I remember a few years ago, I could have made over a ₦100,000 extra for doing absolutely nothing, what it would have cost me was just one little lie. But on that particular day, I learnt the real difference between chasing after profit and building a name, a name that speaks even in your absence.
I was so deep into the business of helping different caterers and event planners with different weekend gigs....from making puff-puffs, to setting event centers to making samosas to jollof and fried rice, to frying chickens and the likes...Also with that , I had started my own frame business. Framing quotes, wedding pictures, baby photos, birthday pictures, sign-out pictures, name frames and the likes, you know the kind people hang and still smile at whenever they pass. For me, business was going and growing, but the stress was too much. I'd have a frame to work on and deliver at a side of the town at the same time catering work will be there calling me from another state.
There was a time I was home for going to two weeks, nobody called, I posted on my status and did all I could, but yet.. patronage wasn't coming, event planners also weren't reaching out to me, one morning a customer ordered about 75 big frames for her office staff, it was the end of the year and she wanted to surprise her staffs, also she didn't want a picture frame, only random words were to be written on it.
I was excited as this happen to be my biggest order yet. I finished the job and sent about three samples to the woman, she checked and loved it, so she transferred my balance to me and ask me to make the delivery of the 65 frames, I wanted to ask her why 65, but I went through our chat again and saw that she actually ordered for 65 frames, it was when I was calculating that I went to calculate for 75 frames. It was a mistake, but that night I thought about it, is this God adding butter to my bread....? Ten big frames that I could resell and make about ₦100k again. It was easy for me to sell, the frame wasn't picture frame, some just had "Thanks for being an amazing person, I celebrate you....." And the likes written on it.
But somehow, it didn't sit right with me. I did a worknover a year ago, it was a catering work, though not so big a work, but the event planner came to me to help run one or two things, the oil, the food and stuff, in her words she said it was to "maximize profit.” I refused because I couldn’t imagine people eating puff-puffs, doughnuts and the likes and it taste somehow, just because I want to save ₦25,000. Well, she went to the second caterer who was in charge of food and they both agreed, well she got casted and it just so happened that at the end of the day I was given the whole contract fo both the food and small chops. That decision earned me a good customer who up until today refer me to people.
So, what can I do, my conscience wouldn't allow me, I picked up my phone and called my frame client, I told her about the extra frames, she's someone I know to certain extent, so I wasn't expecting the response she gave, she said, “You’re who I was told you are, so truthful and humble. Right now, I’ll call my PA to add your number to our company’s approved vendors.”
That incident opened doors the ₦100k couldn’t have opened, it opened doors I didn't even imagine. Since then, I’ve done various works....employee awards, name frames and the likes, I have even help them cook for their end of the year party and certain workshops program, the woman would have made me their company's go-to caterer if not for her husband's sister who's a caterer as well. That two businesses...frames and food even though small is being built on one big thing; ethics.
Profit is good, profit is sweet, the aim of a business as well is to make profit, but when it comes at the cost of your name and your brand, it's just best to have a rethink. Just my own personal opinion, it's what I've learned, doing clean business may not make you rich overnight, but it would give you something money will never buy.....and that's a name that works and speaks even in your absence.
Even though we are in a country where everyone is trying to outsmart everyone, that kind of a good name/brand is pure gold.
All pictures are mine.
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