BYOB: Build Your Own Business
In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Hachi speaks with Solomon Akinsanya, founder of Boho, one of Nigeria’s coolest young furniture brands making stylish, functional designs affordable. Solomon never imagined himself as an entrepreneur. He started out as a marketing professional and stumbled into furniture after working at a furniture company. With his eye for design and marketing know-how, he launched Boho in 2023 and quickly built a brand that resonates with customers searching for “Pinterest-worthy” furniture made locally. From sketching his first table on paper, to building prototypes in his apartment, to handling the unpredictable schedules of artisans, Solomon shares the gritty reality of building a furniture business from scratch and how Boho has become a trusted brand in just two years. You’ll learn: * How Solomon used his marketing background to build a furniture company * Why his first product — the “Tobi Table” — made an impact * The challenges of working with artisans and lessons learned * Why paying artisans per product instead of a salary changed everything * How Boho gained customer trust through reviews and referrals * The role of social media and marketing in scaling quickly * Why Solomon sees Boho’s future as a marketplace for empowering artisans ⏱ Timestamps 03:21 – From 9–5 marketing to starting Boho 07:54 – Designing the first Tobi Table 12:17 – Getting the first real customer 15:39 – Building prototypes in his apartment 21:12 – Challenges of working with artisans 25:18 – Why paying artisans per product works better than salaries 30:47 – How customer referrals fueled growth 36:55 – Marketing strategies that built Boho’s brand 42:01 – Lessons learned and what’s next for Boho 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Boho on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boho.studio.ng/ [https://www.instagram.com/boho.studio.ng/] Website: boho.ng [https://boho.ng/] Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp [https://bit.ly/ozesp] Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/zNtAbSKg2Vb [https://oze.app.link/zNtAbSKg2Vb] Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs [https://bit.ly/spobs] 👉 If you’ve ever wondered how marketing skills can turn into a real business, this episode shows how one idea grew into one of Nigeria’s coolest furniture brands. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.
7 episodes
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