ZENOBIA ' S QUINTESSENTIAL INNOVATION
Zenobia has the vision of setting up her yoghurt bars across major cities in the country , and even move to other neighbouring countries . help her realise her interests . Her love for yoghurts
Owing to the fact that Zenobia ’ s love for yoghurts started at a very tender age , she ventured into the business .
“ My mother told me that when I was a baby , I didn ’ t like any food apart from yoghurt . So , anything they wanted to give me they had to blend it in yoghurt . So , my father ’ s friend asked my parents why they don ’ t produce yoghurts in large quantities and sell them ? That was when the yoghurt business began .”
The business was very successful but after five years , they had to move to another country and so it was closed down .
But the vision of the business didn ’ t die so far as Zenobia , through whom the business was founded , was still alive .
Zenobia , through her father , borrowed money from some family friends to start the business . However , she didn ’ t just want to tow the same business line started by her parents . She wanted to do something unique that has never been experienced in the country before .
She opened what she calls a yoghurt bar ; a place where people can sit and relax while refreshing themselves with yoghurts . Currently , she has a bar at East Legon at the A & C Mall and will open another one next month .
She has also successfully introduced other yoghurt products onto the market . The products are : sweetened yoghurt , which comes in cups and bottles , Honey Bottom yoghurt , Plain Set unsweetened yoghurt , Labneh yoghurt , and Greek unsweetened yoghurt ; first to be introduced into the country . All products have no preservatives in them .
How she markets them As usual , todays small businesses cannot overlook the power of social media on their businesses . Zenobia has taken advantage of this and frequently advertises her products on her social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram .
The bar , which serves as the point of sale for her products , has also been a medium for advertising .
The yogurts can also be found in major shops like Palace supermarket , Marina Mall , Shoprite , Game , Maxmart , Koala , Shell shops , Melcom , Shop and Save , and the Baatsona Total shop .
Challenges
Zenobia ’ s kind of business is very capital intensive . Setting up one yoghurt bar in Accra is no small task , she says . But living in a country where access to capital from financial institutions has become almost impossible , getting capital to expand her business has been a major challenge .
Another thing she finds challenging is the business environment in the country .
“ I remember I once broke down in tears at the Tema Ports when they told me the amount I was supposed to pay for a machine I imported .”
Also , a challenge she faces on a daily basis is the fact that a lot of people feel she is in the wrong business . A lot of people judge her by her looks and tell her she should have been in the fashion or movie industry , or probably , be on TV hosting some shows .
Education ’ s role in her business
Having a degree in hospitality management has benefited her immensely . She believes education has given her training on how to relate with customers in order to meet their expectations .
Zenobia also believes internship programmes she undertook during her time in school have been very helpful . She has served as a waitress and a house keeper at Golden Tulip hotel in Accra , where she was assigned to clean 16 rooms in a day . She also served as a waitress in La Palm hotel in Accra . She believes all these have contributed to her training and helped her to be a better manager . Vision Zenobia has the vision of setting up her yoghurt bars across major cities in the country , and even move to other neighbouring countries .
How government can support
From the challenges highlighted above , Zenobia wants government to help ease the business environment for small businesses , especially when it comes to the area of capital acquisition and reducing duties and taxes on machines they import for their businesses .
Again , she wants government agencies to make it simplified for small businesses to acquire certain certificates and permits to start operations .
“ I remember the first week I started my business , police officers came along with Ghana Tourism Authority that I do not have approval to do this business because my kind of business is under tourism and hospitality . Something I didn ’ t even know . So , if there could be a way we can have access to all these information at one central point without having to go around looking for it , it will be fine .”
Advice to young entrepreneurs
“ I will advise young entrepreneurs to pursue their passion and develop it to become a business . And once you begin , make sure you don ’ t kill the initial vision you started with .
And to the ladies out there , I will also advise them not to only think that fashion , beauty pageants , and the like , are the only sectors they can succeed in . They can enter into business and inspire others too .”
2017 | Business Times Africa 25