In early 2023, my friend started an online business selling T-shirts and men’s wear during her NYSC program. I was a software engineer in Lagos at the time and decided to help by distributing products to my colleagues while she focused on sourcing inventory.

Sales started strong but slowed quickly. Then, a colleague joked, “How much will you pay me if I bring buyers?” I casually said N300 per sale, and to my surprise, she took it seriously. She promoted the products passionately, using her own and others’ purchases as proof of quality.

By the end of the day, everything I brought was sold out. That moment was eye-opening. It showed me how personal recommendations and social connections could drive sales more effectively.

With further research, I realized this model could be scaled, and that’s how Distyla was born—a platform connecting brands in fashion, beauty, home decor, and technology with content creators to boost sales through authentic recommendations.