Abike, a young entrepreneur with a passion for authentic flavors, runs her food business from the heart of her home. Her kitchen is her workshop, where she skillfully crafts moimoi and akara—Nigerian delicacies known for their warmth and tradition. Each day, Abike pours her love and heritage into her cooking, transforming simple ingredients into meals that bring joy to her community. Her small kitchen hums with the scent of fresh beans, spices, and sizzling oil, as she builds a business grounded in quality and care.
But as Abike’s business grows, so do the challenges. Recently, rising fuel prices have made delivery costs soar, causing her to lose some orders due to the high fees. Customers love her freshly made moimoi and akara, but the added delivery expense has become a burden. Abike faces the delicate task of balancing quality service with affordability, all while keeping her home-based business thriving and accessible to her loyal customers.
To ease her customers’ burden and keep them coming back for more, Abike could adopt some thoughtful strategies. First, she might encourage regular customers to set up routine orders, allowing her to negotiate a special discount with her delivery partners. Next, she could offer free delivery for larger orders, which would encourage customers to buy more at once, reducing delivery trips and saving on costs.
Another approach could be designating specific delivery days for nearby areas, bundling orders to cut down on fuel expenses. For customers close to home, Abike could introduce a convenient pickup option, giving them a slight discount for collecting their meals fresh and hot.
With these solutions, Abike can maintain her unique connection to each customer, keep delivery costs manageable, and continue spreading the flavors and warmth of her kitchen-made delights.