Graduate turns passion for small chops, cocktails into business

Successful entrepreneurs are largely those who pursue businesses they have passion for, developed relevant skills in the area and attracted a loyal clientele.

Passion

Abosede Oshodi, graduate of business studies from the Lagos State Polytechnic discovered early enough that she loves making cakes, small chops such as salmosa and cocktail drinks. So, rather than look for a white collar job after her graduation in 2010, immediately she went to a catering school to develop her skills along the lines of her passion. She also simultaneously started her business – Neematos Cakes and Small Chops. 

Skills upgrade

But after she finished from the catering school, due to dearth of capital and the need to further improve her skills and get industry experience, she took up a job at Sweet Sensation. After she left Sweet Sensation, she took up a job with another catering firm which had contract to provide catering services at NIMASA. 

Starting out

Now very confident of her skills and having saved some funds, she has fully launched into her business. She says, “I provide cakes and small chops, cocktails for companies and individuals’ functions. I also provide catering services for serving of meals at functions at companies’ Annual General Meetings and other corporate and social functions such as weddings. But the main focus of my business is provision of cakes and small chops. I make wedding, birthday, valentine and all sorts of cakes for any occasion.” 

I currently have a spot I operate from at Amuwo Odofin where customers come for their sharwarma, and other snacks and drinks. But on getting a contract, I and my team can make deliveries to any location the customer wants. 

On how she is overcoming the challenges of doing business, she says, “The traffic situation often pose challenges when making deliveries so we do not leave things to chance, we go to make the deliveries ahead of time so as not to disappoint our customers.”  

Vision

My vision is to ensure my clients get excellent food, drinks and service that will make their events even more memorable. 

Prospects

Recognising what I love to do on time and developing it helped me fight against joblessness after my graduation from the polytechnic and also helped me to start a business despite the little capital. So, I would also like to have a training school to help upcoming graduates. The training will provide another income stream for my business but would also empower people to get jobs or start their own businesses. There is a huge demand for cakes, small chops and cocktails that we are yet to fully meet, so there is still room for new players in this field.  

The school will offer courses in cake decoration, small chops, different kinds of cocktail drinks, cookery/catering and much more.

Staffing

Currently, I work with temporary staff, whenever I have a contract to execute, I get as many people as would be needed depending on the scale of the food or drinks we have to prepare. But in the very near future, I shall start employing because at least one person will have to be at the snacks shop while we are at clients’ events.  

OLUYINKA ALAWODE