Business Overview
Wallpaper business basically deals with decorations whether for the home, the office, a structure or any other thing with a wall.
It is an inexpensive method of adding beauty and improving the aesthetics of the wall. Because many people opt for this business, it is an indicator of the profitability of the business. Remember, the more popular the business, the greater it’s profit potentials.
Profitability
Wallpaper business is profitable because of the wide market availability of the business. Once you have put all that is needed in place for the business’ success, you are good to go.
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Soon, we shall see this. A flashback to the business overview above clearly shows the market segmentation of this business. You can see therefore that it is a money-spinning venture. Hence, going into it is worth the time.
Some of the requirements for starting a Wallpaper business in Nigeria include:
1. Knowledge of wallpaper design, development and/or deployment
2. A good business plan,
3. A good marketing plan, a
4. wallpaper crew,
5. Decorators and decorating skills, vehicles for conveying men and materials
6. wallpapering equipment such as ladders and scaffolding
The beautiful aspect of this business is that you mustn’t be a professional at the job to succeed at first. You can hire a professional for the start, especially for those lacking the skills of the business.
Your job, therefore, can be to do the marketing and management aspect of the business while the professional(s) handle the job. We call this outsourcing or out-contracting.
Wallpaper business is a flexible business. As you have seen above, just anyone can do it, be it a professional or an amateur, including stay-at-home parents.
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Market Structure/Demand Analysis
Not everyone likes to use wall paints on their walls. Even after painting the wall, many people still prefer to scaffold them with wallpapers.
Either way, there is a market for the business. Today, people prefer wallpaper over paints because wall paints easily fade away with time.
Even wall paints which may be cleaned like acrylic paints once repeatedly scrubbed, wear off. But this is not the case with wallpapers.
Also, the target audience for this business is not difficult to determine. For example, the easiest way to do so is via the various categories of wallpapers and wallpaper services in demand.
Football players, for instance, go for football wallpapers. Those in the entertainment world, on the other hand, would prefer entertainment-type wallpapers of, for instance, music and movies niche.
Additionally, the kinds of walls to which wallpapers may be applied are many. Some of these include homes, offices, containers, structures, sculptures etc. These are all pointers to the wide market availability of the business.
Many things make people go for wallpapers. This includes the inexpensiveness and ease of cleanliness together with the decorating of wallpapers.
So, if you want to go into wallpaper business, please, go ahead. The business as you have seen above is very profitable given the wide market interests and demands.
You can make a good income from it. With this background, therefore, let us now look at how to start wallpaper business, step-by-step.
A Step-By-Step Guide To Starting Wallpaper Business in Nigeria
Feasibility Study, Business Plan & Choice Of Business Location
Starting a wallpaper business without an idea of the market demand would most likely lead to unfathomable loss immediately after launch or later.
That is why a feasibility study on this business is very important. For example, you should know how the number of homes and/or offices within a vicinity who may likely patronize wallpaper services. Do this research within your target business domain. This, of course, will be your preferred business location.
Also, find out how many of these used wallpapers before, why they are still using it or why they stopped using it. Then, for those that stopped using wallpapers, find out why they stopped and strategize a means to fix that problem. Incorporate all these into your business plan documentation.
These equally answer the question of choice of business location. Once, you are reasonably satisfied with the above, proceed to the next step.
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Knowledge/Skill needed
The only technical knowledge and skill needed for this business is knowledge of wallpaper design, development, and deployment.
You can get this knowledge via any means but the best and most recommended method is via apprenticeship. You can, however, get wallpaper business skills online and personal study of books.
Certification
In Nigeria, you do not need any special certification for this business. However, if you are educationally certified, that’s ok. It will only boost your CV and career but is not a necessary requirement for this business.
Wallpaper business, though it may be grouped as a professional service is not necessarily a professionally certified field in Nigeria. It is a kind of technician sort of business. If you happen to get trained in an organized setting, you would most likely be issued a certificate upon completion of your training.
Licenses and Permits
This is not necessary because this is more or a mobile business. In Nigeria, it is mostly stationary (office) businesses that demand licenses and permits.
Hardly will the tax man come checking for your permit when he cannot always detect where next you will be. But then, for contractual jobs, licenses and permits may be required. So, you need to get your business registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Tools/Equipment
Now that you are ready to start, you need to buy your wallpaper tools and equipment. So, while making your budget, factor in the following:
1. Brushes
2. Ladder(s) (i.e., adjustable and/or non-adjustable ladders)
3. Rollers
4. Wall sizing tools and equipment.
5. Wallpaper paste
6. Water Trough
7. Colorful flyers from ordinary paper (for samples and advertisements).
Ideally, these materials are not costly to get. Many of them can be locally-sourced. Others like rollers, brushes, ladders etc. are widely available in the local market. About N150, 000 should be sufficient for startup.
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Staffing & Advisers
In this business, the best bet is to work with people of like minds. That is people who understand this business both technically and otherwise.
Hiring an amateur will waste your time in training such a fellow to proficiency. However, if you consult skilled decorators, it goes a long way to cut your cost and save you project completion time.
It is up to you to decide whether they should work based on percentage, on salary or wage. Your choice of pay should, however, be guided by your frequency of getting jobs.
Marketing & Advertisement Strategies
There are many ways to advertise wallpaper business in Nigeria. Some of them include printing and distribution of business cards and brochures to home and offices in your business domain.
Get your friends and relatives to share these too within and outside their own domains. What I mean by domain is, “location”. That is, wherever one sees himself or herself.
Nigerian has a peculiar business terrain. To catch the market, you can host small placards/billboards at strategic places in town, advertising the business. These should be high traffic density areas like road junctions, busy streets, groceries, shopping malls, etc.
The Internet is here. So, run Facebook and Twitter Ads, targeting wallpaper lovers in Nigeria. You can also sponsor ads on top Nigerian blogs and websites.
Productivity/Sustainability Tips
The productivity of this business is a function of your communication strategies. How you relate to your clients and customers will determine if you will stay long in the business or now. So, be humorous, polite, innovative, and smart. With this, you will go far in this business.
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Summary & Conclusion
The market for wallpaper business is big and wide. Material and skills are available and abundant. The startup cost is not huge.
So, going into wallpaper business is a good business option. Why not forge ahead? See you in the comments box below. Best of luck. Get more business guides here