I hope to spread joy to everybody, one gift box at a time - Oduroye David of Pack n Pop

In a world where creativity meets the art of gifting, Oduroye David stands as a beacon of joy, spreading smiles and warmth through his unique venture, Pack n Pop. Since its inception in 2011, this Nigerian gifting shop has captured the hearts of many, leaving a lasting impression on those who seek to celebrate life's special moments. With a fervent passion for the creative world, David embarked on a remarkable journey, where he transformed his creativity into a business that aspires to touch lives, one gift box at a time.

In this interview, we have the privilege of delving into the inspiring story of Oduroye David, the visionary behind Pack n Pop, as he shares his unwavering dedication to spreading joy and the power of thoughtful gestures.

We want to know you better, can you recall the exact moment you knew you wanted to become a business owner?

When I left school in 2011 but before I graduated, I had been thinking of what I wanted to do after graduation. I and one of my closest friends at the time decided that we were going to start a business so being a business owner has always been in the plan.

Was a corporate job ever an option for you?

During my NYSC year, I discovered many things about myself while serving at the organisation I was assigned to. I’m a creative person and working in that kind of corporate setting restricted my creativity. I didn’t have the freedom to create the things I wanted to create and execute the ideas I had in my head. That was one of the experiences that reassured me that I was better off as an entrepreneur. 

Running a gift shop in Nigeria is quite an interesting choice, how did you bring this business idea to life?

When we started off, we weren’t precisely a gift shop, we were mostly focused on expressing our creativity in more ways than one. The idea behind Pack n Pop came from basic observation skills. We realised that not everybody is skilled in the gifting department. Sometimes, you’ll receive a gift and even though you’re grateful, you won’t be able to stop yourself from wondering what you are supposed to do with it. Not everybody can give out thoughtful gifts and that is okay. So we set out to do two things – curate thoughtful gifts that anybody will appreciate and present them in the most aesthetically-pleasing boxes – and we’ve been doing that since 2011. It’s been challenging but it’s those challenges that have shaped us into the brand we are today. 

Can you remember when you made your first sale and what did that feel like?

Our first sale is always going to be special to me. I actually reached out to that customer myself. She posted something and I noticed a flaw in the packaging. I took it upon myself to design a better package and reached out to her. She absolutely loved it and that’s how she became our first customer. 

You started your business as early as 2011. How exactly were you able to pull that off?

When we started the business, Instagram was still pretty new. There weren’t many business owners that were offering packaging and gifting services on Instagram at the time. Actually, there are many gift boxes that we were the first ever to curate. We didn’t exactly have people who run similar businesses to look up to and learn from. We built a brand from scratch, figuring everything out on our own and ended up becoming the representation we wanted to see. You’ll hardly ever see replicas of our gift boxes because we try to make them as unique as possible. A lot of work goes into our production but the reviews from our customers make them worth it. 

What does your typical workday look like?

My typical workday includes a lot of concept creation, product design, gift sourcing and art direction. We have at least one photoshoot every single day so my day isn’t complete without coming up with new ideas for content creation. We have a social media calendar that contains every piece of content that needs to go out in a month. 

When it comes to your business, what is your biggest goal?

My biggest goal for my business is to create a long-lasting impression in the mind of the end-user of our products. We want our gift boxes to make someone’s day better and put a smile on their faces. We want to spread joy to everybody, one gift box at a time. 

What do you enjoy most about being a business owner? What do you find the hardest about it?

Being a business owner comes with a lot of challenges. So many things can go wrong within the blink of an eye. You might wake up to discover that the government has done something that affects your business negatively. Dealing with logistics is also such a headache. But those challenges don’t outweigh the benefits. As for the benefits, running my own business gives me the freedom to express my creativity without restrictions. I can choose to execute any idea that comes to my mind and choose different ways to explore my creativity every day. 

What are some mistakes you wish you could have avoided when you started your business?

I don’t think there are such things as mistakes when you own a business. I see them as opportunities to learn valuable lessons. Although there are certain decisions that I wish I never made when I started the business, I can’t also deny the level of growth that those decisions contributed to. 

Asides from Pack n Pop, how else do you make your daily 2k?

I have other investments that generate revenue and we offer other services that bring money in as well but you can still trace everything back to Pack n Pop.