Young and In Charge: Susan Kukah

Our very first young person of the week is Susan Kukah, who took the business of buying and selling to a new level. Susan started out selling her mum's wares from her car but today the story is different. Read on and hope her story inspires you.

 

Tell us a little about yourself?

Susan: My name is Susan Florence Iye Kukah and am from Kaduna state! I was born on the 16th day of December. Am d first girl out of 3 girls and am d finest (lol).

What was growing up like?

Susan: Growing up for me was really really hard I must confess considering the fact that my parents didn't have enough but to the glory of God,tins are a lot better than they used to and I bless God for everything.

Tell us a little about your educational background?

Susan: I was born in Zaria. I attended Montessori nursery and primary school in Zaria,proceeded to Jabi primary school Abuja and then our lady of Fatima girls secondary school Kaduna where I obtained my Secondary school leaving certificate and then proceeded to Uniabuja where I studied law.

So what is Esskay mart all about? What does it mean and how did the name come about?

Susan: Esskay mart is basically all about buying and selling! What I basically do is order stuffs for young girls who want to go into serious business from the UK,Malaysia and Dubai! You pay me 50% of the total amount charged, I place your order, you get it in 14 days max. The first letter of my name is S and d surname starts with K so i added Ess and then Kay to it and i got esskay! Thats how d name came about!

How did you get into it?

Susan: I started doing this early this year and business is something I and mum love to d even though she has been into it for long!So what I do is I put everything she sells in my car and go to offices where I have friends and I sell for her. She gives me an opportunity to add say #500 or #1000 on every item sold and that way I was able to gather some money. When I graduated and law school wasn't forth coming I decided to confront my dad for a loan of #100000. My Dad didn't buy the idea but I was determined and with the help of God i got the loan and I was able to order six Indian gowns which cost me about #100000 and I sold them. That was d beginning of Esskay mart! So when my dad realised how serious I was he encouraged me even more and with that i was able to order a lot of boxes from Dubai and sold them to brides who were preparing to get married.

What is your typical day like?

Susan: My typical day in Abuja is all about hustling! If am not home,am in the bank doing one or two transactions, after that am already too exhausted to go out,but once in a while i get to sit out with one or two friends!

What do you love most about you and what you do?

Susan: What I love most about what I do is when I order stuffs and they arrive just in time as promised to a customer and the goods ordered are in perfect Condition, that feeling gives me so much joy and satisfaction.

What are the difficulties involved?

Susan: Difficulties I have faced in this business is having to deal with very bad debtors who make promises to pay when I order their goods and fail to fulfil such a promise,it slows me down. But I must say that I won't let it deter me from focusing on my business.

If you weren't doing this, what would you have been doing?

Susan: Lol! If I wasn't doing this I would be doing this my dear, I've got so much passion for buying and selling. It just keeps you focused and makes you remember that you have a future ahead of you and you also have responsiblities ahead of you!

Have you ever felt like giving up on Esskay mart?

Susan: Yes I have, it was just a few months after I started the business, I had to deal with some very personal stuff and it really tried my patience, I thought about giving up but I decided against it. I thank God I didn't give up.

ho or what inspires you?

Susan: What inspires me the most is the fact that am independent. My Parents have been a source of inspiration to me and i thank God for their lives. I love independent women who don't always have to wait for the men to do everything for them. That is who Susan is!

Considering the level of success you have attained, youths out there would be itching to know how old you are.

Susan: Am not young and am not old. Just 26!

Asides work, what do you do for fun?

Susan: I hang out once in a while,watch movies at the cinema. That is all.

Where do you see yourself and Esskay mart in the next five years.

Susan: In the next five years, I see myself grown and more matured, married with beautiful kids and a proud owner of a big plaza with so many things to buy and sell by the special grace of God, Amen.

Advice to youths that wish to follow in your footsteps.

Susan: There may be set backs, but all you need is Determination and Prayers. Without God you honestly won't make it. Be focused, please don't rob God of his own! Pay your tithe always and leave the rest to him to handle.

Some pictures of Susan's wares

 

Susan can be reached on, BB pin: 2A48F725.