We recently connected with Raymond Nwoha and have shared our conversation below.

Raymond , appreciate you joining us today. So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?

In a sentence, I would say that I Scaled up by garnering Values to my Self and the company at large.

You See, I must say that it wasn’t easy. However, the worst regret anyone can have in life is not trying to live his or her dreams early in life and later realised in old age that he or she could have succeeded if attempted to try. Every Path we take in this Life is not always clearer at onset but becomes clearer and purposeful as we progress. So I would say that the first thing I did to scale up which is also a strategy is to START UP!

I recalled going from office to office in government agencies, NGOs and Private Organizations in the City of Abuja Capital of Nigeria immediately after graduation, to market My Clothing Brand – FASHION RAYNONZO LUXURY with Just One Hand Carry suitcase that accommodates up to Ten Suits at a go. Then I had no vehicle. I used to go in cabs and sometimes walk my way through “Appian ways” (short Cut roads). That really helped and still helps me today Because I hardly miss my route While driving in the City of Abuja Today.

While in the University (IMO STATE UNIVERSITY OWERRI, NIGERIA), I used to attend Seminars and workshops organised by corporate and government agencies. In 2009, I registered and participated fully in DARE TO BE DIFFERENT NATIONAL INTERACTIVE YOUTH FORUM organised and coordinated by GAMALIEL ONOSODE (OFR) and TOYOSI AKELERE. And I was awarded certificate of Youth Advocacy With Excellence. In that seminar, We were thought by MITCHELL ELEGBE THE FOUNDER INTERSWITCH GROUP and EVELYN OPUTA DIRECTOR BANK OF INDUSTRY amongst others the power of believing in one’s self, Focus, Consistency, skills and values, hard work, discipline, mentorship/ role model and the power and knowledge in reading books especially self actualisation books. And Today, I am able to scale up Because I believe In me. I said to myself if Eng. Mitchell Elegbe who during his university days had only Two pairs of trousers and shirts and then retail clothes to make ends meet can become his dreams Today, then I can do it. I started reading books outside the scope of conventional studies. And of course our institutions don’t teach you how to make money or live your dreams. Only in those books you can find such knowledge. I learned a lot about money,investment and financial discipline from authors like ROBERT KIYOSAKI, DONALD TRUMP, DAVID STOKES, MARK McCORMACK, MORGAN HOUSEL, NAPOLEON HILL to mention but a few.

I read wide especially in line with my Goals. And then improved by acquiring INNOVATIVE SKILLS in line With my passion/hobbies like INNOVATIVE INTERIOR DECORATIONS (WOOD WORKS, MAKING OF TRANSLUCENT CEILINGS AND ITS INSTALLATION, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PANELS INSTALLATION, EPOXY FLOORING, METALLIC PAINTING, FLOOR LAMINATION, INTERIOR AUTOMATION and many More), BESPOKE TAILORING, GRAPHIC DESIGN, PRODUCT DESIGN and CONTENT CREATION. I enrolled to obtain Graduate and Proficiency Certificates in management from NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, knowing fully well that I need to be a professional corporate manager to be able to manage my company effectively and scale up among my contemporaries.

Having achieved all the above, I chosed Mr. IBIDAPO LAWAL, CEO NEVEAH COMPANY LTD as my mentor and role model amongst others simply because, he defied the odds against success legitimately and also have walked through the path I chose successfully. In Fact we both have similar if not exact Goals.

My mistakes resulted While trying to build my TEAM OF STAFF. I trusted without checking or reserving anything. I was too open to accommodate and impact not knowing many in this world just want to steal, destroy and run away. Many people working with me at onset bridged our agreements and betrayed the trust. They even made away with some of my company’s tools, wares and materials. Some trainees under payroll ran away after couple of months. Even when some of these trainees were absorbed via the company’s corporate social responsibility. So You see, I don’t trust People anymore without investigations, and loyalty tests. While all that happened, I realised that some of them were Moles sent by rivalries to steal my strategies and ideas. That made me device means to stay ahead my rivalries.

