Simply Ejibola

Simply Ejibola at 4 !!!! 4 years of God’s GRACE 4 years of building a successful diverse business. I was a Fellow Chartered Banker (FCIB) of the Institute of Banking when I left the Canadian Banking industry. I left a “known path” for an “unknown path” … I left a constant every 2weeks “guaranteed paid cheque” for a “hustling 24/7 start from scratch, not sure where my payroll is coming from”. Was it easy creating this baby that I named Simply Ejibola (which means Simply Amazing)? - NO! This baby made me cry several times This baby woke me up at nights severally and still does 🤩 This baby broke my heart countless times This baby made me so vulnerable often This baby turned me into a sales person, customer service rep, bookkeeper, HR, cleaner, delivery woman etc overnight This baby taught me patience, perseverance, leadership skills, communication skills, persistency, and several skills needed in building a successful business …. 4 good years of “real business school”!!! This year, I thought I was going to close business because I had entered into an horrifying leasing agreement and I was relocating out of previous town to the City of Edmonton … I almost gave up hope BUT God’s mercy said NO! I am thrilled and delighted to announce that the Simply Ejibola is standing stronger and elevating into the next level of success. Our commitment stands solid on 3 anchor of strengths and remains the same:: To “Fuel your Dreams”, “Fuel your Passion”, “Fuel your Wellbeing”. The Simply Ejibola brand persona is FREEDOM - it’s about giving power to the people; creating hope, passion, imagination, and dreams through inspirational writing instruments and lifestyle gift items. Through the purchase of Simply Ejibola products, our amazing customers are also investing in the building of the next generation of future creatives, innovators, game changers, dreamers, and leaders. a HUGE THANK YOU to all our Ejibola Champions (Amazing Champions) that are keeping us in business through their online or in store purchases. You are the real deal !! Cheers to the next 4years of becoming one of the key players when it comes to stationery, writing instruments, and gift items at the big box stores 🥂 Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

This year, I almost tricked myself and my brand Simply Ejibola out of an opportunity that we deserve. Sometimes, I’m always pre-occupied with activities of “how can I serve others better”. I would have become my biggest hater of I had let this unique opportunity pass this year ... henceforth, I promise to never do that to myself again! This year my brand and I became a part of a phenomenal network of doers, changemakers, innovators, and powerhouses ... We became part of the EY network (Ernst and Young network in North America). It’s been all shades of connections and learning and networking opportunities for the past few months. When you are surrounded by love, support, positivity, words of affirmation; and your black girl magic is allowed to spread wings and to shine, then, you know you are in the right room; that you belong there, that you deserve this safe space that allows you to dream, and you deserve every opportunity that comes with it. A big thank you to the most high God for clouding my self sabotaging mind with reassurance and strength to receive strategic knowledge that I can apply to grow my businesses. Thank you to EY and EY EAN, BDC for this blessing. Honored, Blessed, and Grateful #EYEAN #EYEANAlumni Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

Today, I reflect on my journey as a woman entrepreneur in Canada. I had to remind myself that it’s not just the moments of triumph/success/accomplishments that shape us, The trials and tribulations that comes our way, that we face often times along the way also does. I'd like to share a side of entrepreneurship that’s often not talked about. The Success:: Nothing compares to the thrill of seeing your dream and vision come to reality. The happiness that comes with landing your first big client, the joy of building a team, and the satisfaction of knowing that your product is making a difference when it's been bought and used. These moments are the fuel that keep us going as an entrepreneur and a brand. The Failures:: But behind every success story, there are numerous barriers and challenges. Late nights filled with tears, doubt, disappointments, the heartbreak of failed proposals, contract rejections, pitch rejection, and the lack of financial uncertainty. These moments can be really tough, and they often make you question your path and your entrepreneurship journey. Then The Ugly:: And then there are the really difficult days. The ones where everything seems to go wrong, where you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. The mistakes of contract that cost you time and MONEY (because you miss a line or few fine prints), the rejections that sting, and the sacrifices that sometimes feel too great to bear. But here’s the truth: it’s all part of the journey, it's all part of the story. All these setbacks teach me resilience, the failures fuel my brand growth, and the struggles makes the successes that much sweeter at the end of the day. It’s in the messy, chaotic middle that we find our true strength as an individual. Most Valuable Lesson Learned:: Through it all, I’ve learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable, to admit when things aren’t going as planned, and to seek for help. Thank you FedEx Canada for #backingsmallbusiness like mine Cheers to more growth 

