Blessing Ngozi Onwukwe, the CEO of Glam In Inches, is a Ghanaian entrepreneur with a unique background—her father is Nigerian, and her mother is Ghanaian. Blessing holds a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Ghana, but her passion for business led her to establish her luxury hair extensions and wig company in 2018.
In an exclusive interview with Just4WomenAfrica, Blessing shared the inspiration behind her venture into the luxury hair industry. “I’ve always had a business mindset, even from a young age,” she recalled. “I remember buying jelly sweets as a child and selling them to my friends in school. After university, I was eager to find something I could do on the side to make some money, and as I explored my options, I decided on the hair industry because I’ve always had a love for hair.”
Glam In Inches caters to individuals seeking long-lasting, high-quality hair. Blessing sources her hair from China and Vietnam, offering a variety of styles, including bone straight and bone curly hair. What sets her company apart from others in the market is the introduction of the “Glam Card,” a warranty card for hair purchased from her company, along with expert tips on maintaining the hair.
Starting her business came with its challenges, particularly as a woman in a male-dominated industry. “For male entrepreneurs, respect often comes easily, but as a woman, you have to earn that respect from your employees, which can be a bit difficult,” she noted.
Social media has played a pivotal role in Blessing’s marketing strategy. “Social media is basically how I’ve grown my business. Instagram, in particular, has made it easy to reach my target market,” she explained. “It also helps me keep tabs on the competition and learn new marketing strategies.”
Blessing emphasized that the quality of hair is directly proportional to the price. She described the hair business in Ghana as a growing and profitable market, albeit very saturated. However, she encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to be deterred by the competition. “There is a market for all grades and quality of hair,” she said.
When asked about balancing life as a female entrepreneur, Blessing admitted, “It’s hard to switch off because your mind is always working, even when you’re sleeping,” she laughed. “But I’ve learned to delegate most of my work to my staff so I can make time for other things.”
Her advice to women looking to start their own business? “Start with whatever amount you have as capital and build from there.”