I Learnt How to Make Bread but Didn’t Learn the Marketing Aspect – Home Bread Maker Narrates Experience
A home bread maker, Tomoh Juliet Abiodun ,has let out her experience while growing her bread baking business, saying the struggle almost discouraged her from the business.
According to her, in a post on her Facebook page, she was at the verge of closing down the business due to lack of patronage, saying she went to many places to pray but there was no noticeable changes.
I struggled for months without any sales,was even contemplating on closing the bakery ,no growth, only 2paints for some months
Mrs. Abiodun, a Lagos based house wife, narrated how she eventually convinced her husband to allow her set up a stand at a junction to sell her bread.
“Then one day, I finished very late like around 8pm in the night, my bakery was opposite of the popular Iyana Ejigbo junction in Lagos, as I was crossing the road I saw some women selling at the bus stop, a thought just came to my mind (I can also sell my bread at this bus stop after production o, since it’s opposite my bakery)
I told my hubby, you know now My hubby said I should call home, and inform them their daughter want to start hawking and selling bread on the street of Lagos o, that if they agree then I can start
“He gave his consent quickly located some agberos at the junction, paid for a space(one time payment of #20,000) bought umbrella, table and a plastic chair, and a Rechargeable lamp”
“After production every day, I would carry my chair, table and sit under the umbrella to sell, from 6pm to 11pm(Remember I was with my Mother inlaw,it was easy for me)”
“I would be the first to open the house gate in the morning, the last person to enter the house, it wasn’t easy, but it was worth it(the beginning is always rough u Know)”
The first night, I sold all the breads, all(my hubby was surprised)It continued like that till after few weeks then I increased the Production, from 2paints of flour to 4paints to half bag
One night at my usual selling place, a woman asked if I could supply bread to her church, 300 loaves of bread for their Every first Sunday of the month event
I told hubby about it, that if I had continued staying indoors, waiting for walk in customers alone, would I have been noticed”
Mrs. Abiodun, however counselled women not to be deterred by any condition militating against their ventures or business saying shame doesn’t pay bills.
Dear woman,Carry your Market on your head, Shame no dey pay bills o, Shamelessly Market your Products like your life depends on it
