Today we’d like to introduce you to Gafirat Sangodeyi.
Hi Gafirat, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was 7 months pregnant when I lost my job. Before then I had been assisting friends and family with cooking at small gatherings for free so, I had discovered my love for cooking. When I stopped working it only became natural for me to take up cooking full time. I was encouraged by family and friends who pushed me to take the bold step and this gave birth to Arike’s Pot.
Initially, I was skeptical about taking up cooking full time because I felt it was a step down from my level as a university graduate. But I quickly got over that because I genuinely loved cooking and the more I cooked the better I got.
I started advertising to friends and church members and started taking orders for packed lunches which I would deliver myself. All with my heavily pregnant belly. Even at the point of delivery, I was still taking orders. And gradually I expanded into catering and registered the business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s hasn’t really been a smooth road, but thank God for friends and family for the support.
Competition
As more and more people are getting attracted to the business world, every person dreams to utilize their cooking skills by establishing a catering business.
Finances
Another major challenge I faced starting up is finance. During the starting stage, I have to take care of various things for establishing the business. You need to have sufficient funds to purchase and maintain the equipment.
Management
One of the most important features of any business is management. The success of most business depends on how you handle. It may be challenging to handle several things at once. Nobody would wish to compromise when it is food. Everyone would expect value for money. You can grow faster only when you offer valuable services to clients.
Food waste
It is another major issue that remains highly challenging to handle in a catering business. When you are trying to meet your client requirements, there are chances for you to cook and serve extra food.
A lot of food would get waste at event. You need to know how to manage this issue in a smart manner.
As you know, we’re big fans of Arike’s Pot. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
African culture and different delicacies cannot be separated, it’s not just about the taste but the fulfillment and satisfaction. We specialize in Nigerian dishes.
My cooking skills came naturally without any prior training, now I can use my left hand to whip up a batch of hot amala.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being contented is more important than most other kinds of happiness, including success. Most other kinds of happiness are temporary whilst contentment is solid and endures. Such contentment is of oneself and it is not material. It results is being positive, independent, and confident.
Contact Info:
- Email: arikespot@gmail.com
- Instagram: @arikespot
- Facebook: Arike’s Pot
