In my neighborhood, there’s this young woman, Ada, who makes and sells zobo—the popular hibiscus drink that’s both sweet and refreshing. She’s been hustling hard, selling her zobo to passersby, but despite the fact that her product is top-notch, things have been moving slowly. Ada dreams of turning her small zobo business into something bigger, but she doesn’t know where to start.
One day, I sat with her and said, “Ada, you’ve got a great product. All you need now is the right strategy to get it out there. Believe me, you can blow with this!”
Breaking Down the Numbers
To help Ada see her potential, I decided to crunch the numbers.
If Ada sells 100 bottles of zobo daily at ₦150 per bottle, that’s ₦15,000 in a day. In a month, she could be making ₦450,000. After factoring in expenses, her monthly profit could reach around ₦180,000.
But then I told her, “What if you sell 200 bottles a day? Imagine how much you could make.”
At 200 bottles a day, her daily income would double to ₦30,000, bringing her monthly total to ₦900,000. With the same profit margin, she’d be looking at ₦360,000 in monthly profit.
Ada was amazed. She couldn’t believe how much more her business could make with just a little more effort.
Here’s What I Told Her Next
I gave Ada some practical steps to take her business to the next level.
First, I told her to leverage social media. Ada should start promoting her zobo on Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok. Posting videos of her preparing the zobo, showing the vibrant color, and highlighting the fresh ingredients would attract more customers. Social media is an easy and affordable way to create a buzz around her product.
Then I advised her to collaborate with local influencers. Ada can reach out to influencers or micro-influencers in her community. A quick shout-out from someone with a solid following can help expand her reach. When people see that someone they trust is enjoying her zobo, they’ll be more likely to try it.
Investing in attractive packaging was the next step. If Ada wants to sell in bigger markets, her packaging needs to be on point. I told her that branded bottles with an eye-catching label will make her zobo stand out. People will want to pick it off the shelves just because of the sleek design and professional look.
Then, I encouraged Ada to supply to events and bulk orders. She should start supplying her zobo to events like weddings, parties, and festivals. These events usually order in bulk, and her zobo could be the perfect drink to serve at such gatherings. This could help her tap into a whole new market.
Lastly, I advised Ada to talk to local supermarkets. Once her zobo starts to gain popularity, she should approach local supermarkets to carry her product. Supermarkets are always looking for new, exciting products to add to their shelves. With the right packaging and marketing plan, Ada could get her zobo into stores across the neighborhood.
The NAFDAC Registration
I also mentioned that before Ada could start approaching larger markets, she needed to register her zobo with NAFDAC. This is a key step in ensuring her product is safe for consumption and meets all regulatory standards. Ada listened carefully, and I could see she understood that this step would boost her credibility and open more doors.
Fast forward to now, Ada has become the biggest supplier of zobo drink in the city of Lagos. Retailers are now coming to buy her zobo in bulk to resell in their shops. Her business has gained so much traction that even large stores are interested in stocking her product.
The last time I spoke with Ada on the phone, she excitedly told me that she’s officially registered with NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control). She’s also in the process of expanding her business to other states. Ada’s hustle is paying off, and she’s taking her zobo business to new heights.
featured image by Darya Sannikova
