Those that have sprouting businesses or even those have blossoming ones will tell you that starting a small business is a daunting task for anyone. There are numerous things to consider and mainly obstacles to overcome before doors can open for business, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. In this feature, we talk to Ms Sheilla Nazziwa who takes through her own journey, writes Shivan Auma.
She is slightly tall and wears a light completion with an infectious smile as she goes about her work. Sheilla Nazziwa, probably in her mid twenties sits at her veranda as she brands bottles which are filled with honey.
She says she is a dedicated entrepreneur who has decided to venture in “honey production” under their brand name “Delight honey“. Together with her colleague Junior Omar, in July 2021, they decided to take the step to make this idea on paper come into reality.
They started with working capital of about Shs400, 000 for production which included buying materials before they started with delivering 10litre jerry cans of honey that was by then going for Shs200, 000 each.
“I remember thinking to myself I can do this, we can actually make it work,” Nazziwa narrates.
They marketed the product within their circles, friends, family and workmates, before orders grew from outside.
“Business is my passion and I like to think of myself as a business lady, honey making is something I ventured into as a side hustle, something that could at least bring in income on a daily. But within a few months of starting this production we could see a shift in the orders and I was indeed grateful,” Nazziwa narrates.
Why venture into Honey Production?
According to Nazziwa the constant complaints of lack of pure honey is what drove her to venture into honey.
“I kept on hearing friends and family complain that most of the honey they purchased had sugar and wasn’t purely honey. Also because of honey’s numerous health benefits I knew it would be good to get myself involved in something that would not only give a side income but also a healthy product to sell” she reveals.
The increasing appreciation of healthy eating has seen the demand for products that are purely organic like honey go up. This product is now being substituted for sugar because of its natural ingredients.
Process
Nazziwa says that once they were able to establish base with clientele, they then proceeded to work on branding of their honey.
“Branding is part and parcel of any business venture. Branding is important because it not only makes a memorable impression on consumers but it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect from your company. It is a way of distinguishing yourself from the competitors and clarifying what it is you offer that makes your product the better choice. Thus Delight Honey UG came into existence”
Nazziwas says that she gets her honey from Arua and then proceeds to the purification process making it consumable. In a month Nazziwa says she says between 50-60 Liters.
Nutritional Value
Bee products such as bee venom, honey and propolis are used for treatment of many conditions following the antibiotic nature of the products. Honey’s highly nutritious value makes it a highly demanded product both in Uganda and across the borders.
Apart from just delivering pure honey, Nazziwa says that together with her colleague (Junior Omar) they came up with another honey product which they call “Delight Bee Propolis”,
“The Delight Bee Propolis is good for immune boosting, colds, flu, cough, sore throat and many other things, you should definitely try it out”
In some studies, honey has been shown to help prevent memory disorders. Wound care. Topical use of medical-grade honey has been shown to promote wound healing, particularly in burns. Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits. Among the Langi and Acholi, honey is mixed with simsim and groundnut paste.
Challenges Faced
Nazziwa narrates that venturing into honey at the beginning wasn’t rosy and still has its own challenges. She says that there is no business idea that doesn’t have challenges and risks.
“One of the biggest challenges that I have faced has been logistics which is moving honey from one place to another. For example I can have a client order honey all the way from Entebbe and I have to transport it from kyanja, it gets worse because the client has ordered one jerry can of about 10k and there is little or no profit made with such a distance to deliver to”
She also highlights there is delay in sales especially when it comes to supermarkets.
“Once we have supplied to a supermarket, we have to wait for them to sell it before we can get money back which in turn slows down procurement of more honey”.
Advice
Nazziwa’s biggest take home has been the importance of listening to customer feedback with positivity and making sure clients are satisfied with the product. She also points out the importance of being patient and not being afraid to start something new.
“Never be afraid to start. That is the first principle of starting anything new, it is important to know that risks are part of any business venture but if you put your mind to something do it until you hit your desired target. We can’t all sit in offices and wait for white collar jobs when there is so much untapped potential” she says.
For Nazziwa it is safe to say that honey production was a venture worth getting into. She also plans to have her honey supplied even on the international level.
In Uganda, honey production potential is enormous, estimated at 500,000 metric tons per year, but this potential has not yet been fully exploited. The Ugandan Beekeepers Association estimates that only between 800-1200 metric tons of honey is produced per year due to current lack of bee-stock that varies in season. If well produced Ugandan honey, is rated as one of the best in the world.
