Episode 6 will see us talking about yet another core item for good filling food - beans!
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In west Africa, beans is precious - you can make at least 3 different types of food scheduled for different times of day with it. So yeah, we had to speak with Alice, as she's the beans lady!
TSWi: Tell us about your business.
Alice: Prolyca Enterprises is a business that was founded in 2016 out of a desire to make life easy and less stressful for people. We process beans flour for easy preparation of moi-moi and akara, which are two very reputable meals in Nigerian and most other African countries.
TSWi: How did you decide for beans flour as a business and why?
Alice: My kids never liked eating beans but I noticed they liked moi-moi, so out of the desire to reduce stress as a young mother I started using beans flour in the house. My kids would then go to school in the morning with moi-moi, other mothers reach out to me on how I'm able to meet up, that was how I started getting requests. After a while I decided to turn it to full-time business since jobs were not forthcoming at the time.
TSWi: How big do you think the target market (in Nigeria or Africa) for beans flour is/can become?
Alice: The demand is really high, in fact more and more people are beginning to understanding the value of this product everyday.
TSWi: Is this product useful in the international market? Why & how so?
Alice: Yes, it is very much useful in the international market, because Nigerians/Africans in diaspora know that having home made moi-moi or akara is something exciting.
TSWi: Do you process the beans personally?
Alice: Yes.
"...When I'm packaging my product, every member of the family participates in the activity, so it is now officially family time...."
This is very heart warming gurl! Got us all:
TSWi: Looking back to when you started, what is the one decision you wish you made before you started or after starting?
Alice: I wished I had money; capital.
TSWi: What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome?
Alice: The biggest hurdle I had to overcome was getting a 'no' from NAFDAC for my product, super glad I have that today!
TSWi: Have you had any failed experience? If yes, how did you manage it?
Alice: I have had several, but anytime I look at the future of my business I put my self together and keep pushing.
TSWi: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in the past year?
Alice: If you get tired, rest but don't quit. Quitting is not an option.
TSWi: How would you describe a typical day in the life of Alice?
Alice: Hectic.
TSWi: What is your favorite fun thing to do?
Alice: When I'm packaging, every member of the family participates in the activity, so it is now officially family time.
TSWi: What is your best fashion piece?
Alice: I love to wear dresses.
TSWi: If there was one designer piece you could own for free, what would it be?
Alice: Any of Bizstitches designs.
TSWi: What is your impression of TSWi?
Alice: TSWi is doing a really great job.
TSWi: What advise would you give small business owners in the food industry?
Alice: Never give up, things may not seem to be adding up, but just keep at what you are doing, and keep doing your best.
TSWi: Is there something else you would like to put out there? If yes, please tell us
Alice: Thanks for the opportunity....
Kejeh Voke Alice, is the CEO Prolyca Enterprises, an enterprise that was founded in 2016 out of a desire to make life easy and less stressful for people.
She is a teacher by profession and has attended several business conferences, exhibitions and currently run her business in the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers state Nigeria.
She is married and blessed with two kids.
Are you a female business owner/manager?....Maybe not, do you know one? Don't you think they deserve this kind of attention? It's real easy to get them on our list, comment on this post or reach out to us via email or social media & boom-chaka-laka! We'd reach out to them and schedule the chat.