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When you wear an outfit, you should be able to make a statement in other to grab the attention of on lookers. See pictures of Fashionable women who caught our attention.

 

How to Rock the Modern Iro and Buba (Oleku) Style for any Occasion

How to Rock the Modern Iro and Buba (Oleku) Style for any Occasion

 

We all know that the Iro and Buba is a fashion trend of the 1970s for mostly Yoruba Women of the south western part of our country, Nigeria. The Iro and Buba that we once knew has evolved to another level of fashionable look. In those days, it was meant for older women or mothers, but today, it has become fashionable wear for young girls. All thanks to the Nigerian creativity! Iro and Buba has now been modernised into a beautiful fashionable outfit worn for every occasion. Young girls in Nigeria don’t like wearing the old fashioned Iro and Buba; but the modernised one has got every young girl on the street clamouring for this fashionable outfit. Quickly, before we reveal how to rock this flattering outfit, let’s see the differences between the modern Iro and Buba and the old one:

Fabric types: The traditional Iro and Buba style used to be sewn with cotton fabric. Usually, Ankara/wax or Lace was mostly used for style. But the latest Iro and Buba style comes in different beautiful, lighter materials ranging from Silk and Chiffon to Guinea Brocade and more.

Neckline: The neckline of the old style of Iro and Buba was usually round neck while the modern necklines of Iro and Buba style are timeless. These days, we see women even wearing the one shoulder Buba style, the V neck, high neck and more.

Sleeves: The traditional Iro and Buba was only sewn in wide long sleeves that reached the wrist. But the modern styles are sewn in all sorts of sleeve styles - fitted sleeves, short sleeves, three quarter sleeves, puffed sleeves, long sleeves, sleeveless and much more. Oleku is the name for the short sleeved Iro and Buba, and that is the style in vogue at the moment.

 Body Fitting: The traditional Buba style is loose fitting; meanwhile, the modern style has been tweaked into the fitted and not so loose styles.

The Iro (wrapper): With the old traditional Buba style, the wrapper is tied round the waist, but with the modern style Buba, the wrapper is knotted in front; this is called the tulip style. In the modern Iro and Buba, the wrapper (Iro) length varies- long and short, as the wearer desires.

Colour matching: The traditional Iro and Buba was mainly of one colour for both the Iro (wrapper) and Buba (blouse), but the modern one can have the Iro in a different colour and the Buba in another colour. Usually the combination is beautiful and flawless. However, the difference is very clear and it is obvious why women these days prefer the modern one to the old fashion style.

Easy 5 steps on how to knot your modern Iro

1.  Hold the wrap around your waist and gather in front with the top ends of the wrap in each hand

2.  Pull both ends from the tips to your waist.

3. Twist the ends twice

4. Wrap around your waist towards the back

5. Tie a knot and tuck in.

By the way, have in mind that the Buba is usually tucked into the Iro.

                               

MAKING YOUR BUSINESS SURVIVE IN THE MIDST OF BAD ECONOMY

MAKING YOUR BUSINESS SURVIVE IN THE MIDST OF BAD ECONOMY

 

Has your business fallen on tough times? Has the sluggish economy or changes in market trend reduced your sales, making it hard to make a profit?  Blaming the economy or government will not help your business recover. To recover you need to take action and make changes. The good news is that survival in a harsh economic environment is possible if certain drastic steps are taken; you need not be paranoid. Running a business is never a sure bet, the economic situation sometimes gets very unbearable, making cost of living go high with a corresponding fall in the standard of living of citizens, leaving you and your business in hot waters as you struggle for survival. How can you get ahead when your business is beginning to show signs of collapse?

Here are strategies you can use to put your business back on track to success.

·        Business Reinvestment:

 

You do not have to be a big, high-tech company to reinvent your business. In fact, the smaller your business is, the faster you can shift gears and zoom back into action. Take a critical look at your strengths and weaknesses and possible markets. Find out if your customers still want and buy the same type of products or services you sell. ASK 

YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

    Have industries and styles of production changed since you started business?

   Have you kept up with the changes? If not, what changes should you implement to make your business competitive again? 

  Do you need to develop new products or services? Do not guess at what customers want and will pay for. Analyze your existing sales and talk to living, breathing prospects.

  What is the best way to deliver solutions to them?

  What is going to bring in the most profit?

    Is there any particular niche that buys regularly from you now? If so, consider how you can bring in more of the same types of customers, and what other merchandise they would be likely to buy. 

·        Reduce your operational cost:

Another way to ensure that your business survives in a harsh economic environment is to look at areas in your business operations where you can cut down cost without having a negative effect on the outputs produced.  Identifying less expensive alternatives, reducing operational cost by practicing downsizing, which is cutting down on your work force, would go a long way to ensuring that your business survives the harsh economy.

·        Be Internet friendly:

Have you ever sold your product online? If not, why not? If your sales are declining and you are still telling yourself that your customers do not shop online then you are wrong. The few customers that you have left may not be internet friendly, but the rest of the world does. Even when people buy in person or because of personal relationships, they are likely to research the products, company or consultant online before making a decision on what to buy and from whom to buy it.

·        Contact competitors of present or former customers:

If a company needs what you sell, there is every tendency that their competitors do too. Industry groups you belong to, trade, seminars and friends in the industry can help you identify likely prospects. If the people you meet do not need your services, ask if they can put you in touch with someone in their company who can.

·        Sell Additional Products And Services To Existing Customers:

Often the easiest way to bring in new business is to sell more to your existing customers. You may be able to sell more of the same product to the same contact, or sell the same product to a different division of the company. Or, you may be able to sell related products and services to the customer. Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities, and be sure your customers are aware of all of your capabilities.

    Prioritize And Act:

As you review your business, you may see those areas where your business requires changes. The key to making those changes is to list the needs to be done and estimate what effect each change will have on the sales and profit. Then prioritize the list. What are the easiest ways to increase profit the most quickly? What should you be doing on a long-term basis to ensure your business continues to grow and prosper? Revise your business plan based on the answers you will get and then start to work your plan.

By: Okoye Chizzy