What does it take to run a successful catering business? Especially when you are starting or running online. With several possible reasons why the business may fail, it is important to identify what makes for success and stick to it.
In this interview with Attain, Leche Winniefred Maagawa, CEO of SAS Kitchen shares how she started her online catering business, challenges she has faced and how she handled them.
Enjoy this yummy interview story and don't forget to share with friends.
Be Inspired
In this interview with Attain, Leche Winniefred Maagawa, CEO of SAS Kitchen shares how she started her online catering business, challenges she has faced and how she handled them.
Enjoy this yummy interview story and don't forget to share with friends.
Be Inspired
1. Please
kindly tell us about yourself?
My name is Leche Winniefred Maagawa. I am a French graduate
of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and currently serving in Bauchi State. I am an exceptional cook, the CEO of SAS Kitchen, the
founder of SASK Initiative, and a public speaker who is a great storyteller and
writer as well. I love to read books, attend conferences, travel, and make
impact.
2. Tell us
about your business Brand?
SAS Kitchen is an online catering business that offers the
following services:
*Home delivery
* Office delivery (lunch)
* Online culinary classes
* Products like liquid soap, flavored pap, etc
3. When and
what brought about your business vision?
I started my catering business when I was an undergraduate
in 2016. To be honest, I never had the vision of starting a catering business.
I just enjoyed cooking and inviting people over to eat for free. I didn't think
that I could turn it into a money making venture until a friend of mine gave me
the idea.
4. What
were the main challenges you faced when you started your business and how did
you overcome them?
I faced 3 major challenges at the beginning:
a) Trying to convince people that I was a good cook. Those
who had never tasted my food almost didn't believe that I can cook because
according to them, I was young and didn't look like someone who can cook. Maybe
I was supposed to use palm oil as lipstick to show that I can cook... Hehehe
(That is on a lighter note).
I had to give them an almost free food to taste and I'm glad
that I won them over.
b) Another challenge for me was pricing. I barely made any
profit in the first year because I was cooking with little or no profit to show
for it. I couldn't fix a price tag. I was scared that people wouldn't pay for
my service if it was 'expensive.'
I overcame it by telling myself that I wasn't running a
charity organization so, I fixed a price tag with reasonable profit. My
services were affordable, not expensive.
c) I also had some male customers who wanted something more
than the food. It was a challenge because I had to choose between keeping them
as customers if I agreed to their proposal or losing them.
I eventually chose the latter. I did not want to mix
business with pleasure.
5. What was
the biggest challenge you ever faced in your entrepreneurial journey?
The biggest challenge I've faced is coming to the
realization that entrepreneurship is not easy. I've had moments where there
were no sales at all but I didn't give up. Times when I tried so hard to scale
up my business but it looked like I was tiling a rock.
6. At what
point did you begin to achieve success in your entrepreneurial journey and how
did it happen?
I began to achieve success in business when I started
hosting free online culinary classes. I was giving out so much value for free every
month for a year and all I asked from the participants was for them to write a
testimonial on their social media platforms about their experiences in the
class. This was the beginning of my success in my entrepreneurial journey.
7. What
would you consider your greatest achievement ever in your entrepreneurial
journey?
My greatest achievement amongst others is that I have grown and
my growth has positively affected so many lives around me.
8. Who has
inspired you the most in your Entrepreneurial Journey?
My biggest Inspiration are my parents. They show me that
giving up is not an option and that there is room for more.
9. If you
could go back in time, what are the changes you would have made in your
business/ entrepreneurial journey?
I wouldn't have made any changes. My mistakes made me stronger
and what I saw as setbacks actually pushed me forward.
10. What
should we see you doing in the Future?
In the nearest future, I hope to set up a structure (not
necessarily physical) that will not just be a profit making venture for me but
also be an avenue for millions of lives worldwide to be impacted.
11. What's
your advice to someone just starting out in business/entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is not easy but keep going. Rome was not
built in a day. It is not the many efforts you put once in a while in your
business that makes it succeed. It is the little, consistent efforts that counts.
Don't give up!
12. What are your
views on love/relationship and marriage?
Love is beautiful and marriage is a primary purpose, if you
ask me.
13. What are
your other interests aside business?
I have a great interest in charity. I love to extend a
helping hand to those who I'm privileged to help that is why I founded SASK Initiative. I also love to volunteer/serve.
Connect with Leche:
FB: Winnie Bologisoko Leche
WhatsApp: 08083343585
Instagram: @your.favorite.chef
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