Join us for this episode with Ekram Akill, co-founder and CEO of Yetem Trading, a homegrown business that started as a small cosmetics shop and grew into cosmetics manufacturing, import export, and real estate. In this conversation: the cosmetics industry, growing a local manufacturing operation, navigating import and distribution, Merkato, expanding Yetem Trading, and the challenges and resilience that shaped her journey. More from our partners: Dashen Bank Website: https://dashenbanksc.com Telegram: https://t.me/DashenBankEthiopia EthioTelecom Download Telebirr Remit App on Playstore : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ethiotelecom.telebirr.remit&hl=en&pli=1 Appstore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/telebirr-remit/id6642675033 Website: https://www.ethiotelecom.et/ BPO Partnership Form: https://forms.gle/PsAVBP1vXCvhKXFP6 To advertise on Meri: https://meri.et/advertise 00:00 - Introduction 02:59 - Opening 04:11 - Journey 09:03 - Cosmetics 12:32 - International trading 14:34: - Distribution channels 16:45 - The Merkato Experience 32:38 - Manufacturing 21:32 - From import to manufacturing 28:05 - Manufacturing process 31:33 - Product development 33:51 - Advice for people that would want to open any form of manufacturing factory 38:16 - Import 43:03 - Acceptance of locally manufactured goods 45:15 - Brand ambassador 51:46 - Coffee and real estate 59:48 - Talent Management 01:06:20 - Female CEO Breakfast Club 01:08:40 - Challenges 01:22:30 - Aspirations 01:25:17 - Life wisdom Social Links https://t.me/MERI_PODCAST https://twitter.com/MERI_Podcast https://www.instagram.com/meripodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzKNuQ80qNSpt2x-7dsazJg https://youtube.com/@Meriwoch?si=yIpJ3byprnVNwKi1 https://youtube.com/@mericlipset?si=wwa0KeQ_Nv2aPy9l https://www.tiktok.com/@meripodcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/meriethiopian/ Copyright Notice for Meri Podcast: All rights reserved. The content featured in this podcast is protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or modification of any portion of this podcast is strictly prohibited. For permission to use our content, please contact us at info@meri.et Thank you for respecting our copyright.