"Social media has helped my business alot", says Osun Based Chef, Opeyemi Mosunmola

In this interview with Tomi Lala, Opeyemi Mosunmola, the Creative Director of CJM Cakes and More speaks on her entrepreneurship journey, she revealed how Social Media has helped to promote her business.

Can we meet you and tell us about your business?

My name is Opeyemi Mosunmola, and I’m the creative director for CJM Cakes and more.

Can you tell us what inspired you to start this business?

It was my mom that inspired me, she just called me and said she had a dream that I was doing chin-chin, in-fact that was the picture she painted, that she saw that I was doing pastry and she saw how large it was. And I thought okay, my mum sharing her dream with me let me look into it.

Though,I used to do few snacks for people, probably one of my friends are doing an event, I would volunteer to do chin-chin in particular or whatsoever snacks I’m capable of doing at that time. And I was never lazy In the kitchen so it made it easier.

How do you stay up to date with the latest trends and designs?

Well, we learn more, like I use to tell my trainees that, learning doesn’t end. You acquire knowledge from both online and physical classes. I still go for physical classes and I sign up for online classes myself.

How do you balance Quality and Quantity in your production and services?

Well, concerning that, I’m going to say it is always good to know your onion. Knowing this is the service you render, and how you can offer it. And making sure you’re affordable to people around you, especially your clients, your returning client that has been with you. So, when you know your onion you’d be able to know where to leverage between your production and quantity.

According to your profile, you’re also into event planning right?, so how did you transition into event planning? And what sparked your interest into it?

The very first place I learnt from, my boss, she’s into event planning and she’s very disciplined and very up to date. She keeps record and keeps details of everything, so learning from her opened my eyes.
When you’re into this business you have to be detailed, and being detailed pushes you to know how to make planning. So it was my boss that gave me the spark on event planning.

How do you handle last minute changes of unexpected issues during event?

Well, there are therapy classes that I attended online that I realize how to manage pressure when I’m pressurized. Being calm in the midst of pressure or tension has helped me.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt as an entrepreneur?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt as an entrepreneur is not to underrate anyone, anyone can be your client, that someone doesn’t patronize you now doesn’t mean they cannot be your link to your biggest referral.

Can you share your success story where your cakes and event planing services exceeded client expectations?

Well, there’s no particular one cause, every cakes we’ve made here, every food we’ve made, every event we’ve planned, to the Glory of God has always exceeded our client’s expectations. The one that I would say tops it most, was a client that got our link from Goggle and We had the job in February, we didn’t see at all till when they arrived in Nigeria and everything that has to do with that event was already sorted out and I think that has been the highlight of my rendering of services.

Can you share more about your mentor who influenced your journey?

I actually don’t have a mentor but I get inspired with similar businesses that have grown and I’ve seen their growth.

In Nigeria, In Osun state? Or where?

In Nigeria in particular.

What’s your approach to marketing in promoting your business? And how are you able to stay afloat with the current economy challenge in the nation?

Social media has helped my business a lot. I do little of physical marketing, that is, mouth to mouth marketing, I do very little of it, but online has really helped me a lot, technology, signing up to every social media marketing apps that’s online, and pushing my brand into them has really helped.

Are there any specific policies or initiatives you’d like to see this administration implement to support businesses like yours?

Yes, there are a lot. Empowering entrepreneurs, making availability for business loans, and also giving us an assurance of security of business. It there are facilities implemented for business owner in Osun in particular, it will not only shoot our businesses worldwide, it will also give other people assurance that they can do businesses with us.

Facilities like?

Business loans, Business seminars, Vocational skills, empowering entrepreneurs or business owners like ours to do vocational skills for the less privileges that cannot afford a proper payment for a normal class.

So what advice do you have for young fellows who are also willing to venture into entrepreneurship or business like yours?

My advice to them is Obedience, cause I’m sure most of us have heard from our parents to do something and put our hand into something and probably we’d want to withdraw. Obedience, being passionate to whatever career you’ve chosen and to be diligent most importantly. A man who’s diligent in his work will not only render services to just the usual man but to also kings. That’s my advice

Has there been challenges so far?

Yes, there’s been challenges. Logistics, cause when we’re done with our production and we have to take them out for delivery, our roads aren’t really good, as I am now, I’m always afraid to take a full 3 tier cake out from my factory here to a delivery location, we have to put them separately and stack them when we get there because of the road.

If roads are smooth, there’s nothing that holds us back from doing full production from our end here and just doing the delivery. Then also there’s really been an improvement in the electricity, I’m grateful to that.