Efiya Asabi started her business, Iyoba, in 2005. Iyoba is an organic soap and skin care products company that was born out of the need for Efiya to find a product for her son that helped his eczema condition. There was nothing on the market so Efiya made natural oatmeal soap for him, and it worked! Friends and family started to order soap and Efiya started to realize that she could start a business!
Before starting Iyoba, Efiya worked at assorted jobs, and still works part-time in order to support her growing business venture. Efiya has been self financing from day one, putting money from her job and from every sale she makes right back into her business.
Efiya graduated from the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Business Planning Class in 2005 and says “The class helped me to turn my hobby into a viable business and to price my products so that I could actually make a living from it”. Efiya was the recipient of a Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program Award for $2,000 in 2006. She used the money for an identity upgrade, created a new logo and re-designed her web site.
Iyoba products are currently sold through local events, stores and her web site. Efiya is currently grossing $5,000 a month in sales. Future plans include expanding her market and reaching a wider audience.
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