How a Kingston university student spotted an opportunity in transport

Interviews, Start-Ups - Posted: July 13, 2010

I love to see students find a clever way of doing business whilst at university and last week I was back at my old university Kingston. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Emmanuel Oladokun Sekumade .

He is an aspiring entrepreneur who runs a removal business (Kingmaker transport) for students in the Kingston surrey area. I remember having this problem, not having anybody to help me move.

Emmanuel Has found a gap in the market.

So, Tell me about you?

My name is Emmanuel Oladokun Sekumade, from Nigeria and Kingston University, I will be starting my second year in September (2010) and I study Chemistry and Business Management.

Tell me about the whole movement, what’s the name and how did it get started?

Basically I’m into moving students and Luggages, I run a business called Kingmaker Transport.

About a year ago, I went to Portsmouth Uni and after seeing my cousin moving into halls and realising how many students move in and out of halls, I thought, hold on a second, there’s a big market here.

I live locally in Kingston, I have a driving licence, and I thought if i could rent a van or get a car i could move students moving out of halls into storage or from halls to back home. I even do the storage myself.

What has been your main influence or inspiration?

The person I look up to is Richard Branson and the Whole of Virgin. So, I hope to be as big as virgin who knows.

So how Long have you been Running Kingmaker Transport for?

I only started this summer, I got my first customer on the 31st. It’s a new movement. I will be targeting Kingston University and Neighbouring universities.

So what’s the difference between you and a mini cab service?

The differences between myself and minicab services is that I offer really cheap services to students, being a student myself I know how it feels to be exploited by older people and I can related more closely to my customers because I’m a student I also help the student moves their things like I’m doing right now. But the mini Cabs drivers don’t help you move your things so, it’s more customer focused basically.

So how do you plan to balance your studying with you business when semester starts?

This kind of business is seasonal it’s not an everyday thing. And I’m not moving for everyday people I’m just moving for students so, because students only move at the end of semesters I’ll have nothing to do.

So where do you see you business in 5 years time?

In 5 years time I see myself with 5 mini vans (laughter) hopefully, I just see myself doing a lot better than this you know. Serving Brunel Uni and all the neighbouring universities in Kingston.

What’s the overall dream?

The dream is to be as big as Richard Branson to be a major competitor in the market. Who knows Kingmaker Airways Lagos to Heathrow, but yea that’s the dream.

Money or Love?

Love is important you know.... what kind of love are we talking about? (Laughter)

The love for whatever you’re doing, the passion should I say?

Oh yes the passion for what you’re doing .Money is not a good motivator. I’ve driven all around the country it’s the love, I like to drive it’s my hobby and hopefully the love brings money.

So how can people find out about your business?

I have a Blackberry group called Kingmaker transport and i also have a group on Facebook called Kingmaker transport group and you could also find us on Kingmakertransport.blogspot.com

Thanks for your time emmanuel.

Joseph Ajilore

Apparently, I'm far more interesting in person. Co-founder of YHP and many other things.