Meet Italian Cole: An Engineer turned Gold Merchant who loves to transact.

Tell us about yourself?

I'm Cole Anuoluwapo; popularly known as Italian Cole, which also serves as my business name. My aka was made up about four years ago representing Italian gold, which is my major business focus - Italian for Italian gold and Cole for my name. I'm very passionate about pure original gold and so decided to turn my passion into a business venture. so,  I deal in real, pure and original Italian gold. 

What is your educational background like?

I'm an engineer by profession. NSE graduate member hoping to be COREN certified very soon. I studied environmental engineering in my first degree and going for my master in industrial and production engineering at the university of Ibadan, the first and best!

What are your passions, hobbies and interests?

My greatest passion in ascending order: I love to transact; I can sell an empty sachet of water. I love to transact anything that deals with the exchange of goods and services for money. I also love traveling to unknown places where people do not know me, spend a few days and return home. It makes me feel like I'm lost.

What values do you hold dear where life is concerned and in business?

I'm very perseverance, plain and transparent. So much so that everyone can see through me if possible. This I have been able to transferred into my business dealings. In some cases though, when offering some services, you might have to bend especially in the area of pricing, as a result of the nature of your clients per time. What I say to my customers is what it is. When I say something is 100% top notch quality and can give a 20 years guarantee as in the products we deliver, it surely is. I think this is where transparency comes to play for me.

How do you deal with impossible customers?

Every day in business, you meet different people: the angry, difficult and the impossible... the friendly and easy going type. Some do not even care; just deliver anything good to them. In all, when you keep your cool and maintain a smiling front, you will always win people over to your side. That way, you have won! I'm sorry but with all humility, I'm pretty; that's on a lighter mode please! When someone comes in, I always have that smile for everyone. I'm not a sales rep but I love to play that role if need be. Smiling comes to me naturally. I talk to everyone with a smile on my face. I pay

attention to my clients, listening attentively to what they have to say as I try to convince them. When angry clients come calling, saying all sorts, I just keep smiling and calming them down until a solution is proffered and they go home smiling in satisfaction.

What mistakes have you made in the past and what life lessons have you learnt?

Before I went into business, I used to be a very big snob. I was always on my own, doing my own things. I ignored people. I was the only female in a male dominated profession in the university. I was snobbish. But coming into business, I had to change completely. I needed to come out of my shy and snobbish nature, overcoming that part of me.

If you could time travel

If I could time travel back a few years past, I would have been more friendly to people, be serious with my academics. Don't get me wrong, I was a near first class student but at that, I would have taken the whole schooling thing more seriously.  I might not have let go some friends I had or lost contact with them. If I was this happy say four years ago, I would have done better. I have always had time on my side and to my advantage. Things always fell in place for me quickly and easy. That didn't make me really struggle for anything. For example, my graduation from  higher institution and NYSC was just a space of 4 days. This reflects other things in my life. Because things always seem easy, that didn't make me appreciate some things. I would have ventured into business early and take some major steps like accepting my father's offer to relocate abroad. (laughs)

Where are you now and where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Presently, we deal with 100% pure genuine and new Italian gold jewelry straight from Dubai and Italy. we sell Gold chains, Bracelets, Wedding bands/rings, Earrings, Cords and much more. In the next few years, I see myself as a major gold merchant not just in Nigeria but across Africa. I'm working towards it. I don't know how I will get there but it sure is feasible. If your dream or vision does not scare you, then you are not dreaming at all.

Why venture into gold dealing?

I started the gold business a few years ago in my 300 level at the university. I woke up one faithful day, looked at my phone and saw a news flash, so so so and so person hits blah blah blah…. She was a woman; a female entrepreneur worth over seven 0s doing what she was passionate about and then I told myself, Anu…you really need to go into business, doing something you are passionate about and that you love. So basically I decided to go into it. At 5am in the morning, when you see such a thing, it causes you to think.

How’s business doing this days?

Presently, gold business is not so encouraging. It is still the same transaction but the dollar naira exchange rate has affected a lot of things. The customer patronage has reduced as a result of the state of the economy. Before, pure gold was 19,000 naira/gram but as at now it is way above that. Business is a bit slower which I know cuts across almost all sector.

How do you source for your merchandise?

We get our goods from a reliable merchant in Lagos, Nigeria. She took me as the little girl she never had. I give her money and she buys them for me anytime she travels to Dubai or to Italy. I intend going to Italy or Dubai to buy in bulk myself  in the nearest future rather than buying in retail.

In this critical time in business, how have you been able to maintain your customer base and gain their trust?

Many gold merchants are the same. Some get you cheap gold washed in chemicals to look new. When you buy them and it begins to change color, you go back to pay twice the amount you should have bought real gold from us originally. For us at Italian Cole, it is our culture to buy back from our customers the gold they bought from us years after if the money exchange rate is still stable. This shows the quality of the goods we sell. Not many gold merchants do this. With this, we maintain our customer base and client loyalty. This is also to gain the trust of the customer.

What are your non work habits that helps you with your work life balance/

I can't take my eyes and mind off something that is out of place. Everything has to be in place- not slanted or disorganized. I love order. So much so that I repaint my house with a touch of paint where I see a little stain. I usually have an extra bucket of paint and small brush for such quick renovations. Everywhere in my house is painted white. When I give birth I would probably use wall papers to maintain that order. Punctuality is also a thing for me, it gives you a sense of seriousness. for accountability,  my record books are always in order; this makes my transactions easy. My customers know that I know what i'm doing.

What’s your take on ‘Preparation meeting Opportunities’?

I prepare a lot. You cannot catch me off guard. I might bump into somebody that asks me one direct question 'what do you want me to do for you?”. I don't like to say 'can I get back to you sir/ma on that'. Business wise, I do some transactions that scare me. I'm never off guard. I can starve myself to achieve something.

Are you into other business investments?

I'm into various investment. Presently I'm into 2 major business investments and in partnership with 3 others. I'm into a money making fund account with a fund company with a branch in Lagos. I have local investment in motor bike transportation business. I'm in partnership with a company involved in gold plating services and many others.

Golden words to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Do not look down on anyone. that person wearing a bathroom slippers and shorts might be worth billions of dollars and the other well suited up with a polished accent might just be worth empty words and not be willing to spend a kobo. Don't measure people by their outward appearance. Go out of your way to be nice and friendly, you don't know who might pick up interest in you to make you a billionaire and more. When you smile, you have over a 98% chance that everyone will say something positive about you. It might not happen immediately. Aside that, have a open heart to everyone.

Deal with a trust-worthy Gold merchant;

Contact us @ ItalianCole on 08069327358, 08021148500.

Delivery coverage area: Nigeria, Ghana, Malaysia and Cyprus.

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