My name is Abimbola “Bimms” Ipaye. I am the Managing Director of “Traditions by Bimms”. I started 3/4 years ago but I’ve been on my own sin...
My name is Abimbola “Bimms” Ipaye. I am the Managing Director of “Traditions by Bimms”. I started 3/4 years ago but I’ve been on my own since I was 14 years old.
I have paid my own way through since then. I would fetch water, run errands just to make money because at that time, there was no other way to survive. I had a very difficult childhood but I allowed nothing break me, I just kept pushing.
When I was in the University, I still had to send money home to my siblings and mum. The business I did then was sew and sell ankara patched skirts to people. After I graduated, I got a contract job in a pension company but I got tired of the job. One day, I saw my then boyfriend’s mum making beads and felt she could do it better, so I went to the market with N15,000, bought materials and made 3 beads out of that. I wore one of the beads on myself and people started requesting I make the beads for them.
Soon, I started hanging around a family friend who makes Aso Oke just so I can watch her work and learn. Even though I was running errands a lot, I still picked up all the lessons I could at every opportunity I got.
Then, I left to start my own business. This was a very difficult time for me. I cried so much and almost committed suicide because I was working so hard but there was no result. But just at that point, things began to gradually turn around. I believe 100% in what the Bible says, that the gift of man makes way for him. Breaking boundaries with Aso-Oke is something I completely enjoy doing but I could have only gotten here with God’s help.
I started from my room, then moved to a BQ and then here we are. I was not in a hurry, I never borrowed money but I started small from where I was. Today, I look at the outcome and I cannot believe what I see.
The reward of making brides and their families happy is more than money though, It is the prayers I get from my happy clients. Because I’ve been cursed so much, these prayers give me calm and joy in my soul.
Some of her works:
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