The ever elegant and very stylish Funmibi Oduwole is the CEO of Rostal Flower. She is a wedding and event decoration expert and besides being a very stylish lady, her company is one of the most sought-after event decoration companies in Nigeria. They have handled events for ‘A’-list celebrities in the country.
She has been able to run the company for over 2 decades and still counting and her uniqueness and style have really stood out Rostal Flower amongst others.
In the just concluded City People Fashion & Style Award, Mrs. Funmibi Oduwole emerged the Style Icon of the Year, and City People’s Senior Showbiz Reporter, BIODUN ALAO had a chat with her, where she talked about how she has been able to combine a reputable business and stay extremely stylish at the same time.
She clocked 50 years recently, so she talked about her ageless look and the 5 major things she has been doing to keep Rostal Flower at the very top despite the highly competitive market. Below are the excerpts.
What really inspired your fashion sense?
Yes, I really love to look good all the time, I have this special thing for good products. I am someone that always wants to look good, I love it when people admire my good looks so I often take my time to look my best. I love to stand out of the crowd, as you can see today I actually stand out in the crowd with my outfit today and I have always been like this, I have always been a very fashionable and stylish person.
How are the two related and how have you been able to function well in the two?
My business also has to do with decorations, beautifying things and also making sure every client gets values for what they have paid for. So we always make every event very memorable for clients and to also have a long-lasting impression on people’s mind. I love good and unique packaging so my work or business reflects on my looks.
You recently clocked 50 years but you look ageless, what is the secret?
I don’t stress myself, I do the regular things, I watch what I eat and I endeavour to take good care of my skin and my body as a whole.
How long did it take you to put up this gorgeous look?
(Laughs!!!) Can I really say, how long? After the make-up, every other thing didn’t take too long before it got ready, I buy all my fabrics from Software located in Lekki.
At what point in your life did you become so fashionable?
Funny enough, I have always been a very fashionable person from day one and people close to me will say that too.
How have you been able to combine being a very busy businesswoman and being a fashionable lady together?
Though, they are two different things in a way even though they have so many things in common. People close to me will tell you looking good is a priority to me, so no matter how busy I get, I don’t take my looks for granted, that is why most people say I don’t look my age but honestly, the number one secret of my ageless look is God Almighty.
What are the things that you have done to keep Rostal Flower at the top despite the high competition?
The truth is that I am still very much into my business like it’s a new business. I can’t say oh because I am getting old, then I will leave it in the hands of younger hands, so I am still very involved in everything that is happening in Rostal Flower.
I go abroad and enrol in different courses to learn more and upgrade, I also engage in different online courses as well, you can’t remain stagnant and expect your business to grow, you need to bring in new innovations and when it comes to our products, I go for quality not quantity. They are not regular things you can see everywhere and that explains why 90 per cent of my clients still come back for other services, and we work with lots of these telecommunications as well and that is because of the type of quality they get from us.
We don’t go for anything below perfection and creativity is our watchword. We tend to always create and upgrade our styles. We don’t follow the crowd, we do different and unique things.
Also, we strongly believe in simplicity and that is utmost sophistication when things are simple, beautiful and elegant, clients will always come back and those three words are our identity.
Then, we always endeavour to exceed our customers’ expectation. We always add so much creativity into everything we do, and also there is no how you wow your clients and they won’t come back for more.
When I started my business, I was not particular about profit-making but was only concerned about building a strong brand and creating awareness and I give God Almighty all the glory, we have all that today.
Why do you love to use natural flowers for your decorations?
Like I just said, I was not keen about profit-making when I started but my utmost concern was giving my clients value for their money and that is the standard I have maintained till date and that is one of the many things that makes Rostal Flowers unique and different. All we have been doing is to upgrade and add more creative things and it has been working for us, all thanks to God Almighty.
