About a few weeks ago, I was discussing some business ideas my friend and co-worker and somehow our discussion snowballed into boxers business in Nigeria. According to my friend Mr. Paul, this business is very easy to start with about 50k and can yield massive returns.
Trying to know more about this business, I decided to ask more questions especially the “how-to” and he was able to share it all with me (without asking for anything in return). Asides from the information I got from him, I was also able to gather more information from those in the game (the business of buying and selling) “Oliver” the name he is popularly called in Eko market, Lagos State.
Oliver is my go-to customer that I go to to get premium leather belts for my customers. He sells both locally made belts and the foreign ones and because he produces his locally made belt in Aba market what we call Aba made belts, he was able to fill all the missing points and links I couldn’t gather from Mr. Paul.
This is very important because it is always said that “information is key” in any business you want to start especially here in Nigeria and I couldn’t agree less. All the information I have gathered from Oliver and Mr. Paul and some little points added by me are what I want to share with you today.
And I am sure by the time you are done reading you will be able to go into this business confidently like someone who knows his guts about the underwear business in Nigeria (pants and bras, singlet and boxers). So let’s dive into it right away.
Is Boxers Business Profitable?
How many men wear boxers every day? Do women also wear? If they do, how many women also wear boxers? At the market, do underwear shops (boutiques and clothing outlets) sell well? These are the questions you should ask if you’re really passionate about this business and want to start making millions soon.
To get you the answers to these questions, these are my personal answers. Yes, boxers business is a profitable business in Nigeria because all medium earning men and low earning men in Nigeria wear locally made boxers.
As for the question on “how many men wear boxers here in Nigeria, I will say 8 out of 10 men you see on the road are putting on boxers. Do women also wear boxers? Yes, they do, but low percentage and those that do mostly wear it at home to relax.
As for the last question, you’ll need to research this and get your answers yourself. Now that established this let’s go to the second step.
How to Start Boxers Business in Nigeria
Here are steps to start boxer business in Nigeria.
1. Conduct a Market Survey
We are using this point as our first step because it is very important to find out if what you’re producing is really needed by consumers. Not following this step through can be detrimental to you and your business because at the end of the day if what you produced is not needed by Nigerian consumers, all your efforts and capital are wasted from the start.
Here is our guide on how to conduct market research for new and old businesses. Read the guide to know how you can conduct your survey yourself.
2. Get the Required Capital
According to Oliver here, capital is the most important of the business because without it you cannot even start – so, source your capital. This should start from at least 50k if you want to really make massive returns.
If you have this money in your account you’re good to go but if you do not, you will need to ask for help. And by this, I mean asking for help from those you know will be willing found your business. After getting that sorted out, it’s time to know if you’ll be going to Aba to buy the boxers yourself.
Or you will be sending someone who is in the same business and knows the market to buy for you. Here is our article on how to get funding for your business in Nigeria just in case you are looking for how to get capital to start.
3. Go to Aba Market in Abia
You see there’s a difference between sending a trusted person or stranger to buy something for you and you going there to experience things for yourself. The advantage over this cannot be overlooked. There are so many things that will be open to you like – how a business operates there and making customer friends.
Go for one out of the two. Do want to buy from the wholesalers selling the ready-made boxers or you want to approach the material sellers, by from them, and get tailors in the market to sew for you. It’s up to you. Choose one.
4. Buy the Ready-made Boxers
Although Mr. Paul suggested that anyone going into this business should buy the material and sew by himself. Oliver suggested that you should buy the ready-made ones as this saves time and energy. But however, the quality of the ready-made boxers you buy determines the quantity that will be sold to you.
You’ll also need to buy packaging nylons and stickers but if you want to brand your boxers yourself with your name, you will need to give a design to the printers and bargain.
Bonus Business Tip: Making your own sticker with your name and contact numbers will make it easy for your customers to contact you when they want more boxers (more products).
5. Connect with Sellers of your Product
Depending on the number of boxers you bought; you can be having about 2,000 pieces to 5,000 pieces and we all know this will not be easy for you to sell.
So the best thing you can do (in order to sell stock on time) is to approach sellers of your product (boutiques and clothing outlets) and have an agreement on how much you will be selling to them (so that they can also make their profit).
After having T and C’s (Terms and Conditions) with these customers, it’s time to start packaging. Depending on the agreement; you can decide to package the boxers yourself or leave the packaging to your sellers. Anything goes but I will prefer the sellers package it for me as this reduces the workload from my side.
6. Create Online Presence for Underwear
It is always said – No matter how popular your product is; it is still at a disadvantage if it does have an online presence. So at this stage, it is important to create an account or page on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram from your product.
