By Olusegun Rapheal

UK-based entrepreneur and boutique owner Anne Namgbeh, who affectionately calls herself Anne ATS, says her most precious moment in life was when her fashion business went digital.

Edo-born Anne ATS said she was happy that marketing her products was easily done online, unlike what she used to do through physical contact with customers.

“My dearest moment was launching my website. I treasured this moment because I was making my dream come true and that feeling was priceless, ”she said.

She said not being in the digital space was a huge challenge for her when she started the business.

“The first challenge I encountered in my business was to make a profit. I didn’t make a profit for the first six months and it was very difficult for me. It wasn’t because I was doing something wrong, it was a new business and needed publicity. At the time I did not have a website. So I started selling on Facebook. I also drove to universities and shared my business cards.

“I used to tell students that they would get a special discount if they sponsored one person and they would get more discounts if they sponsored two or more people. This strategy worked for me until I created my website.

“I still sell my products on Facebook marketplace, Instagram, my website as well as on dogebay. The main lesson I learned about doing business in Nigeria and the UK is that it is impossible to predict the future. We had planned to launch new products and work with some big celebrities last year, but the pandemic had a different plan, ”said Anne ATS.

The business has continued to grow, while the profiles of the two companies, ATS Hair and ATS Boutique also grow with customer acceptance.

Anne ATS revealed that previously the ATS store was dealing with the female wardrobe, but there is a need for the store to consider integrating the male wardrobe into the business.

“We are looking to add a menswear collection to the business as we have received inquiries and questions from our male customers, so we hope this will be launched in the near future,” she said.

Besides Anne Hair and ATS Boutique, Anne is also a wardrobe consultant. She helps clients make the right choice of clothing that suits their personality.

“I help clients organize their wardrobes and update them with the latest seasonal wardrobe collections, analyzing the appropriate colors, fits and designs for outfits, including jewelry. I also select outfits for photo shoots, fashion shows and social events for my clients.

“Anne ATS is also a brand influencer and I have worked with reputable companies such as Fashionnova, BoomBod, Diva Boutique, VIP Chauffeur Car Hire, Femmeluxe and CQ Beauty.

“I am also an affiliate reseller of Dogebay, UK which is a platform for users to buy and sell products using only Dogecoin (just like eBay except you can buy with dogecoins) . If you are a business owner and want to use this platform, ”she said.

Anne ATS recalled how difficult it was for her to quit her job and start her own full-time business.

“It was difficult for me to fully embark on the business, but she, I am happy today that this difficult decision helped me.

“As an entrepreneur, one of my toughest decisions was to quit my job. It’s hard to quit a job because you first have to think about how you’re going to tell your boss you’re quitting. Stopping was particularly difficult for me because I loved my job and that job paid my bills.

“Also, I didn’t know what challenges awaited me, but I believed in my dream and it made it easier for me. I knew that in order to be successful I had to make sacrifices, if not a lot, and quitting my job was one of the sacrifices I had to make, ”added Anne ATS.