Today we’d like to introduce you to Ogechi Agu.
Hi Ogechi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a Nigerian American born and raised right here in Houston, Texas. I am a proud daughter of two immigrant parents that have instilled the beautiful Nigerian culture in me since I was a child. Being from such a vibrant and unique country, I grew up watching my mother dress in elaborate prints, colors, and patterns from her headtie down to her handbags. Thus, my love for fashion began! AMAKA was created from an idea that I had to curate a collection of culturally inspired handbags & accessories that were affordable. Today, AMAKA is one of the fastest-growing online handbag retailers, providing thousands of consumers access to affordable luxury items daily.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have certainly been many challenges since starting AMAKA. One in particular was having to navigate marketing handbags & accessories to our consumers during the pandemic. Many of our consumers were experiencing difficulties during that period, and purchasing luxury items was the last thing on their minds. We had to get really creative using our social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram to remain relevant. Thankfully, we were able to come out of that challenging time period successfully. We even gained thousands of new loyal followers that we now call our “AMAKA Babes”!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about AMAKA?
AMAKA is a black woman-owned business that is thriving! We have participated with local merchants to host pop-up shops year round. We continue to partner with up-and-comping business owners and creatives of color in the Houston area to bring AMAKA’s ideas to life. Through collaboration, we hope to expand into local boutiques in the coming year. This would give people an opportunity to shop AMAKA in person.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
At AMAKA, we prioritize consistently providing an excellent shopping experience. By consistently sourcing quality vegan-leather materials, providing an elevated online shopping experience, and ensuring fast shipping, AMAKA has built a trust with consumers that has made this business one of the fastest growing online handbag retailers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopamaka.co
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shopamaka
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopamaka
