Janet, a 300L student of microbiology, has always been passionate about cooking and hospitality and hopes to start a food brand on campus but didn’t know how to go about it.
No capital. Nothing to start with, yet she just wanted to start.
She took a thorough survey and discovered that there are not enough food vendors around where she stays off campus, and the few ones around are really expensive.
She also discovers that on campus there are no vendors around either; students have to go outside of school to get food across the streets.
“I just wanted to solve the problem of students buying little at such exorbitant prices.” She said,
The passion to solve this problem led her to start volunteering to assist in cooking at events, her fellowship on campus and in her department. She wasn’t collecting contracts; she was just assisting those who were given the contracts.
She started building a healthy relationship with these people she works for and indirectly learns from them.
She follows them to the market; she knows the right spot to get quality food items and ingredients at affordable rates, and she got to learn how to negotiate with a customer and how to create a friendly budget.
Also, she got little stipends and incentives from volunteering.
With these experiences acquired, she decided to start her food brand. She reached out to a few of her trusted friends and shared her vision with them.
She built a team of four people, and her journey to growth started.
Prior to this time she had indirectly created a personal brand for herself through her volunteering roles, and everyone knew her as a chef who knew her craft.
Then she started preparation for her launch. She sought advice from the people she has worked for who are experts in the field.
She started creating awareness about her launch, and passionate students showed interest in joining her team.
Then her team of four grew to ten team members; everyone had the roles they were playing.
The plan was to make the launch virtual in order to reach a larger audience. From sharing e-flyers to creating video content to creating awareness for the launching of her food brand.
The publicity lasted for a month, and after that, “The Jane’s Kitchen” brand was launched.
Students began to patronize her, and she got a lot of referrals as well. Her prices were affordable, and she delivered quality.
She had personal dispatch riders who delivered to students at their various apartments and locations.
She secured cooking contracts and deals from her department, her fellowship on campus and also events outside school.
“Volunteering and collaborations helped me build my brand. It really broadened my knowledge about the craft. I’m glad I took those steps.” Janet explained her winning strategy.
Janet’s food brand is thriving and growing, and she has been able to foot her own bills and provide little incentives for her team members and volunteers.
“You don’t have to feel ready to start. Start with what you have and from where you are.” Janet advises fellow students like herself who would like to start a real brand on campus but doesn’t know how to or feels scared of succeeding at it.
This is incredible, working with determination and passion matters.