Today we’d like to introduce you to Toju Sunmola.
Hi Toju , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my entrepreneurship journey when I was 7. I knew I loved everything design and arts, and eventually will own my business one day. I started gaining some experience at a tender age because my parents would bring me along to their businesses after school and on weekends.
At age 10, I helped my mum and dad run their businesses. I used to be a sales associate, my duties were, collecting money, chatting with the customers, rearranging the shop to look presentable, etc. I believe that these experiences have helped me later in building my own business.
My mum at the time noticed I was interested in hair making when she takes me to the hair salon, one day, she registered me for an apprenticeship program at the salon. The apprentice program made me realize that I love working with my hands and making people feel beautiful.
As I got older, I enrolled in more classes, for example, makeup, bead/jewelry making, event decoration, machine knitting, sewing, nails, and my recent trade, henna design. I couldn’t have accomplished and gained all this knowledge without the help of my mum and my husband.
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?
Obstacles and challenges are inevitable, and as a business owner, I have had some challenges along the way and there were times that I wanted to give up and close-up shop. For example, I boldly opened my nail salon during the pandemic when some were closing their doors, and for some period, I only had two(2) clients in a month, and I still had to pay bills lol, though very challenging, it gradually became better but those many difficult months has groomed and made me a better business owner.
I am still trying to build a full clientele but I am happy that I didn’t give up.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently a fashion designer and a nail technician, my interest for beauty and fashion has allowed me to create an all-inclusive platform for people of different backgrounds to engage and interact.
I also created a company that not only offer nail services and fashion design services, but also the sale of quality products and fabrics that are in high demand in the nail world and the fashion industry.
Toju’s Fashion also offers sewing classes and offer apprenticeship programs for inspiring designers.
What sets me apart from others is that I am known for my unique designs and use of colors.
My broad knowledge in fashion and design from taking numerous classes has helped me in gaining a sophisticated and deep understanding for designs, colors, shapes and art and that’s what sets me apart.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I would love to style Beyonce’s nails and wardrobe #wink lol but jokes aside.
In the near future, our goal at TOJU’s is to impact the fashion and beauty world with our innovative designs and arts. Currently, our efforts are focused within our community by making people feel beautiful, happy and confident. Because one’s appearance is the first form of communication to the outside world, at Toju’s our main priority is to empower all our clients by making them feel beautiful and untouchable.
Speaking of empowerment, every year, Toju’s beauty and fashion offers free sewing classes to kids and teenagers from ages 9- 15 years, as our way of giving back to our community and the next generation.
Contact Info:
- Email: contact.tojus@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Tojus
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toju_nails/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tojuss
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPI5IpMNJlBfK2Hp1e1LNig
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tojus-fashion-and-nail-studio-houston
- Other: www.tojuss.com
