OLX, the leading online classified is putting their money where their mouth is by equipping young graduates with entrepreneurial skills. In a recent interview with Femi Oriowo, a business developer and an avid OLX user, he described how he was able to get his current job by using the platform and has been able to sell over 500 phones and electronics on the platform.
Can you please tell us how you discovered OLX?
I heard about OLX on radio in Sept/ Oct 2013
How long have you been using OLX?
I have been using OLX for over 2 years now
How has the experience been?
It has been great, I have been able to sell over 500 items especially phones and electronics on the platform.
What do you like most about OLX?
The speed at which I get things sold on OLX is the catch for me and the fact that there are no middle men involved allows me to increase my profit margin considerably.
So it is fair to say OLX has been life changing for you?
OLX has been more than that, Earlier this year, I met someone who bought a laptop from me, we later became friends and now I am the Business Developer Manager in his company, the opportunities with OLX are endless.
Can you please tell us some of the things you have learned from doing business on OLX?
I have learned how to fix prices with respect to market trends
Understand consumer psychology
Engage in Customer Care/Support besides the fact that I get to hone my negotiation skills hence becoming a better business person.
With OLX, we can see that you have acquired several entrepreneurial skills which should help in your role as a Bus. Dev Manager, what advice do you have to the unemployed youths?
With the high unemployment rate amongst Nigerian youths, young people can comfortably earn a decent side-income by selling on OLX starting with little capital, it’s a good way to start-up the ladder to being self- employed and self-reliant. OLX gives you the exposure you need to get your goods sold, provides excellent user support and what’s more, it’s free. You also get to develop and hone your entrepreneurial skills.
OLX, like every other online marketplace has had its share of invasion from unscrupulous elements called scammers; but with the safety measures recently being implemented by the management of OLX such as physical verification etc. scamming on OLX is sure to become a thing of the past.
