Author: Lina Ahenkorah
What began as an interest in clothing and T-shirt customisation is gradually developing into a wider entrepreneurial journey for Ghanaian business owner John Judah Praise, founder of XclusiveKobb.
Through social media, particularly TikTok, XclusiveKobb has built a growing audience around T-shirt printing, fashion, customisation and entrepreneurship. But behind the videos and finished products is a business that is also being used to introduce young people to practical skills.
The journey, however, has come with its own challenges. Like many small businesses, building a customer base, maintaining consistency and turning a creative skill into a sustainable source of income require patience and continuous learning.
Rather than treating TikTok simply as a platform for entertainment, XclusiveKobb has used it to document aspects of the business and share content around printing, fashion and entrepreneurship.
The growing audience has also created an opportunity to expose young people to a business they may otherwise not have considered.
One of the more significant aspects of John’s journey has been his decision to train others.
Having taught about 50 young people, he sees skills development as an important part of the business’s wider impact.
The approach reflects a growing interest among young people in practical and creative enterprises, particularly at a time when many are looking for alternatives to traditional employment.
For those entering the industry, however, learning the technical side of printing is only part of the equation. Understanding customers, pricing, marketing, equipment and consistency are equally important to turning the skill into a viable business.
While the immediate focus is on growing XclusiveKobb, John says his long-term ambition is bigger than building a successful personal business. He wants to create an enterprise that can continue creating opportunities beyond his own lifetime.
That vision is centred on the idea of legacy — building something that can employ people, transfer skills and create opportunities for others long after its founder is no longer directly involved.
