Journalist starts banana bread production business wih N3,000
Contrary to what many think, starting a business is possible with even a few thousands of naira though funds may be needed about a year later for expansion to create jobs. The most important thing is having a ready market for the product. This is the case with Deborah Ijeoma Onyegbuna who started her business, Sweetie Confectionery, using fresh bananas to produce bread with as low as N3,000.
Business
Onyegbuna says, “I started the business November 4, last year. I bake banana bread with raw bananas. The shelf-life of the bread is about three days since I do not use preservatives, but when refrigerated it can last for a week, and can be microwaved before eating to remove the ice. I supply a few people who sell to others. I also sell to schoolchildren, families, and people in my church. Apart from daily sales, I get orders to supply for birthdays and other events.”
Starting out
On how she started, Onyegbuna says, “I bought some baking pans and cups and ingredients with the N3,000. It is a mini-bakery that has started so very small. I started using stove, I now have a gas oven but there are so many things I still need to get. My current daily sales is at least N3,000 on average. Since I get special orders which are usually higher than that from time to time, sales are much higher on certain days. But the demand far outweighs my ability to supply. Therefore I need more distributors and marketers, so I can concentrate on production. Right now, the distributors I need would be paid on commission basis. I will give them discounts so they can make profit. In a short time from now I would need to employ full time staff to assist in production, marketing, supply and maintenance.
Supplies
I have only been able to supply people in Isolo, Ikeja, Aguda axis but there are calls for me to supply to people in other parts of Lagos but I cannot handle that alone. That is the reason, I need, marketers, distributors or suppliers. I also plan to supply some fast food restaurants and supermarkets.
Challenges
If I have enough capital, I would be able to buy the ingredients in bulk instead of buying them in small quantities like I do currently. The capital has grown from N3,000 to about N50,000 in one year but it is still not sufficient for the capacity the business has for expansion.
I make the bread in various sizes, from N50 to N600 depending on demand. When people eat, they like it so much but I do not have the funds to do the publicity. Also, some people keep asking me to put preservatives so it can last longer but there are also people who do not want that. I also have labour challenges, so I have to do so many things, produce, supply distributors, supply those who make orders and so on and of course there is a limit to what I can do.
Yet, at the level the business is, I cannot employ, it needs to grow beyond this before I can start employing and paying salaries, so I would need to work with distributors or marketers willing to collect commissions.
Also, I am not satisfied with the present packaging so I need to improve on my packaging and it will cost money.
Background
I am a journalist by training, I did internship with Daily Times and worked with the National Mirror and currently also works with Healing Heart Foundation, a women empowerment NGO.
Inspiration
Before now, I had the idea of how to make banana bread; it was God’s doing. But I was inspired to commercialise it when a sister in my church was putting me through on how to make the normal or conventional yeast bread. We were sharing ideas on the things we can bake and when I mentioned that I can make “banana bread”, she was like “wow!” She encouraged me to commercialise it.
Health Benefit
Sweetie banana bread is made with bananas combined with other rich ingredients good for the body. Banana is very rich in potassium and the lack of it causes “Hypokalemia” which is the term used for potassium deficiency. Symptoms of hypokalemia include weakness, fatigue, heart irregularities, such as a slower or quickened heartbeats, and even the loss of muscular coordination.
Banana helps to relax the brain. In this time that people complain of stress and tiredness, “Sweetie Banana Bread” is there to their rescue. “Sweetie Banana Bread” can be served as refreshment in seminars, AGM, workshop, conferences etc.”
OLUYINKA ALAWODE