Breaking the Odds—The Art of Starting Small

In Uganda, it is almost impossible for young people to penetrate the scathing economy, which is more regressive than progressive. So, the youth end up running to the Middle East to work as security guards and ‘house girls’, with intentions of securing their dark futures.

I disagree with people who say Ugandans have no ideas. We have many young people with dreams of starting businesses, but what I cannot answer is how far they have gone to implement these ideas. Some of them fold their hands and pray for miracles, which eventually never happen.

 Whereas it is hard to always implement ideas—to start something new, it is good to always start with what you have, and from where you are. Remember, step by step is essential. So, our backgrounds are baseless, and we should never openly tell people how our poverty, back from home, or lack of connections have barricaded us from achieving our goals. It is about starting; have you started yet?

In our first interview episode, we share the journey of Doreen Kushaba, a student in her final year at Victoria University who runs a perfume business. Even though she is trapped between academics and business, she manages. Her journey is an eye-opener for any youth who has lost hope and believes they cannot have a start-up.

Enjoy the read!

Can you introduce yourself and share a little about your background and business?

I am Kushaba Doreen, a third-year student at Victoria University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in tourism and hospitality management. I am 23 years old from Mbarara, and currently staying in Muyenga, Kampala. My business’s brand name is Glamourous Signature, dealing in designer perfumes, Arabic perfumes, body mists, perfume oils, air fresheners, and fragrances. The business is based online, and we do deliveries from 7 am to 7 pm.

 What inspired you to start your perfume business, and what sparked your interest in fragrances?

I have been so passionate about fragrances since day one, and I was confident I would thrive if I invested my time and finances in something I loved.

 How did your family and friends react when you shared your business idea with them?

I shared my idea with my family and a few close friends, and they are so happy for me, but a little worried since I have school, but they still assisted me financially. 

What were some of the biggest financial challenges you faced starting your business in Uganda?

The major challenge was balancing school and business, and I also didn’t have the target audience and the market needs and also stiff competition from established businesses, stress, and defaulters.

How did you overcome these challenges, and what strategies worked for you?

For example, I overcame the challenge of defaulters by setting clear payments and conditions, people had to pay before or upon delivery. And sometimes I would give them polite reminders. Then I used my friends to identify the target audience, I used my friends and I would reach out to people directly and tell them about my perfumes. Then I had to reduce my prices to solve the issue of stiff competition from the already-established businesses. I had to set a schedule to avoid stress from clashes between my business and school. I did a lot of surveys. I engaged everyone close to me.

What role did resilience and determination play in your journey?

It helped me manage the stress that came with both studying and managing the business and also handling negative criticism from customers who didn’t like the perfumes sometimes. So, resilience helped me learn the importance of both negative and positive feedback. I continued to learn about new scents, how to get in touch with bigger brands, and how they managed their businesses.

What makes your perfumes unique from other existing brands?

For starters, my perfumes are authentic, and I have never had negative feedback about my scents, and also my packaging is top-notch—beautiful and enticing. I get a lot of compliments concerning my packaging, and I make some nice blends, especially for oils, and layering, and this makes my perfumes totally different from others.

Can you walk us through your creative process when crafting new fragrances?

I only mix oils and buy designer perfumes, body mists, and other fragrances from an authentic supplier at a good price. As for the oil perfumes, I wear them once they hit the market, get compliments from my circle, and also give free samples to my regular clients, and await their feedback.

What are some of your best-selling scents, and why do you think they're popular?

I have a lot of best-selling scents. But if I could give examples, I would only give four: My Way, a feminine scent with middle notes. I like the middle notes of Cuber Rose and Jasmine. Then the base notes with Cider, wood and Vanilla. Then there is Creed Aventus; this is a masculine scent, celebrated for its unique combinations of Fruity and Smokey notes. It is a woody, mask scent. It creates a distinctive and memorable fragrance; I also have Sauvage Dio, is a masculine scent—a popular cologne, that is known for its bold masculine scent; then there is Asad by Lattafa House, which is cosy and has scents of amber and natural dry wood, slightly sweet and intimate. What makes all these special is their projection and longevity.

How do you balance running a business while being a university student?

I am a flexible student and an entrepreneur. I love school, so, I have different schedules for the two things. But in times of emergency, I can delegate my business work to my sister. She can access my stock. So, when I get caught up with school, I just make a call, and she can do the deliveries. So, I can manage.  

What skills or knowledge gained from university have helped you in your business?

The school has been vital in my business. I have learnt communication skills—both written and spoken, and all these are applicable in the business because, without them, I would not be in a position to share my ideas. I do presentations and public speaking; I have groups of people I go to and convince them to buy my products. I have also learnt research and analysis, which I continue to apply in the business, and also critical thinking skills; sometimes when the business is not working out, you have to calm your thoughts and think. The most important ones are time management and organisation; when a client needs a product at 7 a.m., then I have to wake up earlier. There is also creativity and motivation; this has helped me to come up with business ideas, an eye-catching logo, packaging, and many more. The school has been crucial for my business. 

How do you think entrepreneurship can empower young women in Uganda?

Entrepreneurship fosters economic independence among young women; a woman with a business will never go around begging men for money, and this saves her from sexual exploitation. It also builds one’s confidence and restores a woman’s sense of purpose. With a business, you will never settle for less.

What are your short-term and long-term goals for your perfume business?

I want to establish a strong social media presence, achieve my sales target, and build an E-commerce platform. For the long-term goals: I plan to enter new markets—these are international expansions; expand product lines and achieve significant revenue growth, and collaborate with bigger brands and perfumers.

How do you plan to expand your business and reach a wider market?

I plan to have an online presence by enhancing my website; I also think of strategic partnerships, where I plan to collaborate with fashion brands and luxury hotels for cross-promotion and export markets, here I need to research and tap into international markets in the Middle East and Asia; I want to invest in paid advertisements, like Facebook and Google Ads.

How has starting your business impacted your life and relationships?

It has helped my personal growth; I am financially independent, and I can now afford a few things for myself and pay some small bills without asking for help from anyone. The business has also come with networking opportunities—I have met with new people, and shared ideas with business owners, something that has opened my eyes, and I have gained self-confidence and I can now speak about myself and my business without any fear. It has also given me new professional connections and mentorships. However, it has also come with challenges like stress—sometimes it is hard to balance school and business. Another issue is the financial risks and uncertainties—sometimes a client places an order and after delivering the product they cancel it out, sometimes their phones are off and it is hard to reach them, then some don’t want to pay after a product is delivered; and about relationships, I am always away from family and friends since I am focused on the business. About my romantic life, I don’t get time for romantic relationships because I barely have time to focus on them at the moment.

What have you learned about yourself throughout this journey?

I have learnt that I am stronger than I thought. I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to. I am resilient, enough and hardworking. These are things I continue to learn about myself through this journey.

What message do you hope to inspire in other young women pursuing their passions?

Women pursuing their passions should believe in themselves and be their motivations. If you want something, go for it, even if everyone says you can’t. Just do it.

Is there anything you'd like to add or share with our readers?

One important thing for readers is that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Resilience and passion are the only fuel you need to drive your engine towards success. Be positive and don’t permit anyone to put you down. Regarding criticism, listen to the positive and ignore the negative ones because people will always talk.

Where can our readers find and support your perfume business?

Our readers can find me on Instagram and TikTok, where I use my business name Glamourous Signature, on Snapchat Glam Queen, and they can reach me on WhatsApp at +256778400349/+256706089104