Craft: Glitz Cakes & Makeovers

I am Miss Essien, Kufre, CEO Glitzcakes 'N' Makeovers. It all started as just a mere interest, always loved the art of cake baking and beautifully done makeup. During my service year, I decided to start some where, so I enrolled at a beauty school where I got my first makeup training. After the training I came back to Warri, Delta State (served in Oyo state). When I first started, I was getting jobs once in a while and almost got discouraged.

Challenges?

Everyone wants a good and clean job but they are not always willing to pay. I didn't give up though, so I enrolled in another beauty school here in Warri to improve on my skills.

I started baking way back but not professionally, so I decided to turn this passion to something that can also fetch money. Starting out, I got many discouraging words like; 'Why not concentrate on the makeover and make it work rather than adding something?'. But I told myself;  'If you love this, now is the time to make all d mistakes while you are young'.

For funds,  I took a job in a school and was able to meet up to pay the fees for my training. After my first day of training, I got a cake job  (small birthday cake) and was very excited because I didn't do badly, and  ever since I have improved very well over the years.

When you do what you love, you wouldn't see it as stress, because you actually enjoy it, so it hasn't been difficult coping.

Advice to upcoming entrepreneurs?

My advice to others thinking of starting up is that, you shouldn't be scared of making mistakes, because that's the only way to learn and improve. You can't know whether you would do well or not, until you try. That doesn't mean you shouldn't plan and manage resources and know what to reinvest in, so you don't end up working and not able to take care of yourself. The truth is at some point, you would be broke because you want to reinvest and grow your business. But determination and passion for your chosen field is all the force you need.