Meet Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh, Founder of Ebony Hair Care And Bissa’a Cosmetics

FabAfriq Magazine: Thank you Nathalie for taking part in this interview.

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : You are welcome. I am very honored to be showcased in your magazine.

FabAfriq Magazine: Tell us. Who is Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : I am an Entrepreneur in the beauty field, Wife and Mom of two children. I am also a natural hair Advocate. I am the owner of two hair spaces  ‘’Ebony Hair Care’’ in Douala and Yaoundé and  also Founder of BISSA’A Cosmetics, a natural hair cosmetic brand for kinky and curly hair.

FabAfriq Magazine: Tell me about ‘’Ebony Hair Care’’ and ‘’Bissa’a Cosmetics ‘’?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : EBONY HAIR CARE is a beauty space created in Douala in 2013, the first one in Cameroon to focus on the treatment and beauty of natural hair. The second one was opened in Yaoundé in 2021. We offer free hair consultations with the microscope to get a clear idea of ​​the condition of our clients' hair and scalp in order to be able to give our clients the right products and the best advice for their regimen.

BISSA’A Cosmetics is a 100% natural cosmetic brand that was created first to be used in our salon and then was commercialized to the public. Our products are made for African hair, this means for African men, women and children and those of afro descent. We have different ranges of products for hair and for the beard.

Every year, I go to different schools with my team to raise awareness among children about the harms of hair straightening. We have already gone to schools in Douala, Edea, Bessombe. I'd like to do the same in other cities of Cameroon soon.

FabAfriq Magazine: Who inspired you to be an entrepreneur? What motivated you to create the ‘’Bissa’a Cosmetics’’ brand ?

I think being an entrepreneur is in my DNA, and I was inspired by my father François GOUIFFE who was an engineer who started doing business after his retirement. He worked a lot and operated in several fields such as agriculture, trade and public works.

My mother also was an inspiration, because of her innate sense of style, her beauty and her elegance. I don’t think I would have had such a sensibility towards beauty and aesthetic without her education.

The first reason why I created this brand is that I needed products to use in my salons that were not imported from abroad, because I needed natural and healthy products for my clients, and I knew that here in Cameroon I could find the best raw material. I didn’t find the products I needed, so I created them.

FabAfriq Magazine: Can you briefly walk us through your professional journey and how you got to where you are today? Do you have any previous national and international experiences?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh:  I studied in Europe and came back to Cameroon in 2010. I started to work for BGFI Bank in 2011 until October 2015 when I decided to resign and focus on my business.

I started with five collaborators and now I have 19 people working for the company. We also started with four products and now we produce 15 products for the public.

FabAfriq Magazine: What are the different challenges you have faced in your professional activities? How have you overcome them?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : The entrepreneurial environment in Cameroon is very difficult, and I might write a book if I really start to talk about that. Corruption, finding trained staff, certification of made in Cameroon natural products and  the mentality of dishonesty.

I must do something very important, the fact that I wouldn’t want to live in any other country in the world, and despite the difficulties, Cameroon is a land of opportunities for those who are ready to work hard.

FabAfriq Magazine: Tell me about the different events that you participated in Africa and out of Africa?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh: I have participated in many events and fairs in Cameroon (Promote, FIAC, GICAM, and lots of other events.) and around the world. I’ve been invited in Democratic Republic of Congo for the Cooperatives’ Week, to Ivory Coast for The Black Beauty Fair, to Niger for the Empow’her Festival, to the Usa for the US-Africa Trade and Investment conference, and to Italy for the Afrobrix Festival.

In 2019, I organized a workshop in Montreal, Canada, on how to take care of our natural hair. I also was invited to Egypt for the Egy Beauty Expo early this year.

Sometimes I am invited as a speaker for a conference, and/or to showcase my products.

FabAfriq Magazine: What have been your greatest professional achievements? Can you share a success story from your work?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : In my point of view, my greatest professional achievement has been to create jobs for young Cameroonians. I have never imagined myself running a company created by me with so many collaborators.

FabAfriq Magazine: What are 2 your future and aspirations for your professional activities?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : I am still dreaming of having my products from the north to the south of Cameroon, but it’s not that easy. It is complicated to reach the other cities, and the road network is not fluid. Here we need more patience.

I would like to export my products and show that here in Cameroon we can produce quality products.

FabAfriq Magazine:   Tell us. According to you, what are the different traits that an entrepreneur needs to succeed?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : An entrepreneur must be resilient, patient, innovative, enthusiastic, creative and motivated…

Resilient because surely there will be obstacles that will need to be overcome.

Patience because things will not always go the way you need at the moment you need.

Innovative because the competition is real in all countries of the world and it is your uniqueness that will keep you on the market.

Enthusiastic because you will have to convince your employees and your clients about your product or services.

Creative because you need to have new ideas regularly to distance your competitors and stay at the top.

Motivated even during the worst moments, because you need to be an example to your collaborators at any time.

FabAfriq Magazine: What advice can you give to the young people who aspire to be entrepreneurs?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : The first thing is to choose wisely which business to do, otherwise one can easily give up when there will be difficulties. Forget about money, fame and just do what you really like to do.

FabAfriq Magazine:  How do you strike a balance between your personal and professional life?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : It has always been easy for me, because my husband is very supportive. My family is the most important thing to me, and they come at first. Now that my children are grown up, I have more time to dedicate to my business.

FabAfriq Magazine:  What are your hobbies and your favorite dishes?

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : Staying with my family, exercising to stay fit, traveling and reading.

My favorite dish  is  Kepen Ki Baze and Kedian. It comes from the Bafia region. It is Fufu Corn with cassava leaves.

FabAfriq Magazine: Thanks for your opportunity and time

Nathalie Gouiffe Edimo Kouoh : My pleasure. Thanks FabAfriq Magazine.