CEO of Leatherworld
Country: Nigeria
Sector: Interior Decor
Leatherworld is a luxury furniture company in Lagos Nigeria and it is one of the leading furniture companies in the country. it was founded by Bimbo Alase Arawole, The company is a pioneer and household name in high-quality furniture and interior décor in Lagos. when you search for female entrepreneurs in Nigeria she is on the top 10 list.
Early Life and Education
Bimbo Alashe-Arawole was born in 1962 and later married the late Kunle Arawole, who has since died. Tobiloba, the daughter of the marriage, was born.
Bimbo Alashe attended pitmаn ollеgе in Lоndоn as well as the Rеgеnt саdеmу оf Dеsign and Finе art in Lоndоn.
she received a Graduate Degree in intеrоr Dеsign frоm thе Lоndоn Dеsign сhооl. Given her educational achievements, it is not unreasonable to believe that she has always wished to establish a world-class luxurious furniture company.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
She had a mini-gift shop and a beauty shop in apapa before starting her furniture business, and this was the start of her entrepreneurial journey.
Her current business, Leatherworld, began operations on December 1st, 1994, in Lagos Island. The company’s goal was to make high-quality furniture available to everyone, especially since there was a scarcity of quality furniture on the market at the time.
Leatherworld was founded to provide a solution to a problem and to fill a market need for those looking for overall quality.
Leatherworld began as a retail outlet in a small, modest office on Ribadu road in Ikoyi. After a few years, during which the company made significant progress, Alashe relocated from the office on Ribadu road to a more spacious workspace on Raymond Njoku street, also in Ikoyi, where the company established what was to become Nigeria’s largest furniture showroom.
Leatherworld grew steadily over the years, and in 1999, after four years of successful operations, it expanded its territory and scope of operations from Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to serve clients in the capital city and the northern axis.
It also got a piece of the action on the Lagos mainland in 2009, when it opened a branch in Ikeja GRA. But, in terms of location, the most significant shift occurred in 2007, when the company opened the doors to The Concourse Place, its permanent site in Lekki Phase 1.
Furthermore, in order to avoid being caught playing small and to maintain the quality for which it has become known, the company formed a partnership with NIERI, a renowned furniture company based in Tuscany, Italy.
NIERI, a family-owned company that has been in business since 1929, is one of the world’s most renowned, contemporary, and traditional furniture manufacturers, known for its exclusive home design in wood and full-flowered leather.
Leatherworld built and commissioned Concourse Industry, an assembling, and manufacturing plant in the Calabar Free Trade Zone, in 2005. This plant was established to make world-class furniture available in Nigeria. Concourse Industry established the standard for Leatherworld as the first truly Nigerian furniture manufacturing company with a continental franchise to serve the local market, as well as export, finished items to other West African countries.
The development of human capital in the furniture industry was at the heart of this venture. Bimbo Alashe and her business partners hoped to build a well-trained and well-equipped Nigerian team of furniture makers. The team or teams formed as a result of this venture would become expert furniture makers with more than enough creativity, finesse, and class to compete with their counterparts from other countries.
The majority of the work at Concourse Industry is done by Nigerians who strive to uphold the standards set by NIERI’s partners.
Some raw materials are sourced locally, while others are imported for quality reasons. This venture was a huge success, and the partners were even more inspired to open a new factory.
As stated in the preceding paragraph, materials for the factory’s furniture are sourced locally whenever possible. This also serves to boost and increase job availability for wood dealers while establishing the company as one concerned with the growth of the nation’s economy.
Leatherworld and Concourse Industry are still making huge strides in the furniture industry today, all while maintaining quality, raising standards, and breaking new ground. In the near future, the company hopes to broaden its scope and become a more visible and thriving brand throughout Africa.
The brand is well-known both locally and internationally as a manufacturer and retailer of high-quality furniture, furnishings, and allied products. Leatherworld strives for quality as a timeless pedigree in order to meet the needs of its clients.
The Rhino, the brand’s dominant identity, seeks to leave an indelible mark on the products solely for the benefit of its thronging clientele, delivering quality, style, class, elegance, and comfort.
Networth
Bimbo Alase Arawole has a net worth of $700 million dollars.
