28/09/2017
The final part!
3/3
"Running the business hasn't been easy. Being a new mom, a wife, combined with the old & new line of business is a kind of tasking. At the early stage, I only employed just one staff and that was the cleaner. It was such a difficult task, being the CEO, the cook, the marketer, the waiter, and all at the kitchen. I opened at 7:30am so that I could meet up with making the breakfast and then I closed at 10pm. Within one month I became so lean. All the fats I acquired during pregnancy melted away.
I had to go back to the drawing board and find a way of maximizing my limited resources. As for adverts, I got some guys who volunteered to distribute the kitchen flyers to the neighbouring shops and offices. I also cooked and served everyone in my complex, I sent invitations out to some loyal friends and family to come visit and patronize the kitchen yet sales was still so unencouraging.
The first one or two months, 90% of the sales was from my immediate family and few friends. My husband was the Angel God used to alleviate the stress I underwent at the time. He would call to ask how far with the sales and he’d encourage me to be positive, that after all I just started the business. Later in the day instead of wasting or keeping the foods till the following day he would bring along some of his friends and younger ones and he’d buy all the foods for them.
You can imagine the stress making all types of food available and yet no one to ask to buy a plate. During that phase, I always just wanted to sleep and never wanted to wake up. In fact, I began to feel that, perhaps, it wasn't my calling but I kept the hope alive and I was always positive about my business.
Later, I started going from shops to shops and offices to advertise the kitchen. Telling people about our service, making them to see that it's not an eatery but an "advanced BUKA". Everybody I met was wowed. All of them commented that our packaging was toooooo much and that confused them and they didn’t want embarrassment from us and that that was why they hadn't been patronising us. That day a lot of people trooped to patronize and they were convinced. I nearly cried that day because I couldn't imagine that could be the reason for my predicament all this while. lol. Since then God has been faithful.
What keeps motivating me is my faith in myself. I know I can do it, I know who I am, I know am not a failure, and I know the future ahead is bright. I also know that a bright future wouldn't come easily – the challenges and hard work are what make up the stories of success. Another factor that has kept me going is the awareness that I know some people who are watching, waiting to see how the whole enterprise would go. Knowing this keeps me on my toes, I can’t afford to let go of my dreams because then, they’d have won. Instead of go down, I keep dreaming and God remains God.
Lastly, I want to appreciate all of whom made it possible. My king and my family I say thank you very much."
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Maxdelicious Kitchen was founded by Asuni Omowunmi Bynt Areh and the services that the kitchen provides are - sales of daily meals, (breakfast, lunch and dinner). They deliver meals to offices and corporate organizations. Along with meals, they are into cake baking, event decorations, small chops, snacks, cocktails, mocktail etc. They also dish delicious foods for events and meetings - whether small or large. They plan and manage events too.
