Rayo Abe

Rayo Abe is a professional housewife; a wife and mother who has found a way to make money doing what she loves from home

What is your company’s name?
My company name is LagosHouseWife. What problem does your company solve?
It teaches mothers how to create healthy, creative and delicious varieties of meals for themselves and their families using everyday regular foodstuffs and ingredients, while maximizing money and minimizing wastage. I create and write recipe ebooks and teach Online Cooking Classes. We also help support, showcase and advertise small businesses and start- ups run by women running social media adverts and organising fairs and seminars.

How did the idea for your business come about?
The idea came when I started posting pictures of meals I cook for my family on social media and I was getting requests and questions from mothers wanting to know how to cook the meals, how I manage leftovers and so on.

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Research, Customer Service and Communication

What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Most of my failures come from when I was running our family business with my husband and they are: Telling a customer what you think they should do instead of listening to what they want – we lost the contract; doing things simply because others are doing them – it didn’t end well; not having at least a basic working knowledge of everything in your company as a start up – I came off as very ignorant when asked for an information by a client

How many hours do you work a day on average?
What motivates you?
Feedback from mothers on how their families are now eating better and are happier and healthier because of my recipes; the knowledge that I’m helping families.

How do you generate new ideas?
I pray to God for inspiration, and I study the market to see what is a need in my line of business, then research how I can solve that need.
How far are you willing to go to succeed? There is a limit to my quest for success – I will never put things above people!

What is your greatest challenge, and how do you manage it?
I’m an introvert and very private. I know it’s hard to believe, lol. However, I have to put myself out there for my company and brand so I just suck it up and do it!
16 – How do you define success?

Success to me is adding value to people and helping to make their lives easier and better. And your family should be your first recipients.
18 – Where did your organization’s funding/capital come t?
From personal savings and contribution from my husband and mother.

How do you build a successful customer base?
With Communication, Integrity and Consistency

How did you decide on the location for your business?
By asking myself – what is the widest reach for my target market? The answer – Online. Any location works for that, as long as I have good Internet connection. So I work from home for now at no additional cost.

Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Yes! Walk Your Talk.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The day a lady contacted me that I helped restore her priorities and her home is happy again. I don’t know what the issue was or how I helped but the feeling and gratitude and joy in her voice was unmistakeable and I’ve never forgotten it.