Founder of Benny’s Beading, Benita Obasuyi, used to play with African beads in Nigeria when she was a teenager.
As she got older, the 23-year-old noticed how her skin would negatively react to certain jewelry metals, convincing her that beads, with their uniqueness, durability, comfort and extraordinary colour range, were a better jewelry option.
Two years after moving to Indianapolis to be closer to her family, Benita made a bracelet for a friend, whose friends in turn requested to purchase the same bracelet.
That was all the motivation she needed, and in early 2022, Ms. Obasuyi started Benny’s Beading. She began with just bracelets and sold them mostly to coworkers and friends. Soon after, her craft and designs expanded, and she introduced a wider range of accessory options – such as keychains, waist beads, ankle bracelets, and even handbags – all made with luxury African beads.Â
As her brand grew, Benita realised she needed help with making the right decisions for her business and enrolled in Ivy Tech Community College’s entrepreneurship program (Indianapolis, USA) where she is due to finish in 2025.
“I had enough of the trial and error. Now, I get to understand what I was doing wrong and how to correct those mistakes.”
Obasuyi says the most beneficial part of being in the program is the entrepreneurial connections and community she has gained in the classroom, saying: “My professor at Ivy Tech, Steve Thrash, has been very helpful. He knows of resources and is very knowledgeable as an experienced business owner himself. He facilitates discussions and encourages the other students in the program to also share their stories, making my journey much more familiar, clearer, and easier.”
For Benita, opening a storefront is a goal: “I want a space where people can come in and see the beauty for themselves. I don’t want to just be an online business. Even if they don’t want to buy my products, I want people to just enjoy the beauty of African beads.”