Hi, I’m Sam,
I had a chat with Otache Ojima Grace, the founder of Ojai's Splash. She has dedicated herself to crafting premium, all-natural Tiger-nut drinks that not only tantalize the taste buds but also nourish the body and mind. With a focus on quality ingredients and sustainable practices, Ojai's Splash strives to offer a refreshing alternative to traditional sugary drinks and to also inspire others to embrace a healthier lifestyle and contribute to a happier, more vibrant community.
How are you doing lately?
I’m fine and
pushing forward
What kind of business are you currently
running?
I run O’Jais
splash tiger nut and fruit drinks
Have you always had major interest in
running a business or was it an interest that came up as you got older?
I have always
had an interest in running a business. We are almost 4 years in business
Do you remember the first business idea
you had?
Yeah, I have had a lot! The first business idea I had was the sales of jewelries which went well after which I moved into Food making “O’Jais delight” I had a little difficulty handling school activities and the busines so I settled for tigernut and fruit juices which have been making waves since 2020.
What really convinced you to stick to
Ojais drinks this long?
The patronage
I got boosted my morale, I supplied to students in school, my coursemates,
neighbors, church and a few shops nearby.
Did you get any advice before you started your business or do you just figure it out as your move?
Well, I
figured it out as I grew. Made a few mistakes, learnt from them and moved
forward (still moving forward)
Do you have any business mentors?
Yes I do.
- Akin Alabi,
the author of “How to sell to Nigerians”
- Ekaette
Umoh, the author of Aspire starting a successful business
Amongst other
vendors who are ahead of me in the business
Are there any practices by Akin Alabi or
Ekaette Umoh that you have been able to implement in your business so far?
Yeah a lot.
One major practice I implemented is “Never sell your product or yourself short
the people who knows your value will definitely patronize you”
Have you ever received criticisms,
constructive or not about your products and how did you handle them?
Yeah I have! When
I started, the recipe I used was self-developed. So it was more of a “trial and
error” situation. My pioneer customers where there to criticize after which I
go back to my drawing board and make a few corrections. To be honest, I won’t
be where I am without them.
What would you say has been the most challenging
thing about running your current business?
Well, I will
say relocating. I relocated to a different city, setting up the business again
was really a challenge. Due to my resilience and experience in the business I
was able to get back on track.
So what do you enjoy the most about
running your business?
Referrals!!! I
love referrals and reviews as well
They prompt me
to do more
How important is social media to your
business?
Social media
has made everything a lot easier. If we didn’t have social media you would have
seen my advertisement on NTA network news.
Would you say you're completely utilizing
social media for your business or are there things you feel your business is
not ready to utilize on social media?
To be honest,
I need to do more with other social media outlets like Instagram and twitter
What is the biggest risk you've taken so
far in business?
Haaa!! Taking
me down memory lane
The biggest
risk I took was being a vendor at a very big event in my city. Up till now I
still don’t know what gave me the strength to pull that stunt.
Did the risk pay off?
Well, it
didn’t, It was a case of “too many cook spoil the broth” Had a massive loss and
even my weight wasn’t left out of that loss.
RAPID
FIRE QUESTIONS
If you could only teach your child one
thing, what would it be?
That one thing
is Resilience
Would you rather bring back a loved one
from the dead it go back in time and fix a mistake you made?
A very tricky
question indeed
I will bring
back someone from the dead
What 3 apps do you use the most?
WhatsApp,
Calculator and Twitter
Would you rather find your one true love
or win a lottery and be alone?
Haaa!! *thinks
in 5G
I will find my
one true love (he will definitely spoil his baby girl)
You know money
is everything but there are some things money cannot buy
Are you confrontational?
Nah I’m not. I
dislike hostile situations, I believe a simple dialogue can solve a lot of
problems
And that brings us to the end of this
interview. Thank you so much for creating the time
You are
welcome. I had a good time and I’m glad to be a part of it.
P.S: This interview has been edited and condensed
for length and clarity