Elizabeth Ayo Olaogun popularly known as Ayo Van Elmar, is a millennial lady boss who is breaking boundaries in the world of creative entrepreneurship. I speak to her about the art of running a thriving business like hers and she shared some solid advice based on her experience running Ayo Van Elmar fashion café, her entrepreneurship hustle as a fashion designer, and in general, succesfully monetizing one’s passion(s).
I sure did learn a lot from her and I hope you will too!
If you have ever visited Ayo Van Elmar fashion cafe, you will admit that it’s quite an eclectic and unique experience you’ve had.
As a trained nutritionist who is also a fashion designer, Ayo wanted to offer fashion, art and a healthy option for snacking. And this birthed the cafe. With her knock-out smoothies, carrot cakes, and other yummy treats, the cafe offers a unique space where patrons can eat and relax while shopping: Something we ladies would surely appreciate.
The tri-lingual, versatile woman (she speaks German, English and Yoruba fluently) is such a bundle of joy and character which she expresses in her designs and art works.
Her cafe is located in one of Nigeria’s premium 5 star hotels, Oriental Hotel. It houses clothing lines worn by the city’s popular celebrities, as well as fashion-forward individuals.
She was based in Vienna, Austria – one of the most beautiful cities in the world – before she moved to Lagos, which let’s face it, isn’t as developed as Vienna. With basic necessities such as electricity and WiFi still a luxury in this part of the world, many would wonder why she made that move. She mentions her decision was made, so she could have creative freedom.
“The average Nigerian’s love for colour and creativity is freeing and liberating. It’s not the same in other parts of the world. I love having creative freedom!”
Here are Ayo’s tips to having a thriving business:
If you are not passionate about it, don’t do it
‘Money will come’, Ayo says. She believes in doing it first for the passion before the money. Passion she describes, has to be deeply rooted.
‘If you do it for money, you’re going to close shop’.
Rejuvenate
Ayo goes back to Vienna at least three times a year. It is there she gets inspiration and has an opportunity to visit family. Within Nigeria, she goes to the beach to hibernate and gather fresh sources of inspiration. Rejuvenation, she mentions, is necessary if you are to keep your batteries in good shape.
Hard work means little or no sleep
“I’ve learnt that sometimes, many times, I’ll come last”. That’s simply how entrepreneurship works.
Consistency
Ayo who has been a working fashion designer for 6 years, spoke on how much of a growth journey the process had been all along for her. As a name that has only become familiar to many this year, she says it has been a roller coaster ride but she stayed consistent through it all and learnt to enjoy the journey.
Certainty
You have to be absolutely sure that this is what you want to do or it won’t work out, she says. It gets incredibly daunting and as a result, there are several times when any sane person would want to give up. It is in those critical times that the extraordinary entrepreneur is defined.
Have the right values
Ayo could easily have elected to produce in countries like Bangladesh and China where the labour would be cheaper, and where workers are often exploited. However, this goes against her personal code of ethics.
She also mentions having an understanding of who her employees are, where they live, how much their rent is… taking a real interest in the people that make up the core of her business. This, she mentioned has also been a winning factor.
