Good fortune is buried beneath a dunghill, so it is said. Also, a man never strikes a breakthrough until he discovers his destiny.
Damian Nwosu perfectly illustrates these sayings in his story of how he struck fortunes dealing in used books after trading in jewelry for about four years without success.
The story of another dealer in second hand books, Blessing Alozie, who came into the business after he was laid off as a construction worker, confirms that if a bad road does not close a good one may not open.
Trade in jewelry may be the aspiration of many, considering its high net worth, but a breakthrough may just lie in wait elsewhere.
Michael Adetola has been selling second hand books for four years. He grew up seeing his mother doing the business, joined her, and has no intention of quitting, because is it profitable.
While many scamper for funds for a large ticket business of their dream, the likes of Nwosu and Alozie and Adetola have since come to terms with the Nigerian situation and are meeting their goals in life.
Nwosu told TheNiche how providence and a burning desire to make a change combined to facilitate his switch-over in 1995.
Motivation
As for Alozie, he took to selling second hand books as a virtue of necessity. Having lost his job he decided on the business against the advice of friends and relatives that he should return to his home town.
He reasoned that going back to the village amounted to a suicide and resolved to do whatever legitimate business came his way.
Unlike Alozie and Adetola, Nwosu was motivated by his passion for books. His inability to complete secondary school did not quench the passion burning within.
One of Nwosu’s friends who sold used books helped to stoke the desire. While he was aspiring to switch over his friend was planning to sell off his stock and start selling jewelry.
As musician Lucky Dube sang, the pasture is greener on the other side till you get there only to discover that it is not quite as imagined.
Nwosu recounts: “One day this friend of mine called me and said he was no longer going to continue with the business of selling second hand books.
“He said he was going to relocate to Lagos Island to sell jewelry. I had no intention of taking over his business until a customer of his came one day looking for him to buy a stock of used Bibles he imported for sale.
“My friend was nowhere to be found. Of course he was not serious with the business. Again, he had made up his mind to quit.
“After the customer left, it occurred to me that I could buy the books and use that opportunity to explore the business. I decided to go after the man. I ran a long distance until I caught up with him and told him I was interested to buy off the books.
“He brought the stock in two cartons. We negotiated and I bought all the Bibles. Within a short period I finished selling all. My profit exceeded expectation. It was quite higher than the profit margin I was making from selling jewelry.
“That was how I began, and decided to give it a shot. It remains profitable to date. The early stages proved quite challenging because I did not learn the ropes, but by God’s grace I continued to move along and today I must tell you frankly that I have succeeded.”
Fulfilment
Will Nwosu encourage relatives and friends to go into the business? He replied in the affirmative and gave his reasons.
“First, it is lucrative. Profit is the first objective for setting up any business otherwise the business will not survive.
“Again, it is such a business that gets you connected with net worth individuals who come to buy from you. Professionals of diverse disciplines – accountants, lawyers, doctors, engineers, name them – all come looking for certain books of importance.
“Each order of sought-after books we supply to these customers brings our relationship with them closer. That has been my desire to meet and make friends with net worth people.”
Nwosu said he has met his life’s goals and aspirations, and is looking to the day he will import his stock directly from overseas.
He did not disclose his profit margin, but admitted that “the business has empowered me to settle down here in Lagos. I am married with four children, all in private school. From the proceeds, I have also established a food stuff shop for my wife.
“I have not yet got to the level of importing books, but by God’s Grace I will get there someday.”
According to him, the secret of success in the business, as with any other, is honesty, determination and promptness in meeting customers’ needs.
Honesty with importers guarantees stocks, even on credit, just as determination and ability to meet demands attract and retain customers.
Speaking in the same vein, Alozie disclosed that the business is such a money spinner that his pocket has never gone dry since he started it.
He has built a house in his home town and is married with children, all of whom attend private school.
All the three second hand book dealers, who sell in the Mile 2 area of Lagos, appealed to council and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials to allow them ply their trade unmolested, like newspaper vendors; since they all contribute to the growth of knowledge.