And add contact details just in case your online buyers need to get more info on what they want to buy. Bonus Business Tip: Creating an online presence and having social proof will make Nigerians trust your product.
7. Create Accounts for the Business
The insane thing about business is that you can be making a profit and say you’re making a loss and you can also be at a loss and not know. So creating accounts for your business will not only help you monitor your business but also open your eyes to the loopholes.
These accounts will tell you how much you have spent so far? What you have sold, what you have in stock, and how much you have made.
8. Mastering the Boxers Business
There are always mistakes in starting any kind of business for the first time, but at times going by you can be able to avoid these mistakes because you have mastered the art of the business. At this stage, you’ll have started making you massive profits.
But you still need more knowledge so Mr. Paul advises that you meet and connect with others in the business, this for you to have more knowledge of the business and be able to get any help when you need it.
9. Bonus Tips on Boxers Business
Other tips you need to know about boxer business in Nigeria.
1. Don’t rush to spend your proceeds
I shared this earlier when I wrote the article – start a business with almost zero capital but I think I still need to reiterate it here again – Do not be in a hurry to spend the proceeds of your boxers business. My advice here is to imitate what Dangote does.
And that is reinvesting the profits made into the business to expand the business.
2. Be honest with your Customers
Our fathers always say a good name is better than a million of money in the bank. There is a reason why they hold this saying close to their heart. Your sellers and mostly your customers can run your business to the ground in one day over your poor attitude to them (not that they can not do this even when you’re good to them but the chances a lower).
Be good to everyone you do business with. If your goods are not yet on ground be all out and tell them. Be a man or woman of your words. If you owe them one thing or the other (bonuses and the likes) due to contract promises, fulfill all this. Be truthful to your customers.
3. Start Customer Appreciation day
You might think this is only banks and corporate institutions but this is not true. You also need to imbibe this into the business. Have a day to celebrate everyone who impacts your business in one way or the other (from your retailers to your customer). This will make them feel important.
Conclusion
That’s all about starting the undies business in Nigeria. Please drop your questions if you have any on what I’ve shared so far. I will be willing to answer these questions as they drop. So help me! I promise! Update: Are you a boxer manufacturing company here in Lagos, Nigeria?
You have built a brand for yourself. You don’t disappoint customers based on demands. Please send me a mail at theinfoworth(a)gmail.com so I can direct my readers who want to go into the business without going to Aba.
Let us also know if you also do delivery. Thanks in advance!
Image Credit To JumiaBoxers
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Can you reffer someone to a better wholesale dealer that sells better
Referring is the problem because it's hard to find a trust worthy dealer that won't disappoint my followers. I still do business with Oliver today because he's been honest so with me so far.
There are dealers if you're really interested. You can go to Abba to met the dealers one on one and have a contract or you can just google some dealers here in Lagos.
I saw some producers and companies that even sell wholesale last time i googled about the boxers business.
Please can u refer me to a producer or wholesaler that is trustworthy in lagos
Hi Temmy, for now, we've not gotten a boxers producer or wholesaler in Lagos that have contacted us. Also in Eko/CMS I'm yet to find a seller that deals in wholesale of boxers business. When I get a producer or wholesale seller for Lagos, I'll let you guys know by notifying you on the blog.
Just visit us for regular updates on the blog.
By the way, someone contacted me via email through the blog yesterday that he's into the production but he's in Enugu. He said he can send to buyers anywhere in Nigeria through Waybes. Still trying to know if he's legit and trustworthy before introducing him to you guys.
Please I am interested if you eventually find out he is legit.
Please I need the contact of Mr Oliver for the boxer business
Please can you send the contact of Mr Oliver in Abs for me. I need a quality boxer producer in Aba
Ok! Send me a mail at raphaelbamigboye(at)gmail.com requesting for his number. The Enugu guy sent me a mail yesterday but he is yet to still answer all our questions as regards his business.
Good morning sir, thanks for the write ups iT really an eye opening one. Please I reside in Ore, Ondo State. I’m a new bie entirely in these business. I wish to venture into this business(Sales of men and women under wears). I would need you to recommend a successful business man in this field who can take me by the hand.
Thanks boss
You’re welcome HaykayQ! Thanks for reading the blog. When you say “take you by hand” are you saying like a mentor in the underwear business in Nigeria or someone you can just be buying underwear from at a wholesale level?
Sir, Can I get his contacts too. I mean Mr. Oliver.
