What Makes Us Different?
Actionable inspiration, not mere decoration, powered by creativity that makes sense to you. We empower forward thinkers and change makers from all walks of life who want a smarter lifestyle – from creatives to techies and from artists to astronauts. Because creativity is for all of us!
Meet Our Founder:
The SmartShop Brand was created by our CEO, Ọgọ Ogbata (pronounced ‘or-gore or-gbata’).
Founder of The CIP Summit, she is an artist, computer scientist and entrepreneur, who identified: Creativity, Powerful/Support Networks, Learning Culture and Impactful Causes as 4 keys to achieving meaningful success. These 4 keys permeate our brand and its ethos.
Featured as a top voice on The Independent on Sunday, a guest expert on various BBC World Service programs as well as speaking at a live seminar at Bush House, The Strand – London (alongside renowned analysts, leaders and ambassadors), she is the author of a variety of thought leadership insights in media such as The Independent Blog, Training Journal and Training Zone.
You can read our Founder’s Story and Inspiration below…
Starting Steps:
Early in life, I fell in love with reading and always had my head buried in a book or two! The transformational power of words were immediately evident. I could see right away that being surrounded by positive words and images made people happier, more creative, resilient and successful.
For instance, when preparing for exams, encouraging words from family and friends spurred me on to study hard, persevere and excel.
The Naysayers:
Many years later, as a business owner, I had an idea for a leadership event. Another business owner soon invited me to a workshop in London where business owners could share their ideas and get support.
It sounded like the perfect opportunity at just the right time. So in freezing winter, I woke up at about 4:00am and commuted to the workshop with a spring in my steps – excited to get some help with the venture.
Unfortunately, the other attendees at the workshop pretty much took turns knocking down the idea because they did not have much experience in that specific area or had tried to execute similar projects unsuccessfully in the past.
The feedback was not helpful and the experience left me feeling deflated. Imagine having an idea and the excitement to create something meaningful but people don’t really understand or care about it. Imagine how isolating that could feel.
Springing Back:
However, I did not allow this to discourage me as people don’t know what they don’t know, right?
Determined to pursue my vision, I wrote down my goals over the next few weeks, found more supportive business networks and also immersed myself in inspirational words, environments and art.
Considering my Christian faith as the foundation for who I am and all I do, I prayed about the venture of course but also actively maintained a positive mental state by choosing to focus my thoughts on lovely and pleasant reports.
Success Steps:
Months later, my event was delivered in London and was a massive success because of the inclusive and impactful way it was structured. Based on user feedback, I developed this idea into other events and various frameworks for supporting the creative vision of fellow entrepreneurs.
More people became interested in learning from my experiences and soon invited me to speak to their audiences about creative leadership, general productivity and entrepreneurship.
Rediscovering Creativity:
In 2019 I had the opportunity to take a sabbatical: an extended mix of travel and staycation which provided much needed time to breathe down, refresh and rejuvenate. A year after that, the whole world was forced into very dramatic lock-downs with the emergence of Covid-19.
In both seasons, I re-discovered my childhood passion for art and design – by chance.
Suddenly I vividly remembered the messy stain of water colour paint on wooden furniture as I drenched pencil sketches with vibrant colours in my youthful exuberance. I felt wafting through my nostrils, the spirited smell of paint and felt its stickiness on my fingers as I experimented with slender brushes gripped tightly between my fingers in a distant past.
However, this time around, I had discovered the technological wonders of design apps. Art flowed easier and less messily – yet felt so nourishing to my soul! I felt profoundly excited, happy and fulfilled.
Spreading Joy:
A good while later, it just so happened that various family members and friends were celebrating one occasion or the other. So I thought “rather than sending them greeting cards (which are lovely but can have a rather limited shelf life), why not send them wall art with some of my designs on it”?
I did this with excitement but wondered if they would like it…
The feedback was fantastic! Every single person I gifted was deeply encouraged, impacted and grateful.
