Today we’d like to introduce you to Chika Otuata.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m the woman behind ByOdiri. My story started during undergrad, creating black girl art and what has now turned into creating beautiful home decor and accessories. Art, designing, and making have always been a part of my life. In high school, I was in the art club competed in the art and Graphic design competitions. Once I got to college, art and making became my creative outlet for stress relief from the demanding nature of college. In my final year of undergrad, I was encouraged by friends and family to showcase my illustrations and start a business. I created an Instagram page and started a business called Chi. Illustrates, I sold my work on platforms like society six and redbubble.
Eventually, I transitioned to my website once I got a hang of running a business. When the pandemic hit, I started working from home. At that time, I was only four months into my first big girl job, working full time, and starting my second year of my master’s program. I had more time to think about what I wanted my future to look like. I constantly asked myself what kind of growth do I want for myself and my business. Time spent at home allowed me to think of my passion and explore past hobbies and other art forms that I enjoyed. In high school, almost every weekend I was at a ceramic studio, using my hands to make beautiful plates, mugs, and murals. The feeling of getting my hands messy and knowing that I made something beautiful and functional for someone to use in their space left an irreplaceable feeling of satisfaction. After spending time revisiting those hobbies, I decided that it was something I needed to incorporate into my business. I spent time researching affordable ways to make functional home decor, the logistics of shipping such items, etc. Once I figured out the basics, I rebranded and launched By Odiri.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When running a business, there are bound to be some obstacles. For me, it’s trying to find a balance and not overwork myself. Some weeks it can feel like I’m on overdrive. My day starts with my 9-5 job, after that I have school, and then I still need to plan for the business, make, and/or pack orders. There’s also creating content for social media, which can be daunting as an introvert. It’s a juggling act that I’m still perfecting.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
By Odiri makes hand-crafted functional home decor that adds a pop of color to your home. I design a range of terrazzo-inspired homeware. You’ll find items like terrazzo coffee table trays, trinket trays, serving trays, pots, and more. The goal of By Odiri is to inspire creativity and expression. If I can do that through a decor piece that makes your space feel like your dream home, then I call that success.
What is unique about By Odiri is that no two items are exactly the same. This means that when you purchase a Round Coffee Table Tray or a Trinket Tray it is unique to you and your home. The range of designs and colors is limitless because you can customize our existing products to fit your style and aesthetic.
One of the best things about being a small business is participating in local pop-up markets. It’s an amazing opportunity to engage with Austin and the people. You can find By Odiri at markets such as Frida Friday, Plaza las Rosas, Noir Creator Space, Round Rock Market Days, and other amazing Austin markets.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
By Odiri has only existed for ten months, and I feel so blessed and amazed by the support I have received. The next phase of growth is venturing into wholesale and getting my products into local stores. We’ve partnered with Faire to make wholesale shopping with us risk-free and stress-free.
Contact Info:
- Email: Hello@byodiri.com
- Website: byodiri.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/byodiri
- Facebook: Facebook.com/byodiri
- Other: byodiri.faire.com
