Today we’d like to introduce you to Olamide Giwa.
Hi Olamide, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to the United States when I was 18 years old. I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston. After many attempts, I finally landed a job in my field 2 years after graduating from college. But I was unhappy working as a Chemical Engineer. Even though I hated it, I did not have the courage to go against the grain and switch jobs or careers.
Then, an unfortunate event happened in my life that forced me out of the workforce for a while. This was the universe kicking me to get off my butt, I suppose, because, although I was unhappy about the unfortunate event, I was elated to be out of my Engineering job.
Since I was unable to work and had some free time in my hands, I started exploring other interests like Interior design and real estate. I did a lot of free work for people I met while networking, one of which was for a member of the Real Estate Investor group I had joined. I assisted the person to design and set up one of her properties for Airbnb. That was my first introduction to the short-term rental business.
I didn’t explore the business further until 2 years later when my husband and I were looking for a way to make a few extra bucks on the side. So, we took a small loan in 2021, a time when securing a loan was fairly easy due to the Covid 19 lock down economic crisis. We used the loan to set up our first short-term rental in June of 2021. We then set up a second location 2 months after.
Everything was going well until the HOA shut down one of our rentals in only 5 months of operations. We lost all our investments. After many more ups and downs, I fell in love with the hospitality business and became good at it, too. Something about providing a comfortable and remarkable experience for someone after their long, stressful travels brings me instant gratification. My space being the source of someone’s tranquil brings me a lot of joy.
So, we decided to turn what started off as just a side hustle to make a few extra bucks into a full vacation rental business that is Snooze Lane today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
18-year-old me would be shocked of what I turned out to be. I was supposed to come to the United States to study medicine but graduated with Chemical Engineering instead. Then, I was supposed to find a job right after college, but it took me 2 years to land one, and I still end up hating it. It has been challenging to say the least, but I believe every struggle was the training I needed to become who I am today. I still face struggles today, especially with the business, but now I see these challenges as lessons and not a curse.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Snooze Lane is a luxury vacation rental in Houston, Texas. We have 7 units total with 2 more on the way in the third quarter of 2024. They are brand new buildings, only a few months old, and professionally designed for maximum comfort and luxury experience. These units are all located in the same small, gated community in the Houston border of Stafford, Missouri, and the Sugar Land area. We provide a quiet oasis in the busy and bustling City of Houston.
What sets us apart is our 5-star hotel but homey experience you get when you stay at Snooze Lane. We are most proud of our excellent customer service that leaves guests feeling like the VIPs that they are. Everyone is important to someone; our guests are very important to us. Their comfort is our priority.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Traveling with my parents and siblings. I enjoyed all our chats during the long flights and trips. It was the period when we had our parents’ undivided attention. I cherish those moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.snoozelane.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesnoozelane/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesnoozelane
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SnoozeLane
