Often times in this part of the world it is very easy to attribute our joblessness to either unfavourable government policies or lack of funds. A closer look at big brands of today; they were problem solvers; they were able to identify what people need that both the older and younger generation can relate with. Community Bell caught up with 35 years old Mrs. Omolayo Ganiyu, a house wife and a mother, who started her pastry business with N2,500 in October, 2017. Excepts!
What prompted you to start your business?
I have been selling clothes since 2006 and continue till I got married, but in 2017 I sales began to drop and I realized I didn’t have to allow my husband shoulder the responsibilities of the family alone. So, I started thinking about what I can do to create wealth for my family and I. Then, it suddenly occurred to me that I can make snacks. When I was in secondary school, I learnt a lot during our home economics practical, so I started making Chinchin.
What motivated you to stay in this line of business?
I started with N2,500 as at the end of 2017 and now I know how much turnover I have made so far. Initially, I was supplying Chinchin to shops run by Mallams, but the returns weren’t good enough, so I switched, I started hawking Puff-puff and buns.
When were you convinced that you were on the right track?
My big break came when someone was hosting a meeting, she gave me a create of egg to make egg roll, before then I was afraid, I won’t know how to make egg roll because it’s being a long while since I left secondary school. So, I called one of my younger sisters and together we did it and the egg roll came out nice, from that day I gained so much confidence and since then I haven’t looked back. At the moment, I supply to schools.
So how much can one make assuming one invest N2,500 like you did in 2017?
If you have a good location, because in this line of business location is key, you can have as much as N5000, which is okay, because as you can see I do this at home, I don’t pay for rent for shop so my running cost is not much, so I can say it’s a lucrative business.
What advice do you have for those who are interested in this line of business?
You have to be passionate about it, it should be something you do
willingly, then again, you have to be hygienic, because if I throw caution to the wind and my customers get sick after eating my snack, they won’t buy from me again and this is a highly competitive business. At every corner and bus stop someone is there making pastries, so you have to be neat, it is not negotiable. Then don’t be in a hurry to get a shop, if it’s conducive to work from the house please do so, when you are starting a business it is important that you don’t incur too much running
expenses. Like they say no knowledge is lost, so take the bull by the horn and get busy, be your own boss
