Good business: Aartisan Bakery and Academy owner Prema Martibalan showing a cake she baked. She is riding on social media to reach out to potential customers and those who want to learn baking.
INFLATION is making it hard for many people just right after some freedom from the Covid-19 pandemic that kept us locked up for so long.
But with higher prices of goods and services, it is becoming tougher for many to meet their monthly expenses.
Some will have to review their financial situation, cut their budgets and even find part-time work to supplement their income.
Of course, there are many part-time jobs around but suitability and timing is often the issue.
During the pandemic, many home kitchens were turned into roving kitchens to dish out meals because food is something everyone needs everyday.
If you are a good cook or a baker, it may be timely to dust off your recipe books to create what you could potentially sell to supplement your income by leveraging social media.
Many have done so and are making money from their efforts.
Roshan Bal is one of them who was forced to close down his brick-and-mortar business during the Covid-19 pandemic after suffering huge financial losses.
“Even though we had a failed business, our entrepreneurial spirit was still high and with the booming online marketplace in Malaysia, we knew selling products online was the way forward,’’ Bal said. He is the co-owner of Spebels with his wife.
Both attended the HRDF Entrepreneurship course in 2020 over a weekend and decided to create their Spebels brand on social media.
They posted cooking videos using their own brand of chilli oil, nasi lemak mix and others.
“We have sold over 10,000 bottles of our products thus far,’’ Bal said.
Similarly, Prema Mathibalan’s passion for baking started at an early age of 11. By 14, she was making cakes as door gifts for weddings.
She is also riding on social media to reach out to potential customers and those who want to learn baking.
“Growing up seeing my mom baking has given me a lot of confidence and love towards baking,’’ Prema, the owner of Aartisan Baking and Academy, said.
Good business: Prema with some of the cakes she baked. Her passion for baking started at an early age of 11 and by 14, she was making cakes as door gifts for weddings.
Her advice is “make sure you have enough knowledge about what you want to bake and sell. It is not just for cakes but for whatever you want to do. Baking is worth the effort if it is done right.’’
Anna (not her real name) sells almond butter online. She moved from her house kitchen to a ghost kitchen (a cooking facility) because her orders were stacking up and she could not cope from her small kitchen.
Bal said there are many ways to make money cooking from your own home. “You do not need a big capital to start a small business from home. You can start with what you have and upgrade as you go along,’’ he said.
Sharing is a big part of getting people to be interested in your cooking, as people like posts that share recipes and steps taken to cook a particular dish.
“People love seeing the entire process and the outcome. It is important to be consistent when sharing on social media, so you can get more exposure for your food or brand,’’ Bal added.
How much can you really make in terms of income? Enough if it is a hobby.
But if you put in a serious effort, then you can earn a decent income.
Some home kitchens have turned into big roving kitchens during the pandemic. Some had to move to bigger facilities to cater for the growing demand. Some home cooking brands have become a sensation.
Cooking and baking is just one of the many things you can do to earn money. It is about taking the first step with a clear mind to make profit with your skill set.
If that is your route, then it is time to perfect your recipe, create a brand name and social media account. Begin your journey by posting videos of your cooking.
Be authentic, special and consistent. Create your own style. Do not be discouraged if you don’t get many orders initially. Just keep at it and keep posting.
But for some, social media may be daunting. There is help as many offer delivery service and there are many delivery companies around.
Jeffrey Chiak, the owner of Diligent Smart Marketing, created “Uncle Jeff’’ brand to help some homemakers host their products on social media and community groups.
He even picks up the products to deliver to clients and the drop offs are at designated places. Deliveries are mostly on weekends.
“This is something I started five years ago and today our offerings include frozen food and home made snacks such as yam cake, acar, potato and sardine curry puffs, pau and teochew delicacies,’’ Chiak said.
“It is our way to help some ‘aunties’ who are not familiar with social media but they are great cooks and this is a way of showcasing home cooking,’’ he said.
Whatever may be your circumstances, tightening your belt is a must during these trying times and if you have skills, it is time to put them to test.
However, there are many scammers out there who pose as genuine buyers but do not show up or do not pay. Be vigilant and safeguard your interest.
