Holayde's Gallery: Delightful Fragrance Made in Nigeria, Loved Globally

Holayde's Gallery, a Lagos-based business creating a sensory experience through beautifully scented candles, perfume oils, diffusers, and home sprays, is a testament to the power of passion and dedication. In this edition of Keep Going with Zest, we meet the founder, Olaide Isijola, and learn about her journey from a dream sparked by a love for good smells to a thriving business with a global reach.

"I really wanted to make people smell good," said Olaide, describing the inspiration behind the business. It all began three years ago with a simple desire for captivating fragrances. Starting small, she bootstrapped her business with an initial investment of around 20,000 Naira, relying on the trust and support of friends and colleagues who believed in her vision.

Olaide's passion for her business and what it hopes to achieve shines through in her interactions with customers. "Each time I go to my customers, and they tell me, God, your perfumes smell so nice. Please make sure you don't, you don't mix your products. It gives me so much joy," she said, describing the fulfilment that comes from creating products that are not only functional but also evoke positive emotions.

According to Olaide, there are three key ingredients in her recipe for success: consistent product quality, domestic production, and exceptional customer service. "We don't produce anything outside the country,” she said. This commitment to quality ensures that Holayde's Gallery offers unique and dependable products that resonate with customers.

However, Olaide believes that truly excellent products are only half the battle. "One of the things that also helped me in this journey is prioritizing exceptional customer service because I realized that if you're consistent with your products you will have customers that will stick with you.” Olaide ensures that every interaction leaves a lasting positive impression. "You should leave people with an experience anytime they want to buy a product from you. It should be a lasting experience–people don't forget how you make them feel," she emphasised. This dedication to building relationships and fostering a sense of community around her brand is a core part of Holayde's Gallery’s success story.

The desire to sell online, reach more customers and digitize business operations even down to logistics was the driving force for Hoalyde's Gallery to partner with Zest. Other concerns were that of space and the amount of time taken to run the business. With Zest, Holaydes Gallery has been able to increase sales and extend sales beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Currently, the business is flourishing, with a loyal customer base and a growing product line that boasts over 40 undiluted perfume oils, 15 uniquely fragranced scented candles, and a range of diffusers with over 10 captivating scents. Olaide’s ambitions extend beyond the borders of Nigeria. "One of the things that I really want to do is to take this business outside the country,” she revealed. With a global customer base established in countries like the UK, Canada, and the US, Olaide's Gallery is poised to take the world by storm, one delightful fragrance at a time.

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