My most obstacles were Finance (capital) and structures. I never had any financial or Structural support. And this is where values helped out immensely.

My capital and finance came from rendering services. I raised monies from sewing, making of translucent ceilings, Epoxy flooring, metalic painting, panels and wallpaper installation, wood work like exterior and interior wall cladding, TV wall cladding, bed head cladding, office partitioning and lots more. I raised money then acquired a Few business structure that enables us Store imported products and also process Our Export produce.

My twists and turns are disappointment and betrayal from People I tried to impact, insecurities and bad economic policies by Nigerian Government. Insecurity has put most of our project outside Abuja on hold till further notice and the bad economic policies are affecting the company’s foreign reserve and Global transactional strength. Having said that, my first twist and turns was when I was robbed in 2012 when I newly opened the company. I was stripped off everything I had put up for the company. Our machines, office desk phone, customers materials, HD Suny cyber shot video camera, my shuttle bag containing the company’s incorporation certificate and other essential wares. It was a devastating moment of my life because I have used all my savings to set up the company. But then again, I have promised my Self to succeed. The neglect and naysayers from families and people in general Keep thriving me. I was determined and tenacious. Of course quitters never wins and winners never quit.

I picked up my suitcase again, started going office to office. Graciously enough, I raised a lot of money within a month and then contacted my attorney for processing of the CERTIFIED TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. In fact, I started all over again. And here we are Today. In other words, I Scaled up by never given up. And Today is my meaningful moment, looking how far I have come, is worth being grateful.

Raymond , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Nwoha, Raymond Chinonso. I held from Umuezealaopi village amaigbo in Nwangele Local government area, Imo State Nigeria. I am the Fifth Child (son) of my father and last child (fifth son) of my mother. I held my Bachelor of medical Laboratory science BMLS from Imo State University Owerri Nigeria, Graduate and Proficiency Certificates from Nigerian institute of management, and certificate on web development and graphic design from university of Brazil Campinas. I am an explorer, a researcher and member of American association of advance science AAAS, a serial entrepreneur and CEO Raynonzo Company Limited.

I got Into the business and freelancing when I realised that one without Strong Political Godfather can’t get a Job in my home country Nigeria.

So I started to harness my hobbies and services Into money making Values and Ventures.

I outlined the hobbies I have passion for, especially those that won’t rob my sanity and packaged them as business memorandum. And it becomes the memorandum and article of association of Raynonzo Company Limited which I incorporated with corporate affairs commission in 22nd day of February, 2012.

We became operational by setting up our Fashion brand which today is FASHION RAYNONZO LUXURY. Like I said earlier, I had no financial or Structural support so I had to start with the least cost effective business and then grow. A principle I learned from almost the authors I mentioned Here. Today We are one of Nigeria’s exporting Companies. We export African Couture and apparels with the FASHION RAYNONZO LUXURY Brand. We also export Sesame, Ginger, cashew nuts, cocoa beans and other agro essentials, as well as solid minerals.

I raised money from fashion and then enrolled to acquire all the innovative interior décor skills I mentioned earlier. Then Set up the RAYNONZO INTERIORS Which is one of the best Luxury interior in Abuja and Nigeria at Large.

We progressed from there and set up RAYNONZO AUTOMOBILES where we sale and deal on cars. We also do upgrade and help clients dispose their used cars with values.

Due to financial, structural, global economy and political challenges, I freelance in other services like research and health care services (where I proffer solutions to cellular healthcare challenges, hereditary and none hereditary disorders, Cancer therapeutics and counseling, effective malaria treatment, Sex choice and determination, Premature ejaculation and wellness), Business Consultancy such as , Business feasibility studies, Analytical Problem solving, Data analysis, Human resource control and management, corporate and financial management.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Honesty, Consistency, innovations, detailed and Effective delivery of jobs and services no matter how small the jobs or services might be.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Referrals and direct marketing!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Raynonzo_company_limited
• Facebook: Raynonzo Company Limited
• Linkedin: Nwoha Raymond
• Twitter: Raynonzo1

Image Credits
Raynonzo Company Limited media team Legend photography