By Chinenye Anuforo [email protected]
QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness-focused company, has said that direct selling provides an opportunity for entrepreneurship in Africa by enabling individuals to start businesses without significant capital investment while promoting economic growth and self-reliance.
Officially launched in Nigeria in April 2022, QNET has made significant progress in promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing brand credibility and engaging with the community in Nigeria. It offers a diverse range of health, wellness, lifestyle and educational products to the Nigerian market, using the direct-selling business model.
During the just-concluded V-Africa event, QNET’s chief transformation and reputation officer, Trevor Kuna, spoke to the Daily Sun about the company’s direct selling business model and its impact on entrepreneurship and brand integrity.
He said V-Africa is a premier event organized by QNET for its network in Africa, which serves as a vibrant platform for independent representatives to network, receive training, and celebrate achievements. In the interview, Kuna emphasizes QNET’s commitment to transparency, customer engagement, and operational efficiency through digital transformation initiatives.
Your role at QNET
I’m Trevor Kuna, the Chief Transformation and Reputation Officer at QNET. At the helm of this role, my mission is to pioneer strategic endeavours that propel our company forward in the ever-evolving landscape of digitalisation, e-commerce, and elevated customer experiences. With a steadfast focus on brand integrity and reputation, particularly within the direct selling domain where trust reigns supreme, I orchestrate initiatives reinforcing our credibility and resonance in the market.
Central to my responsibilities is curating holistic strategies that foster positive engagement with our diverse stakeholders – customers, distributors, and the public. This entails meticulous brand management, adept navigation of our online presence, and the seamless execution of corporate social responsibility endeavours that mirror our core values. In addition, I spearhead our digital transformation agenda, harnessing the power of technology to revolutionise our sales strategies, refine customer interactions, and streamline operational efficiencies.
Through transparent communication of our transformational journey and robust engagement with stakeholders, we cultivate a culture of trust and synergy that underpins our long-term success and standing in the direct selling sector.
What about QNET’s direct selling business model?
QNET is a global direct-selling company offering a wide array of health, wellness, lifestyle, and education products through an e-commerce platform with operations in over 25 countries.
QNET stands out as a health and wellness enterprise that strategically utilises direct selling to introduce its offerings to the market.
Direct selling isn’t a job opportunity; it’s a gateway to entrepreneurship, empowering individuals to establish their businesses without needing a personal website or product design expertise. This is the essence of its allure. At QNET, we provide everything necessary to kickstart a small business with minimal capital investment. This accessibility allows direct selling to thrive even in challenging economic climates.
Whay does V-Africa mean for QNET and its stakeholders?
V-Africa is a significant convention organized by QNET for its network in Africa, similar to the well-known V-Malaysia. The convention provides a dynamic platform for QNET’s independent representatives across the continent to engage in networking, receive training, and celebrate their achievements. The event comprises motivational talks, product demonstrations, business strategy discussions, and leadership training aimed at empowering participants and fostering a sense of community. Through V-Africa, QNET remains committed to supporting its representatives’ entrepreneurial growth and highlighting its dedication to social responsibility in the region.
How does V-Africa contribute to QNET’s mission of enhancing lives and promoting sustainable business practices?
V-Africa is instrumental in advancing our mission on multiple fronts. Through educational sessions, product launches, and interactive workshops, we equip attendees with the knowledge and tools they need to lead healthier, more sustainable lives. Moreover, by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and social responsibility, V-Africa empowers individuals to create positive change in their communities while building successful businesses.
How does V-Africa contribute to building QNET’s brand awareness and credibility in the Nigerian market specifically?
V-Africa represents a significant opportunity for QNET to build brand awareness and credibility in the Nigerian market. By hosting this premier event in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, we demonstrate our commitment to the country and its people. Through engaging sessions, interactive workshops, and media outreach, we showcase the value we bring to the market and the unique opportunities we offer entrepreneurs and consumers.
By connecting with local stakeholders and addressing their specific needs and concerns, V-Africa enables us to build trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships essential for sustainable growth and success in Nigeria and beyond.
What makes V-Africa unique compared to other similar events in the region?
V-Africa is a pivotal event for QNET, serving as a key platform for networking, community building, and education among its independent representatives in Africa. It fosters a strong sense of community and provides invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth through comprehensive training sessions, workshops, and seminars. By connecting representatives from across the continent, V-Africa enhances their skills and knowledge, equipping them with the tools needed to thrive in the competitive direct selling market.
Furthermore, V-Africa plays a crucial role in motivating and inspiring participants by sharing success stories, hosting motivational speakers, and encouraging representatives to pursue their goals with dedication. It also facilitates direct communication between QNET and its network, allowing for the dissemination of corporate updates and strategic directions tailored to the African market. This alignment ensures that the company and its representatives work together towards common objectives, highlighting QNET’s commitment to its community’s growth and success in Africa.
How central is Nigeria for QNET’s African markets?
Suppose you look at the fact that we have our incredible partners from Transblue Ltd, based here in Nigeria, who have helped set up our Customer Service and Logistics Centre. In that case, Nigeria is the future of Direct Selling.
In terms of the region, there’s a tremendous amount of potential. It’s not that people are starving for opportunities; there are many opportunities for entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Like with QNET, you get a turnkey solution. You not only have the products and the platform but also the training, events like the V-Africa, access to customer support, and everything you need to do your own small business. So, Nigeria is a fantastic hub for QNET in this region.
What challenges have you encountered doing business in Nigeria?
The biggest challenge we’ve always had is how the business scales quickly and how we need to train people. You know the business is growing, and once it becomes strong in momentum, Nigerians start seeing that this business is real and works, and everybody becomes more excited. However, they need to remember the training and the education that they learned from the very beginning. That’s when you get a little bit of the challenges when people are too excited; they forget to say things they are supposed to, especially when explaining the economic opportunity and when it comes to displaying the products.
That’s the only challenge; it is more of a training and development challenge. And we’re getting ahead of that challenge. We’ve just hired three new trainers here in Nigeria to do weekly trainings in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt to get ahead of the curve and make sure that we equip our distributors and empower them with the right knowledge about our products, equip them with the right knowledge about our business and of course our policies and procedures so that they are the right voice of the company to the public.
Lastly, how do you envision V-Africa evolving, and how do you hope it will impact the African market?
We see V-Africa becoming a premier destination for thought leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the African market. As we expand our reach and influence across the continent, we aim to make V-Africa a catalyst for positive change, driving economic growth and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. Ultimately, we hope V-Africa will be a beacon of inspiration and opportunity for future generations.