Zeezee Cruise is a fast growing wedding planner and makeup artist based in Nigeria. In our interview, the founder shares information about her business and provides great tips for brides/grooms and upcoming makeup artists and planners.
Tell us about yourself and your business
My name is Chisom Azodoh. I am a Doctor and my business is Zeezee Cruise. It started off as a beauty and skincare outfit and has expanded in recent times to include wedding planning.
How did you start? What inspired you to get into the industry?
I have always loved weddings. They make me so happy. It’s like a light bulb lights up in my head when I see weddings, brides and wedding dresses. I have always wanted to be in a position where I can help dress those brides, plan and make their day beautiful.
Would you start Zeezee Cruise, if you were to do it over again? What would you do differently?
Well my business is just starting, so yeah. If I had to start again, I’ll do my business. What I would like to do differently is to spend more time, may be to do more makeup internships with other people so I could see how they run their makeup artistry businesses. However, these are not things that I can’t learn as my business grows. Maybe it would have helped with better preparation. I think I’m as prepared as I can be right now and I can always do an update class for anything that I need.
What has been your greatest motivation?
It is really encouraging when you are able to make somebody happy by your efforts. When you have a support system that supports your dreams like family that also motivates.
What do you think of the Nigerian/Ghanaian wedding industry? Has it changed over the years and how?
I think it has exploded tremendously especially with direct visuals of other people’s weddings on Instagram and Facebook. A lot of weddings you see now are not just about the couple getting married but a display of what was put into the wedding – pomp, pageantry. Couples try to outdo previous weddings and vendors their former work.
What do you like about your business and working in the industry?
I like that I’m able to meet different people. As a wedding vendor, I have to interact with other wedding vendors. In addition to trying to get my business out there, I also want people to know me personally and be able to recommend me first for the kind of person they think I am and then the type of service they think I can deliver. It doesn’t make any sense to be an excellent wedding vendor then my personality is crap.
What differentiates Zeezee Cruise from others in your line of business and location? What are your greatest strengths?
I think my greatest strengths are the facts that people like my personality and energy and I’m able to give assistance even beyond what is required of me so I’m very helpful to clients as well as vendors I work with.
What do you expect from your clients (brides and grooms)? What don’t you expect?
I expect my clients to be honest and on time. I don’t expect a client to contract me for wedding guest make up and then you get there and it turns out she’s the bride. A lot of brides do this. I expect my clients to be honest about their financial situations so that if they cannot afford the service that they want, I can recommend someone else who can deliver the service they want at their budget. I really dislike tardiness and I try my best to be on time for appointments.
What is/are the most rewarding aspect of providing your service? What is/are the most frustrating aspects?
Most frustrating aspect is people who change their mind on the go. As a planner, I don’t like when I have discussed details with the couple, vendors have been contracted and after lots of time and effort, there’s a change of heart, and we are back to square one. It invalidates all the consultations that were supposed to help the couple articulate what they want and also makes your planner look unserious especially when vendors are disengaged at the last minute.
Most rewarding is when a client thanks you and then they are really happy and eager to recommend you to someone else. This is really rewarding and there’s no monetary value that can equate the happiness that I feel when a client is really grateful and excited. It is priceless.
What advice can you give to brides/grooms?
Please do not assume that makeup is an afterthought, because a lot of people do that. When they have budgeted for everything, they will now look for maybe one ₦10,000 that they just put aside for the makeup artist. Makeup does not cost ₦10,000 if it is good makeup artistry. You need to start on time, have your budget and try your best to stick to it.
What advice can you give to up-and-coming businesses in your line of business?
You need to be honest and upfront with your clients. You need to be careful with documentation because it is so important. If you need to have a conversation with your client on WhatsApp make sure you have a record of that conversation. If you are going to make your client sign a document, make sure you have a copy of that document so that everything that is discussed is tracked. You are not saying oh we talked about it and it is based on your memory. You can actually see that the conversation was had and an agreement reached.
It is so important for you because sometimes when people begin to change their minds or when mistakes happen, they try to blame you. You need to have those documents so you can say and prove the things that were discussed. You need to be honest. If you are not honest, no matter how good you are it will begin to tell eventually.
What award(s) if any have you received?
Not yet. I have a long way to go but hopefully I’ll get there sometime soon.
What else would you like to share with our readers?
You need to learn to focus on time. The way that I have structured my business is based on the scripture Psalms 139:14 that says “I praise you Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. The theme for my business is “wonderfully made” and for every business that I plan to do: makeup artistry, event planning, wedding dresses, whatever the business grows into. When you have some backing, for me as a Christian it is the scriptures, even when you face challenges, you have something to fall back on that encourages you even when there is no one to encourage you. When your business is just starting and things are not easy, it is very good to have something to fall back on.
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Photo Credit: Mtouch Multimedia