Am interested in this boxers biz but Aba is too far for me, I have three kids as a mother and they are still tender to leave for such a distance. How can I get a good dealer here in Lagos. Am so much interested
I need it please
It is well! I know how stressful it is for a mother of 3. It's not easy for a single man not to talk of a mother of 3. I should be going to Eko in 2 weeks time to buy some goods. I'll make my findings and get back to you…
Pls I am very much interested in the business but do you mean one cannot get where they sell boxer materials and get tailors to sew it in Lagos ?
You can get the materials in Eko/CMS (Balogun Market) to be precise but as for tailors that can sew in large quantities no for now (based on all my research so far). Even the commonly sewed ones are brought from Aba Market.
Please where in island can I get the materials and what's the cost like? Thank u.
I already answered that in the latest comment. You can get it in Eko (Balogun Market) and the cost of the boxers material depends on the quality. We have from N250 – N500 Per yard but then again it can be less or more. It depends on your bargaining power.
Is this price comparable to Aba price? The business has very low profit margin. If the fabric is far higher than Aba rate, then it can not compete in the market.
Hello Agidigbamen, I really appreciate this post and I feel it's a form of encouragement for me. I'm about starting out a boxer's production business and my major fear has been getting customers… now I know who to approach and market my goods hopefully this works for me and I hope to feed you back in the nearest future to share my progress and challenges. Thanks
You're Welcome! Wow! I'm impressed. I'm always glad when our readers make good comments about our articles and give contributions. It shows they really understand and it has been a lot of help. Please do try it out and give us your feedback. I can't wait for testimonies and if it challenges I can't wait to help further.
Hello good evening pls I will like to have a conversation with u through email or phone. Pls, try to reply me thanks.
Ok! Queen, send me an email at raphaelbamigboye@gmail.com and i’ll reply you ASAP.
Please sir, I need her contact, Olivia
Well done sir! How do I go about packing because I have been searching for videos on how to package boxers but am getting another result?
I am really interested in the business but like how much will be okay to start as a beginner?
I mentioned it in the article Dennix.
Thank u sir for the word.. it’s encouraging.. Am interested
Thumbs up Ella!
Good day sir, pls I’m interested in the business. But as a young girl don’t u think they will dupe me over there. And moreover I don’t have any contact I don’t know if u can assist me with contact that can help me please. Let me have the contacts then I will call them to bargain with them
You are right Adanma! Don’t be in a rush. I’ll send you an email soon. By the way, I love the passion in you especially with the fact that you are young. Keep it up. These are things we want to see in Nigeria – young Nigerians starting businesses.
Lovely writeup .pls how do I get quality and cheap boxers in aba. I reside in portharcourt and I want to venture into this business thanks
Hello Emily! Quality and cheap is relative. However, if you want to venture into the business you can go to any popular market in Portharcourt to buy your boxers wholesale if you can’t go to Aba. The most important thing here is to start. and thanks for the compliment.
Thanks so much for the information sir. I’m interested in boxers business. Please can you give contact of someone in Aba or Onitsha? I live in Onitsha. Thanks.
Pls, I need to contact Mr. Paul. Can anyone help with his number or connect me to him?
I want to start selling boxers in Nigeria how can I get your product here in Lagos state.
Hi Victor! We are not into boxers business directly. We don’t sell boxers. By the way, you can get boxers wholesale in Lagos. All you have to do is visit Eko/CMS market and do your findings.
Good day sir, I have gone through the article and I saw a need. My company JIDYAMAZ – a t-shirt manufacturing company do manufacture male boxers and sell to wholesalers. I can produce and sell to anyone that need it. We are situated in Kano, Nigeria.
The write up was really encouraging… Keep it up bro!
Thanks so much for this information. This is exactly what I needed, but I would really appreciate it if you can recommend a wholesaler for me. I want to go into sales of boxers, singlets, belts, ties, cufflinks, etc. Please help. Thanks!
The write up was lite sir! Please I want to start up men’s underwear business too and I am here in Lagos. Please, can I chat with u to get more information? Thanks!
Hi Nina! You can contact me through my mail raphaelbamigboye(@)gmail.com
I like your article bro! I’ll love to start the business too. I will send you a message through your email so you can enlighten me more. Thanks!
I want to go into the business but where can I buy it in Lagos for a cheap rate? Thank you.
I will really be glad if I can get a trustworthy wholesaler who sells good quality boxers at reasonable prices in bulk that I can relate with for a start.
I really like your article and I am interested in the boxers business. Apart from Aba and Lagos, are there no other producers in another state? Maybe like Abuja? I will like to learn how to produce it. Thanks!
I’m really impressed by this article. I want to invest into its production; l can sew any sample/type of boxer though l am a civil servant presently. This article is eye-openning to me that l can make money via boxer production.
Thanks for the positive comments Simon. I am glad our articles are rich enough convince you to start a business.