Sarting a footwear brand sounds exciting… but what does it really take to build one? 👀

In this episode, we sit down with Funmilayo Abodenyi founder of dshoecollector, to talk about her journey of building a footwear brand from the ground up. From finding the right manufacturers and dealing with quality issues, to pricing, marketing, and navigating challenges like the pandemic — she shares what it truly takes behind the scenes.

If you’re thinking of starting a shoe brand, fashion business, or any creative venture, this conversation is packed with real, practical insights you don’t want to miss.


0:00 – Intro
1:24 – How dshoecollector started
5:55 – When a business idea becomes viable
8:32 – Impact of the pandemic on the business
11:08 – Starting online or with a physical store
11:38 – Early challenges encountered

14:35 – Size runs and production decisions
16:52 – Balancing creativity in design
18:04 – Credit Direct hype
18:47 – Producing in Nigeria vs abroad

21:02 – Quality control challenges
23:01 – Issues with factories abroad

32:10 – How pricing was determined
35:54 – Balancing store costs and pricing

38:21 – Marketing strategies that worked
40:31 – Advice for starting a footwear brand
42:29 – Do you need to “dance” on social media to sell? 👀

48:45 – Giveaway 🎁
49:09 – Outro


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