My journey of cutting hair started in my home town back in Nigeria, as a way of using my time productively while playing football. In my pursuit of becoming a professional footballer, I decided to move to the big city and while I was there I continued with this side hustle. I didn't have a place of my own so I worked at a salon called Daniel’s, which was located in a two-story building but when people came to the barber shop they would directly ask for Wonder's Touch yet the salon had its own name. I think people had already seen the vision long before I did which convinced me that his was truly something bigger than me. That's when it began to be clear that I needed to push towards growing the business but unfortunately, I was not able to establish it in Nigeria. While trying to find my way around I got the opportunity to come to Turkey to play football. When I got there the plan to play football wasn't as I had imagined It would turn out, I tried several clubs but couldn't get signed. So I said to myself '"Well since what I am best known for is cutting hair why not keep my hands busy instead of wasting time waiting on football?"

I started out at a very low place, in a place called Aksaray a business hub in Istanbul with a stereotypical negative reputation. Not so long after, I started noticing how the lifestyle there wasn't appealing to me and what I wanted to achieve. I just felt like I was bigger than what that place was offering. Even whilst back in Nigeria, my standard of doing things was always high and I wanted to maintain that. In business, it's important to know your niche and because I knew what mine was I felt out of place there. So I decided to start anew in a place where no one knew who I was. I found a place in Fulya another part of Istanbul, a female salon and at first, it was hard to find any customers either male or female. So I proposed to rent a seat and a mirror for a month so I could do it the way I knew best. Imagine coming to a new city , starting a new life with no steady source of income but with instant responsibilities like house rent, bills, and on top of that now having to rent this space in a place that hardly used to have any customers. It was a trying time but the principle of faith and hard work is what kept me going which is still my driving force. You see sometimes we dwell too much on the faith aspect and forget the work this is why I think most people don't see results in their endeavors. This is my approach in business and in life as well people will believe God is working through me not in what I say but in what they to see in my life.

To attract clients I started out by going to the malls, introducing myself to people, and telling them that I was a very good barber. Sounds a bit like blowing my own trumpet right but I had to be my own promoter in order to sell the brand that is myself. It's essential for you to believe in yourself and your craft first so that others can see it too. Apart from hyping myself, I used Instagram as well to get clients. The ways of marketing are changing fast and one has to efficiently utilize and keep up with the ever-evolving world of social media if you want to see your business grow. I was very specific in how I marketed myself knowing exactly what it is you are offering to your clients is very important. So I would tell them upfront what kind of service I was offering and how much it would cost. At first, they would be intimidated by the price but after the haircut and when other people would see the results word started going out. Henceforth Wonder's Touch slowly started spreading by word of mouth and the client list began to grow.

With the growth came some challenges as I started having issues with the people in the salon. They wanted to increase the rent because they saw an increase in clients and didn't like the way my clients behaved. They wanted me to reduce the number of how many people who would come in. At this point, I had reached my tipping point in terms of having people telling me what I can and cannot do especially when what I am doing is bringing in the beacon. Since I had experienced the same thing in Nigeria before this wasn't new to me so now I needed to navigate a new way, my way of keeping the business afloat. After that experience, I knew it was time for me to leave but I was keen to make sure that I didn't burn any bridges as I left, so showing my gratitude to the owner for the opportunity was something I made sure I didforget.

I wanted to work from home and continue with finding any possible open door to football. So I started making a lot of inquiries on how to start a business, fortunately, I found someone in my church who simplified it for me. Since I already had a name and some existing clients all I had to do was to go about the legal procedures properly. I truly believe that the right information is crucial to the success of anything that's why I like to read too so much so that I have to make sure I have some in my barber shop. When you have the right knowledge about the field you want to venture into, it sets the pace for where you are going. Not forgetting the capital because to get money one needs money, so I had to save some. To do so, things like eating and hanging out had to be limited the little pleasures I used to enjoy had to be set aside for a while, more like 8 months. In business, there is always a starting point and this is was mine.

Long story short I found a place where I was able to work and stay in as well. It worked out because I was able a get enough clients and ended up saving which enabled me to move out right before the pandemic.

The initial purpose of why you started something is really important. I started Wonder' Touch because I wanted to render service to humanity and whether I get rich from it or not does not negate the purpose of serving people. When I wake up in the morning I am always grateful for the blessings I have and in turn, I want to be a blessing to others. I believe every opportunity I have been given is so that I can use it for the betterment of others. I am not one to just sit and do nothing so this pandemic period was a big test. Up until the lockdowns started I don't ever remember taking a break for as long as one week. It's not that I am a workaholic actually there are times when I have even contemplated stopping this but I kept on pushing. I have had opportunities where I could earn big money fast but in scrupulous ways and live a luxurious life. But the question I ask myself is if what I am doing aligns with my passion and vision. I believe my job is more than just cutting people's hair and getting paid. It is so that I can bring the best out of people and give the best of myself too. Especially with the young guys that come here they don't just leave looking good but are also inspired.

Wonder's Touch is more than a place where people come to be taken care of and made to feel wonderful, it is my chariot, a platform to share and show goodness to others. Not directly through words per se but through the art of cutting hair which is the tool I use to make a positive impact. Right now it's just me but I am hoping to find other people with this same passion to join me so that the Wonder's Touch can spread.

Knowing what you love to do, why you love to do it, and how to keep going towards it is the fuel that drives passion in what you do.

Book your appointment today and experience the Wonder's Touch https://www.wonderstouch.com/

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