Bruno Oaikhinan

EMMANUEL MONYEI peeps into the life of Mr Bruno Oaikhinan, the renowned Nigerian ‘stylepreneur’ and motivational speaker. He is the chief executive officer of Bruno’s Place, the first unisex hair salon operating in Nigerian malls

Born on October 6, 1969, Bruno Oaikhinan has become a force to reckon with in the Nigerian fashion industry. His passion and dedication have been instrumental in his exceptional success. His latest feat was setting up hair salons he named Bruno’s Place in Ikeja Mall (Lagos) and Jabi Lake Mall (Abuja). Perhaps another interesting feature, aside the activities that go on in Bruno’s Place, is the conducive environment and location of the salons – in two of the most prominent malls of two prominent Nigerian cities.

Early life
This ‘stylepreneur’, who hails from Benin City, Edo State, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. In addition to his university degree, Oaikhinan was also trained at Orange Academy, which is affiliated to CoolBrands, Amsterdam, as a certified brand strategist.

Career progression
His training in brand strategy and communications landed him a job at one of the top financial institutions in Nigeria, where he headed the internal communications department.

After 12 years of dedication, he was cast into the saturated Nigerian labour market after being asked to resign by the banking 2011.

At resignation, Oaikhinan had an epiphany. He decided to turn his back on the professional life he had led for 14 years for his passion and long-term dream – entrepreneurship. He was not going to be just an entrepreneur; his target was hairstyling that would break barriers.

“I got to know early in life that I would go into business. Business is about relationship with people; it’s not about the skill or career. I was looking at the easiest thing I could do to connect easily with people. Money does not walk on the streets; people walk with money. If you have good relationship with people and win their hearts, they will bring you money.

“Second, I wanted to do something that I could use to give back to the society. I wanted it to be a platform to transform the hairstyling business. So, for me, it’s a huge opportunity and I took advantage of it,” he explained in a chat with Esthertainment Digest.

Unlike some people who attach their lives to their paid jobs and eventually finding life unbearable after losing their job, Oaikhinan’s career change was in no way catastrophic.

Though at the spur-of-the-moment, the shift was well-calculated, deliberate and purposeful. Before his exit from the financial sector, he had been trained as a hair stylist. He hired an instructor who came to his house weekly to teach him. Soon, the years of tutelage paid off, as he became a professional hairstylist.

The next thing he did was to find a mentor, an expert in the field with similar goals and experience. He approached Bobby of Bobby’s Signature.

Bobby had sufficient experience both as a mentor and a hairstylist with the right experiences and skill to put him through.

“In 2011, I left the bank and partnered with Bobby’s Signature Salon. There, I was groomed, pressed down and shaken together. I left to establish Tamara Salon, then Poise Salon, now Bruno’s Place. This place is about transformation convenience. We inspire, empower and relate,” said the stylepreneur.

Challenges
Like other businessmen and women in the world, Oaikhinan has also had his fair share of challenges.

“The major challenge I experienced at the beginning was manpower. After then, I developed a system of training and employing those who desired to stay and work with us,” he explained.

Last line
He advised younger entrepreneurs to “study the trade before you go into it. Have a purpose. What you stand for must reflect in the products and services you render to your customers.”