Rasheed Haruna is a phone engineer, and the founder of Whyte Gadget Business Enterprise. He talks to MOTUNRAYO AKINRUN about his business
What is your educational background?
I have a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Lagos State Polytechnic (now Lagos State University of Science and Technology).
How did you start your journey as an entrepreneur?
I started in 2012 as a desktop/computer hardware engineer, and in 2013, I started learning phone engineering.
What inspired you to focus on selling and repairing gadgets?
After I completed my apprenticeship in 2015, I gained admission into LASPOTECH, and that was when I started my business as a phone engineer, and an entrepreneur selling phones. I used to fix different types of phones, but as time went on, I concentrated on the sales and repair of iPhones.
Is your company duly registered?
Yes, I registered the company with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2020, when I had my first shop.
What strategies do you employ to manage and grow your business effectively?
I interact with the people around me; from my school to my neighborhood. Since I gained admission in 2015, I moved from my former residence to Ikorodu, close to LASPOTECH’s main campus. It is a student area, and I love physical interactions with my customers, who are youths like me.
How do you advertise your business?
I do little of digital/online promotion of my business. I mostly get referrals from other customers.
What challenges have you faced in the course of running the business, and how did you overcome them?
There have been many challenges, especially when I was combining schooling with managing the business. Also, Ikorodu, where my business is located, is a rough area, where one has to deal with different kinds of people. One has to be strong mentally, emotionally, physically and financially to survive there.
However, I have always been transparent in my dealings, and that has made my customers to trust me.
What kind of support did you receive from your family and friends when you started the business?
I got so much support from my parents, and even my lecturers. They stood by me, and made me believe in myself.
How do you deal with difficult customers?
I always pray to God to give me simple and understanding customers. I believe God has answered that prayer, because I have not really been dealing with difficult customers.
How do you handle stress?
I usually work from 8am to 7pm. Any time after that, I make sure I rest well. On Sundays, after church service, I usually go out with my brothers and fiancé to somewhere nice to unwind.
What is your greatest fear and how do you manage it?
The only fear I have is death. If I lose money, I believe that I can always make it back. And, if I lose any of my offices, I can always build it back. But, death is final.
What has been your greatest inspiration?
I derive pleasure in working. I have always dreamt of being great and unique.
Also, I am constantly motivated to treat people well, and be a good example to others in society.
Nigeria is currently experiencing huge brain drain, with many professionals travelling out of the country to seek greener pastures. What do you think about that, vis-a-vis staying in the country and running a business?
As far as I’m concerned, Nigeria is actually one of the best places to be an entrepreneur. Nigeria is a great country where one can survive, even if one has nothing. We just need our government to do better. I would not say moving out of the country is a good or bad idea. It boils down to what individuals want with their lives.
What are your long-term goals for your business, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Since the inception of the business in 2020, we have opened five stores, and we are still hoping to have more. I lost one of the stores to a fire accident. But, we hope to do more as time goes on.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs, who are interested in having a similar business?
They should believe in God and themselves. They should be prayerful, have the fear of God, be transparent, and work hard. Also, their inner beauty should be able to project the beauty of their products.
Above all, they should constantly work towards achieving their goals and be focused.