T. I. M. E - the most expensive thing we spend each and everyday 📍 While I’m still basking in the evidence of God’s grace, love, mercy, and faithfulness …. I’d like to appreciate the representative of the following organizations for braving the pouring snow and cold weather last week to grace the occasion of our Edmonton store grand opening; Marcela Mandeville, CEO of Alberta Women Entrepreneur (AWE); Tomi Odunlami, Manager at Ernest and Young (thankful for the EY EAN community, Josée Rioux Myriam Gafarou Christopher Gordon Daniel Baer, FCPA); Nonso Monwuba, Manager at Business Development Canada (thankful for the BDC community Claudine Pilon Dennis Agbegha, BSc, MSc.). Your presence and your constant support for women-owned businesses is unmatched. Cheers to the celebration of bigger accomplishments in Edmonton🥂 Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

PRESS RELEASE:: We moved city from Grande Prairie to Edmonton (the City of Champions). Address for our flagship store in Edmonton is - 5535 Gateway Boulevard NW. Come visit us whenever you're in Edmonton ! Keep being a.m.a.z.i.n.g Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

PRESS RELEASE:: We moved city from Grande Prairie to Edmonton (the City of Champions). Address for our flagship store in Edmonton is - 5535 Gateway Boulevard NW. Come visit us whenever you're in Edmonton ! Keep being a.m.a.z.i.n.g Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

It's a new beginning for us here at Simply Ejibola. Simply Ejibola is growing and we cannot wait to share insights with you. Stay close to this page as we take you through our adventure and memories of growth. Keep being A.M.A.Z.I.N.G ! Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

*Exciting News* !!!!! Our product is now being carried by the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in downtown Oshawa, Ontario 👯♀️ We are excited about this wholesale partnership because it makes it possible for us to serve our amazing clients across Canada and to get our products into the hands of more customers and into many Canadian homes. We cannot wait for you all to visit the RMG shop to touch, feel, and to embrace the Simply Ejibola experience. Simply Ejibola, the ENLIVENING luxury brand 📍

We are humbled to share with you that our Founder/CEO, Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo has been selected as one of the 2024 EY Entrepreneurs Access Network Cohort. We are beyond thrilled to announce this amazing news! This means incredible things are on the horizon for our brand as we gear up for a phenomenal accelerated growth this year.   Ejibola is one of the 12 corporate entrepreneurs selected across Canada for the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network Class of 2024, selected by an independent panel of executives from among all applications received. Launched in Canada in 2022, the program helps Black and Indigenous leaders access learning and networks to transcend barriers and scale their business. Each of the 2024 EAN cohort entrepreneurs are chosen based on their potential for scalability, leadership style, business acumen, as well as their company's culture, level of innovation and potential for scalability. “The class of 2024 consists of visionary entrepreneurs from diverse industries, united by their shared commitment to engaging with their communities and meeting consumer needs through innovative and sustainable solutions,” shares Christopher Gordon, EY Entrepreneurs Access Network Program Co-Director. “Whether it’s consumer products and retail or tech-enabled recruitment, the entrepreneurs in this year’s program put humans at the heart of their business.”   “ The 2024 EAN cohort represents a remarkable platform for growth and knowledge-sharing, and I am deeply appreciative of the chance to collaborate with a dynamic group of entrepreneurs and industry visionaries,” says Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, CEO Simply Ejibola. My participation is not just a commitment to personal development, but a strategic step towards furthering the advancement of Simply Ejibola as I will have to engage with other forward-thinking entrepreneurs and industry leaders in bringing Simply Ejibola to a new stage of brand growth.” EY Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo #EYCanada #EYAccessNetwork #BlackEntrepreneursinCanada

At Simply Ejibola, we are always excited when we host college students at our warehouse facility. Member of the Northwestern Polytechnic student association executive council got a tour of our operations. Want to know more about us? Tell us what you want to hear from us. If you want to stay up-to-date with us, follow our Page. #SimplyEjibola #SimplyAmazing