Bolanle Stella, holder of Nigeria Certificate in Education in Political Science and Social Studies from Allstate College of Education, Ondo State, started as a teacher. She later discovered interior design and event planning during the COVID-19 pandemic when she realised that her pay as a teacher was not commensurate with the stress.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Bolanle Stella, holder of Nigeria Certificate in Education in Political Science and Social Studies from Allstate College of Education, Ondo State, started as a teacher. She later discovered interior design and event planning during the COVID-19 pandemic when she realised that her pay as a teacher was not commensurate with the stress. With no plans of initially going into business, the pandemic led her to it, making her ditch her teaching career to launch Heritage Interior and Events, a brand that showcases her flair for creativity.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Interior & Events, Bolanle is doing great things in her field. She received the award of Event Planner of the Year 2024 from an organisation, His Glory Concept. She currently serves as the Vice President of Ondo State Event Vendors.
Starting up
After quitting teaching, Bolanle started by selling duvets and bedsheets. From there, she expanded into interior accessories and eventually, full interior decoration. Later, she added events planning to her skill, optimizing a past experience she had dating back to 2014/2015, “I had some experience in Event planning dating back to 2014/2015, but I didn’t pursue it seriously until 2020. My past experience helped me grow quickly as a planner and coordinator. Recently, I have taken my skills to the next level by getting professionally trained and certified by industry experts,” she said.
She told TheNiche in an interview that her inspiration for her line of business was due to her passion for creativity and bringing spaces to life, “Although I didn’t initially plan to start a business, my journey into entrepreneurship was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led me to discover my love for business and eventual transition from my teaching career. I actually stopped teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic because I realized the pay wasn’t worth the stress. Starting Heritage Interior was a game-changer for me.”
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She added: “I started Heritage Interior & Events about five years ago, with zero capital. Despite the initial challenges, consistency and hard work have been key to my progress. My business began humbly, but through dedication and a focus on delivering quality services, I’ve been able to grow and establish a strong presence in the industry,”
Sourcing for capital
Getting capital was a big challenge for Bolanle when she started her business five years ago, but she was able to solve the problem by working with other sellers to offer products without buying a lot of stock, “This helped me start the business with little money, and now I’ve been able to grow and improve our services.”
Penetrating the market
Bolanle acknowledged that penetrating the market was challenging for her. She said: “Yes, penetrating the market was a challenge. However, with persistence, quality services, and strong relationships, we were able to break into the market.”
She added: “It took about six to nine months to start gaining traction and securing regular clients. During this time, we focused on delivering exceptional services, building strong relationships, and leveraging word-of-mouth referrals to establish a presence in the market.”
Business experience
For Bolanle, one experience that stands out while starting up her brand was starting from scratch with zero capital. “I remember the struggles of building the business from the ground up, facing rejection, and doubting myself. However, it was during those tough times that I learned the most and developed the resilience needed to push through.”
She added; “A specific moment that I’ll never forget is when I landed my first major client despite the odds. It was a turning point for me, and it gave me the confidence to keep going and prove to myself that I could succeed.”
She further recalled the challenges of convincing people to patronise her business due largely to the prevalence of scammers in the industry: “Many potential clients were hesitant to trust me, fearing they’d be scammed. I had to work extra hard to build credibility and assure them of my credibility. The pressure to meet client expectations was also daunting, but I learned to focus on delivering quality, communicate effectively, and exceed expectations whenever possible,” she said.
These experiences, Bolanle said, have shaped her business approach and taught her valuable lessons about resilience, trust-building, and client satisfaction.
Breakthrough
Planning and executing a successful wedding for two siblings was a major breakthrough that encouraged Bolanle to keep pushing. “One particular breakthrough that encouraged me to keep pushing on was when I successfully planned and executed not one, but two sibling weddings! Delivering exceptional services and exceeding client expectations brought immense joy and satisfaction. Seeing the happiness on the families’ faces and knowing I played a significant role in their special day was truly fulfilling. This experience reinforced my passion for event planning and motivated me to continue delivering outstanding results. The trust and referrals that followed further boosted my confidence and helped grow my business.”
She said one of the weddings was in November, and the other was in February. “The fact that they trusted me with the second wedding after seeing my work in November meant a lot. It showed me that my hard work and dedication paid off, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make both weddings unforgettable!”
Doing business in Nigeria
As a business owner in Nigeria, the CEO of Heritage Interior and Events is faced with tough challenges like poor roads and infrastructure, unstable government policies, safety and securing concerns, difficulty getting loans or funding, dealing with lots of paperwork a s bureaucracy.
But in all of these problems, Bolanle finds ways around them, making her business work. “My goal is to build a legacy that inspires young people and shows them that with consistency and hard work, they can succeed in Nigeria. I want to impact lives and prove that even in the midst of challenges, Nigeria has potential for growth and success.”
Japa
Bolanle is passionate about contributing to the economy and creating value for her community. She chose to remain in Nigeria because she believes in the country’s potential for growth and development.
She said: “Despite the challenges, I’ve chosen to remain in Nigeria because I believe in the country’s potential for growth and development. I’m passionate about contributing to the economy and creating value for my community. I want to show young Nigerians that they can build a successful future here, and I’m committed to making a positive impact in Nigeria.”
Profile of Bolanle
Bolanle is the founder of Heritage Interior & Events. She is a multifaceted professional – an interior designer, event planner, and venue stylist. She holds a Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE in Political Science and Social Studies from Allstate College of Education, Ondo State.
In 2024, Bolanle received the ‘Event Planner of the Year’ award from His Glory Concept. The award was in recognition of her team’s exceptional work in delivering memorable events and exceeding client expectations.
According to her, “This award is a testament to our dedication to excellence and commitment to providing outstanding event services.”
Bolanle also serves as the Vice President of Ondo State Event Vendors, a role she said that allows her to contribute to the growth and development of her event community.
She said: “I’m passionate about delivering exceptional services and making a meaningful impact in my community through my work in interior design and event planning.
Bolanle trains people and works with a team of professionals. She believes interior decoration, event planning, and decoration require collaboration, so it’s not something you can do alone. “I believe in building a strong team to deliver exceptional results.”
