Chukwubuike Nnoli: Bringing value-addition to interior decoration industry

Chukwubuike Nnoli is the chief executive of Zubnol Investment Limited, a start-up that manufactures interior decoration products and supplies them to retail stores, open markets and several outlets.
Chukwubuike’s Zubnol produces ‘throw pillows’, bed sheets, baby duvets and embroidery products. His basic business is to buy raw materials, which can be in unfinished or semi-finished forms, and turn them into finished pillows, bed sheets and duvets used in homes, offices and hospitals.
His products are basically categorised into Exclusive, Dulux and Premium. Similarly, the duvets are classified into categories A, B and C.
Based in Awka, Anambra State, Chukwubuike’s products are supplied to distributors and several outlets that, in turn, sell to final consumers.
Zubnol Investment Limited started in 2011 with N190,000 as Zubnol Ventures. The fund was used to acquire materials. Like in many start-ups, the business faced certain challenges ranging from poor market access and lack of funds. However, things changed dramatically in 2016 when the business garnered a pool of loyal customers. In February this year Zubnol Ventures transformed into Zubnol Investment Limited, after acquiring machines that would enable it to sew the pillows, bed sheets and duvets at the factory.
Interestingly, Zubnol has an office in Awka but most of the production is done at home, which serves as a mini factory.
From N190, 000, the business has now grown to about N3 million, supplying products to nine outlets located across the country.
“Our customers say a lot of good things about our products,” Chukwubuike tells Start-Up Digest.
“One of the key feedbacks we get is that our products are well designed and last long. We add a touch of class on our products,” he says.
“We are not just supplying to Enugu, Anambra, and Aba, which are all in the southeast. We also produce and supply to our customers in Lagos and Abuja,” the entrepreneur says.
According to him, Nigerians need to patronise more locally produced goods to grow the economy and create jobs.
“I am not expecting Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria products just because they want to be patriotic. The truth is that locally made products are good enough and much, much better than what we get from Asia,” he states.
Zubnol is planning to export textile and internal decoration products to the African market and redefine the interior decoration industry.
“Going into export requires some capital outlay. You will require a lot of funds. We need N10 to N20 million to acquire some more critical machines and move into a big factory. The creativity is there, the innovation is not lacking, but we need cheap and long-term funds,” Chukwubuike says.
“Our target is to satisfy the burgeoning local demand and then export to earn foreign exchange. This, with God, will happen soon,” he asserts.
“Our inputs are expensive, which is why some of the finished products are costly. However, in as much as we are making products with a touch of class, we are giving our customers what they want at affordable prices,” he states.
The Zubnol CEO says that the firm is coming up with an African brand, which will be sold across the continent.
He stresses that through the online shop, which will soon be ready, customers in Nigeria or abroad can buy Zubnol products online and have products delivered to them at stipulated time.
Chukwubuike points out that the responses he gets from customers convinces him that many Nigerians want cheaper but good products from local manufacturers and retailers.
He expects to build a N100 million business in five to ten years but believes that only God’s grace, patience, consistency in product quality and satisfaction of customers can support the dream.
As a Christian, Chukwubuike says he believes that he can do all things through Jesus Christ that strengthens him.
What advice does he have for upcoming entrepreneurs?
“We started this business with the little money which we saved during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and today, it’s growing. Any young person should just be creative. Just start something. When people find out you are creative, they can lend some help. Do not look at money first. Allow your work to speak for you,” he admonishes.
Nnoli says he will advise his younger self to keep his head cool and look unto God.
He says that the biggest mistake young entrepreneurs make today is to ignore the place of God in their business, informing them that the mistake is fatal.
“As an entrepreneur, I know the role of capacity-building, market access, funding, the Internet, perception, and market research but above all of them is the place of God. No one, no matter his or her level of intelligence, business acumen, connection and capital can open a door God shuts or shuts a door God opens,” he says.

 
ODINAKA ANUDU