Over four decades ago, before Kuddy Cosmetics became a household name, its founder, Kudi Fashola, was a young UniPetrol employee juggling a day job in Lagos and weekend trips to New York to buy beauty products.
Speaking with Vanguard’s Ebunoluwa Sessou, Fashola shared how her journey into entrepreneurship began as a little girl helping her mother in a patent medicine store at Balogun Market. Those early lessons in trade, negotiation, and customer relations became the foundation of what would later become an iconic beauty brand.
From a small beauty shop on Lagos Island in 1986, Kuddy Cosmetics has grown to over 20 outlets across Nigeria and beyond. Her first major profit came when she agreed to help a trader bring Fashion Fair powders from the U.S., which opened her eyes to the power of supply and demand.
Even pregnancy didn’t slow her down. Fashola combined her 9–5 with weekend flights to America, buying products, shipping them home, and reinvesting every profit. Eventually, she resigned to focus fully on the beauty business — a decision that changed her life.
Her big break came when she invested $1,500 in hair relaxers from New York, turning it into a consistent trade cycle. Later, she created the Kuddy Moisturizing Bar Soap, which became an instant hit after she used it as souvenirs at a friend’s event — marking the birth of the Kuddy brand.
She soon expanded into full skincare and makeup lines, built relationships with top U.S. manufacturers, and registered her own trademark after being advised by a Ghanaian business mentor.
Despite challenges — from counterfeits to global downturns — Fashola remained committed to quality, integrity, and innovation. Her guiding principles?
“Be alert to information, never depend on one source, and protect your name. My name opens doors; my integrity keeps them open.”
Today, Fashola runs Kuddy Cosmetics alongside her children and foundation initiatives. Her story stands as a blueprint of perseverance, faith, and business wisdom — a reminder that with consistency and integrity, small beginnings can grow into legacies.
