“We live in a country where the cost of living is almost killing the living because every product is on the high side. Nothing is cheap again in the country. Let the government reduce the cost of living.”
– Grace Ihunde
As the economy bites harder, due mainly to government policies that are unfavorable to the masses yours truly has been out there engaging with operators of small and medium scale businesses. The questions that come to mind include how it all started, the challenges they have faced and how they are coping with them?
Others have to do with their training and marketing programs, what they want the government to do for them as citizens of Nigeria because whether our crop of political leaders like it or not, they were elected to meet the needs of the people, and provide the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.
So, this week the interaction is with Ihunde Anointed Grace, CEO Shugabox. A graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria who is both a baker and a caterer.
Below are her responses to the questions posed to her:
I cater for all events providing my esteemed customers with amazing meals, as well as mouth – watering cakes and yummiest small chops.
I started baking as a 200-level student in 2017 selling cupcakes in school just to keep up and pay my minor academic bills. I have been baking for nine years and I’ve trained over 400 students online and on site. Now we’re into food catering full-time so we’re not just into baking, we started from just baking, but as time went by within nine years, I ventured into catering full-time, and our business is fully registered and
trademarked under CAC
What gave me the inspiration to go into food business
I got the inspiration to go into food business in my university days firstly, because I wanted to assist in paying some bills but overtime it grew into doing it because I needed to provide good meals and services to people. It became something I loved doing though most times in exchange for money, but I derived satisfaction in doing it.
I started this in Edo State, Nigeria, nine years ago, but today, we travel interstate and sometimes out of Nigeria, to render goods and services.
The initial challenges I faced
The initial challenge I faced as a new business owner was capital. My mom literally had to start selling cake items back then just so I could buy on credit. Then also not having an oven was a major challenge because I had to use my mom’s pot to bake, which was stressful because I needed to bake at least 75 cupcakes every night and this pot could only take 18 at a time. I used to take these cupcakes to school, waiting to sell them in class after lectures.
I bypassed this challenge when I had to save all my school fees at a time to get my oven with the hope that I was going to make sales and pay back the school fees, which I did.
Our training programmes
For our training programs, now we have six – month courses. We have four -month courses for persons interested to learn, baking, and catering within Ekpoma Edo state. We are also working on a project where people outside Edo state can come with accommodation provided for them just so they can learn.
Our marketing strategies
Marketing strategies involve personally putting myself out there to sell my products. I love to be found in the right place, at the right time that has people for my business. My target audience also pay influencers, People also well known within our area carry our adverts for us . By so doing they are exposing us to a wider audience.
Partnerships I am into
We have partnerships with some organizations and also with some personal business owners. We tend to supply our products to them for particular period of time.
During their ceremonies or events, we are always called upon to render our services. but we look forward to having more partners, or having to partner with bigger brands, restaurant, lounges, or whatsoever where we can supply our products to you, you can resell or you can use as part of your entertainment and souvenirs to your guests.
How I am coping with the harsh economy
I must say it is tough for everyone in the country. At the moment, some things are not how they used to be. People aren’t as happy and active like they used to be., and this really has a way of affecting businesses. A lot of people complain about money and when your clients do not have that it affects your business as well, so yeah, the economy is affecting everybody, but we hope and we pray and we keep putting our business out there and believe it will get better.
What I want the government to do for me
We live in a country where the cost of living is almost killing the living because everything is on the high side. Every product is on the high side. Nothing is cheap again in the country so if I would ask, the government for one thing is to please reduce the cost of living if that’s even possible in this country because it’s not easy for anybody.
My advice to youths who want to go into food business
One piece of advice to youths that want to venture into food business is that the best time to start is now. There cannot be so many food vendors in the industry. Food is one essential thing that everybody must get. you must eat food. so, my advice is if you’re thinking of starting the food business, with the right niche, the right product, you can actually succeed in it. You may start small but trust me, with time and the right promotions, you can get what you want.
My plans for the future and how I relax
My dreams are so big, I look forward to the future, where money is no longer the problem, where I can reach wider audience, where I can get my product and services to important and influential people in the world. That’s my dream; that’s the future I hope for.
To relax is not always easy. Resting for my kind of business I always, most times, would encounter health issues, reasons being that I grew up having to figure things out myself so I want to always work.
Most times, it affects my health big time but one way I’ve learnt to manage health issues is to take time when I just need it. So, when I just want to relax sometimes, I just travel, I hang out with friends. That way, I get to have time to think outside work because honestly, it’s not always easy, balancing these things.
One hopes, and fervently so, that our policy makers make out time to listen to the voices of those who pilot the affairs of SMEs in this country and do everything humanly possible to ease their pains.
