THE STORY OF SOLOMON AND HIS STRUGGLE TO SUCCESS (Part 2)

Things became even worse because he had lost a significant amount of the capital he was able to raise from friends and family on the production of soap production. Someone introduced him to the ice cream business, and with no other option for survival; he had to start hawking and selling ice cream to primary and secondary schools. It was good business for him at that time because he could make a 100% margin while selling the product. Selling ice cream was a money-doubling experience for him. He continued hawking ice cream until he could buy his first standing freezer. This was a new beginning in his life because, with the freezer, he started his brand of ice cream. He was the no 1 retailer of the product until he bought the second freezer. After the purchase of the second freezer, it became clear that he needed hands to help push the product. Solomon began to talk to some of the retailers that he knew when he was part of them to help him with the distribution of the product. He was able to woo them by buying bicycles to sell the product. The retailers loved the idea of using bicycles to sell products because it is faster and easier to move around. He bought several other deep freezers and increased the volume of production,

In the late 90’s, different small scale production companies started producing cocoa beverage in powdered form. Companies package these products in sachet, some mixed with sugar while some are packaged with milk which makes it ready to drink. The main ingredients needed for production are coca, milk and sugar. A sealing machine and nylon is also needed for packaging. The powdered beverage had competition as well but there was no district preference for customers since none of the major brands like Nestle, Cadbury…etc. were into production of beverage in small sachet as at that time, there was a level playing field for all participants manufacturing the product. He continued the production of coca beverage and business was good.

Before the early 2000s, there was no proper regulation and packaging for water. Does that sell water in plastic nylon usually made the water at home and tie it with bare hands? The government stepped in to regulate sales of water and required that water meant for sale should be properly packaged with automated machines to reduce human contact with the water and increase hygiene. This is a measure the Government had to take to reduce the risk of citizens contracting diseases that are introduced to the body via contaminated water. This decision put some people out of business and created bigger businesses for people with entrepreneurial minds. One of such great minds is Solomon…