When you get to big parties in Lagos these days, one cocktail brand that you’re most likely to be running into all the time is Kreative Fruits Cocktails. The brand is already big and popular within the sector. And the woman behind it is adorable Biodun Agbalajobi.
When you meet this cute looking lady for the first time, then you’ll understand why her clientele base has continued to grow exponentially. She is very warm and, ever cheerful with a personality you can’t help but like. This is why, apart from mixing and offering one of the best cocktails you can possibly ever find, she also, offers her clients valuable friendship and respects every single one of them for who they are.
Kreative Fruits Cocktails has been in business for about 10 years and they have since held down their position as one of the market leaders in that sector. At the 2nd City People’s Female Entrepreneurs Awards held weeks ago, Kreative Fruits Cocktails won the Most Creative Cocktails Brand of the Year Award. City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL got her to tell us about the success story of her hugely popular cocktail brand. Excerpts.
Congratulations on the award you just picked up.
Thank you very much.
What’s your cocktail brand all about?
It’s about cocktails in general, with a little bit of alcohol. It’s basically about drinks and parties. But the cocktails brought about another business which I pioneered. I was the first to introduce the drinking of Garri and fish at parties. The name of the business is Garri Yoyo.
When did you start your cocktails business?
The business started ten years ago, while the Garri business is not up to a year old but we’re doing very good. Everybody has started embracing it. There’s no party without Garri now.
Ten years ago, you could only find cocktails at high octane parties, but today, it’s everywhere at parties. But at the time you were coming, when cocktails weren’t that popular at parties, what were the challenges at the time you were starting?
Well, there were a few challenges. You know there are different types of clients, but so far so good, I think I have been lucky. I’ve had amazing clients, so it’s been great, it’s been awesome.
The acceptance was impressive?
Oh, yes, you can see for yourself. Everyone loves it. Where there is small chops, there will be cocktails. It’s accepted at every event.
What’s that distinct quality that stands your brand out from the rest?
The name itself says it all-creativity. We are creative. We always strive to make different types of creative drinks. Aside from the normal drinks that everyone makes, we have a way of making our drinks different from the others in terms of the garnishing, the serving, the mixture and everything. We usually put in a touch of class and creativity to make it different from others.
What were you doing before you went into cocktails?
I was working in a construction firm with Mr Jamil Disu, the husband to Bella Adenuga. I worked with them for seven years.
You were in a construction company, what actually was your line of specialization?
(Laughs) I was the Business Manager.
So, how easy for it for you to leave such a comfortable job to start on your own?
When I was working, I was also doing my business alongside my work. At a time the business became bigger and I couldn’t cope with working and doing business. So, I had to move on and stand on my own and today, am so grateful. I’m known worldwide. And that’s why I appreciate this award. It makes me see I’m doing something good. It makes me realize I’m doing something great, something people appreciate. I’m really very overwhelmed and grateful.
Ten years is a long time in the business and you have continued to grow from strength to strength, what has enabled your brand survive the tough business climate?
I think the relationship with my clients has helped. All my clients now are basically my friends. I keep in touch with my clients to see what they want and how I can be of service. I have already gained their love, that’s why there’s no party they want to do and they won’t call us.
Finally, I must say you’re a very beautiful woman, you could’ve chosen to do something else, some other things along the beauty, jewellery or fabric business, but you chose cocktail, why did you choose that line of business that’s not so common?
Well, I don’t really know. The thing is that I just developed this passion for mixing drinks. It started with Chapman, from Sprite, Lemonade and mixing them together. I would do them at home and people loved them. So, I started thinking I could start something with this to help myself grow. I started checking online. And you will be surprised to know that nobody trained me. I went online, did some research and that was it. And soon, I started training people. Today, I have trained over a thousand people, it’s not a joke. And to think I did not train for it myself, so I think it’s just a bit of luck and a gift from God.
READ ALSO: HOW I SUCCEEDED WITH MY BUSINESS IN THE U.S – FUNLAYO ALABI, CO-FOUNDER/CEO, SHEA RADIANCE
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