughs). I didn’t really have a big picture. But right now it is way bigger than I thought. Now the goal is to have Lady Painters all over Nigeria transforming homes and lives with colours.
NMO: What were the challenges you faced?
UJU: The challenge of being a woman in a male dominated field amongst others.
NMO: Do you still face any challenges? Competition?
UJU: Yes of course, I still face different challenges but I always get past them as they come and my business is doing great. As for competitors, there are a lot of them out there especially male painters. So, I am still working on getting Nigerians to trust women with painting their homes/offices as good as the men.
NMO: Where do you see “The Lady Painter” in the long term?
UJU: In the next couple of years, I plan to expand the business to have more Lady Painters. I see a good number of women trained to be professional painters. I plan to operate nationwide, so we would be able to transform homes all over Nigeria.
NMO: Tell us about the “Grab a brush, Colour a Life” initiative?
UJU: As part of my desire to give back to the society and really inspire lives, I decided to embark on a community service project themed ‘Grab a brush, Colour a Life’. The project involves beautifying a poorly kept school or location in any local community. The maiden project took place on October 1st, 2016 (Nigeria’s Independence Day) at Araromi Primary School, 50/52, Araromi Street, Mushin, Lagos.
NMO: Who benefited from your first project?
UJU: The students of Araromi Primary school. They resumed classes after the Independence holiday to a colorful school environment.
NMO: Please give us a brief summary of how you went about your first project.
UJU: The project was quite challenging. Three months before that day I never thought I would be organizing such. It seemed easy at first, but when I decided to write down all the plans, I became scared. I put up the e-fliers on Facebook and Twitter requesting for volunteer artists. People indicated interest and then I sent out another e-flier even to my WhatsApp contacts. My friends and family all supported even volunteers that I didn’t know. World Travel Shop Ltd also supported. That day was amazing, everyone had fun and people that couldn’t make it are still asking when the next project is. It has had a ripple effect in people’s lives and that’s the result I was hoping to get.
NMO: What ways can individuals and organizations partner with you or support this initiative?
UJU: Right now ‘Grab a brush, Colour a life’ is structured so that individuals and organizations can call The Lady Painter anytime for partnership and together we can colour more lives.
NMO: How many hours do you work a day on average?
UJU: On the average I work ten hours a day, and when am not out, I work on my laptop all day.
NMO: Describe your typical day?
UJU: I wake up and pack my painting tools and am off to a site or to buy materials or to check out a new project.
NMO: Do you have any hobbies?
UJU: Yes, I love to dance. I used to wish I was a dancer (laughs).
NMO: How has being an entrepreneur affected your life outside work?
UJU: Not so much. I still find time to go out with friends and visit family. But at this stage in the business I can’t make long trips.
NMO: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
UJU: For me its communication (with clients and employees), branding and sales. These are key skills.
NMO: What have been some failures you experienced, and what have you learned from them?
UJU: Erm…I have had a lot to learn since I started the business. Some have had to do with poor accounting. Now I have learned to keep my books updated all the time.
NMO: What was the best advice you received when you started?
UJU: A friend told me that the road will definitely bumpy, but I should keep my head up no matter what and have a positive mind. That’s exactly what I do.
NMO: What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
UJU: Whatever makes you happy, whatever gives you satisfaction, if it will make you a better person, if it will make your neighbor (in this case your customer) happy and if it will earn you a decent income, then by all means go out there and do it!
The Lady Painter can be reached via:
Phone: 08063275102, 07063453470
Email: info@theladypainterng.com
Twitter: @LadyPainterNG
Facebook: The Lady Painter