Elizabeth Igbarase started working in a pharmacy store while waiting for university admission to study her desired course – nursing. When she could not get her desired course after several attempts, she switched to Pharmacology and Therapeutics. While training as an auxiliary nurse, she started off her business of importing Teddy Bear materials from China, and stuffing them up to finished products.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
In 2013, Elizabeth Igbarase started working in a pharmacy store while waiting for university admission to study her desired course – nursing. When she could not get her desired course after several attempts, she switched to Pharmacology and Therapeutics. That was in 2016, at the Delta State University, Abraka.
Advertisement
To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
In 2021, she graduated, and later trained as an auxiliary nurse. While training as an auxiliary nurse, she started off her business of importing Teddy Bear materials from China, and stuffing them up to finished products.
After her nursing training, she went in search of a job to practice her desired career – nursing, but the pay on offer wasn’t worth the stress. She decided to let go of nursing and focused on teddy bear making.
Today, Elizabeth is the chief executive officer of Teddy By Lizzie, importing her teddy bear materials from China, stuffing them into nice looking toys.
Background
Elizabeth started working immediately after her secondary school examination because she didn’t want to stay at home doing nothing, “I didn’t want to stay at home doing nothing while waiting for admission,” she said.
Her choice of course was nursing, but she couldn’t get it after writing JAMB three times. She decided to change her choice of course to Pharmacology and Therapeutics. ” I wrote JAMB three times, desiring to get admission to study nursing but I didn’t get it. In 2015, I got admission but I didn’t like the course so I took another exam, changed my course to Pharmacology. I also changed my choice of school too.”
In 2021, Elizabeth graduated with a BSc in Pharmacology and Therapeutics. She forfeited the mandatory one-year National Youth Service to pursue nursing training as an auxiliary nurse at Ola Iya Specialist and Maternity Hospital.
While being trained as a nurse, she started up her teddy bear and gift items business in 2021. “When I finished my nursing training, I went in search of a job but the salary they were offering was meagre. I said no and decided to channel the energy to my business. That was how I started my business,” she told TheNiche in an interview.
Elizabeth’s interest in teddy bear making was informed by her desire to spread love. “I love expressing love in so many ways and teddy bear was part of it…I love when kids jump up when you give them a teddy bear.
“I started this importation of teddy bears fully in the year 2021. I import directly from China. I also deal with agents and sometimes directly while I stuff them here in Nigeria to be ready for sales,” she added.
Sourcing for capital
Elizabeth recognized that sourcing for capital was a great challenge for her when she started but found a way around it by using a pre-order sales method for her customers to buy for them and also have more money to pay for other goods for her online customers, especially during Valentine seasons.
“Money was one of my greatest challenges when I started even now, but sometimes for me to achieve my aims, especially during valentine’s season, I just use my brain. I have a wholesalers’ group where they buy in large quantities but at a cheaper rate. So, I used the word ‘Pre-order’. Pre-order means they will send their order and make payment. So, I will use the money to order theirs and also purchase some I will need for my online customers,” she said.
Penetrating the market
The owner of Teddy by Lizzie said it took her six months to penetrate the market, “Penetrating the market at first was challenging but, then, I started asking people how to run adverts to grow my business on WhatsApp groups. In six months, I was able to penetrate the market, but I am still growing,” she said.
Selling Teddies in Nigeria
Elizabeth said Teddy bears weren’t too common before in Nigeria, but people are buying them now, especially students.
“When I started, I made sure I was selling quality products. Sometimes, my first timers feel that I am a scammer, but I just tell them to pay on delivery or come for physical pickup. I don’t accept payment on delivery. I have customers in USA, and other part of the world. They patronise me based on what they see and how I respond to their needs. Customer relationship is very important in business. The way you talk to them will make them buy from you, she said.
Struggling experience
Elizabeth said her bad experience while struggling to establish her brand was when she was having money issues. “It was tough for me then till I found a balance. I lost a lot of customers because I could not provide for them when they were asking for teddies. I didn’t have enough money to buy teddies,” she added.
Breakthrough in business
To Elizabeth, breakthrough for her is being proud of herself for taking a bold step into establishing her business.
“I know I have not gotten to where I am going but, honestly I don’t beg to eat or buy anything for myself. That is one thing I’m really proud of.”
Doing business in Nigeria
Elizabeth said dollar and shipping rate are two issues stressing her out in doing business in Nigeria, “Sometimes I cry but what can I do?”
Japa
Elizabeth said if she has the opportunity of traveling out, she would, but at the same time, she said if one has a business that is running smoothly and you are making money, then there is no need to japa. “Nigeria is blessed. We have money and money comes when you work towards it.”
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Igbarase who hails from Owan West Local Government area of Edo State, holds a BSc in Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Delta State University, Abraka.
She did a training in nursing as an auxiliary nurse at Ola Iya Specialist and Maternity Hospital. She did some other professional courses in health care. She is also a makeup artist. Elizabeth is based in Lagos. Elizabeth is into importation of Teddy bears and gift items. She buys the materials abroad and stuffs them here in Nigeria for sales. She is the owner of Teddy by Lizzie where elegance meets snuggles. She is also an employer of labour.
