What it means to be engaged in a beverage business – Ms Deborah

Deborah Kaikeh is from Kaduna State. The owner of ‘Shiyas Cocktails’ said she started by marketing her beverages to neighbours and expanded into a mobile bar service and cocktail in Abuja. The entrepreneur and Mass Communication graduate in this interview spoke on why she chose self-employment and what it means for a woman to earn […]

Deborah Kaikeh is from Kaduna State. The owner of ‘Shiyas Cocktails’ said she started by marketing her beverages to neighbours and expanded into a mobile bar service and cocktail in Abuja. The entrepreneur and Mass Communication graduate in this interview spoke on why she chose self-employment and what it means for a woman to earn her own money.

How did you conceive this business idea? 

‘Shiyas Cocktails’ is a cocktail catering company that offers mobile bar services, cocktails and mocktails. We believe in client satisfaction and always work with our customer’s budget.

Starting up, I remember when we had events at home years back; I always wanted to help with mixing drinks which at the end turned out balanced. I always tried to balance ingredients so it is enjoyable, so my friends advised that I turn it to a money-making venture as they were impressed with the drinks. 

I also saw on Instagram that many people are doing the act of mixing (mixology). 

I was scared at first and kept procrastinating on starting it. I sought for training but found it difficult. My elder brother advised I searched on YouTube to learn the basics and improve from there. I finally took the bold step and started six months ago and it has been rewarding.

What were your experiences when you decided to start?

As a start-up, I face a lot of challenges like funding the business and so on. Nobody is willing to help so there has to be a way out of that. Again, getting people to believe in what you do is another challenge. Then pricing too; a lot of people will not understand that ingredients used in making these drinks are quite expensive as well. 

Some customers would say that they have another vendor that can do way cheaper than yours but I always tell them I use quality ingredients for my drinks. And the end result always proves the point.

To sustain the tempo, I had design new ways so I don’t run out creativity. I try to brainstorm on ways to make my brand outstanding because when you see jobs done by your colleagues in the same industry, your game has to be tight. I also engage in other activities aside my business while seeking for constructive criticisms for the business.

What has been your greatest fear in this venture and how are you managing it?

Of course, the fear of every entrepreneur is failure but with time, I realized that failure is actually part of your success journey. I have learned to believe in myself and my business, work hard and try to be consistent. 

What are you doing to empower other women in this business?

With time, I will hold training for people who are passionate about this craft and give tips on how to run a successful cocktail business. But for now, that is on hold

How do you market your brand?

I have social media platforms like the Instagram:@shiyascocktails, BBM channel and Facebook: Shiyascocktails, where we upload pictures of jobs we have done and try to engage people. Word of mouth marketing has helped me too. 

Does your business affect your family in any way?

Being an entrepreneur has taught me to be more patient and understanding when dealing with people. Although it is hard sometimes, but you have to keep trying. You have to always look for ways to also balance your business and family life.

What are your short term outlooks?

I believe our customer base would have expanded and we would have become one of the foremost cocktail catering companies in Nigeria by God’s grace. And I would advise young women to always believe in themselves. They should never give up on their dreams; they should also learn a skill. The journey is not rosy but it is worth it at the end. 

To other business brains, I urge them to never give up and don’t forget the reason they started in the first place. Be consistent, work hard, improve on your craft always and be a genius in your business.