One wet wintry day (typical weather here in the UK), as I was typing away on my humming HP laptop, the proverbial penny dropped. I realised that although creativity is a game changer in today’s fast changing world, it is still the missing spark for so many people.
So I partnered with some of the best companies in the world to give others the tools and inspiration I wish I had got my hands on even earlier: productivity tools plus beautiful, meaningful, art that fuel your creativity, joy and success every day!
When people of like minds come together, change is possible and anything is achievable. Everyday is an event worth savouring and celebrating!
Our SmartValues:
Our message in essence is one of creativity, passion, positivity and impact. It’s really about encouraging you on your journey through life and helping you empower those you care about too.
Success means different things to different people. So when we say success, it’s about achieving the most meaningful and positive goals in various stages of life. Not “Keeping up with the Joneses”.
Unique approaches and solutions are vital in order to attain our highest potential and purpose. Community too: we need people to help us and need to help others for sure.
Passion and Experience:
Prior to starting my own business, I had worked as part of various idea generation and business growth teams. This coupled with my natural curiosity has conditioned me to see possibilities first – rather than obstacles – and to explore how ideas can work rather than dismissing them too quickly.
In the context of a learning environment, there is no such thing as an unrealistic idea or silly question. Of course every idea isn’t always feasible but creators need constructive feedback – not destructive knock-backs.
One idea, well nurtured, blossomed into other ideas – positively impacting myself and many others for years. Likewise, when a single idea is destroyed, it can have ripples of negative effects on generations to come. This is why value for creativity, inspiration and diversity of approaches is at the core of our brand.
“If you think knowledge is expensive, try ignorance.” Derek Bok
Now, more than ever, people who are more likely to survive and thrive will need creativity and the ability to think out of the box.
But that’s not enough. Even the smartest people also need supportive networks, practical learning, encouragement and plenty of inspiration. So this is what The SmartShop offers you.
What People Say:
> “Excellent designs and product choices from this wonderful company! Got the 18×18 sized framed wall art in red oak and this beautiful artwork arrived earlier than expected.” William JT
> “Powerful action planner you can write your weekly goals in and achieve success with! There are step by step instructions to help you follow the process (which is based on proven research by some of the world’s top institutions of learning), plus beautiful graphics and inspirational quotes to help you stay more positive and focused everyday!” Amanda Russell
> Ready to Unleash Positivity and Success? SmartShop Now!
Founder Feedback:
Energy, Focus and Absolute Commitment…
“Having spoken at another of Ogo’s recent events, I am once again astounded at this lady’s energy, focus and absolute commitment to making a real difference to the causes and communities she supports. Ogo is an author of renown, consultant and public speaker, all of which she combines very skillfully to great effect. Her audiences have great affection for her, they respect her dedication and are motivated by her wise words. As am I.
I believe that everyone who knows Ogo counts themselves fortunate to be her friend. If anyone out there is interested in the areas that she covers – buy her books, join her talks or commission her services, you won’t regret it.” Mike Skidmore – Speaker and Brand Consultant for The British Council, United Nations, Unilever, Cranfield University Business School and The Chartered Institute of Marketing. Artist @ www.MikeSkidmoreOnline.com
Creative, Passionate and Uplifting…
“Passionate and uplifting are two words that come to mind when thinking of Ogo Ogbata. Ogo is a multi-talented and creative woman who inspires everyone she comes in contact with to deliver excellence.
An inspiring speaker and prolific writer, Ogo keeps her audience on the edge of their seats. Whether engaging her on a consultancy or a speaking engagement, one thing is clear, you will not be disappointed.” Chioma Isiadinso – CEO of EXPARTUS, former Board Member at Harvard University and Author of ‘The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets’ @ www.Expartus.com
*Connect With Our Founder:
You can connect with our Founder on LinkedIn at: linkedin.com/in/ogoogbata
Customer Support:
If needed, you can contact us via a secure message here.
Thank you so much for visiting and we hope you enjoy shopping with us!