I’ve not stopped being a lawyer, just more focused on catering —Olabisi Taiwo, CEO, Purple Pot

Olabisi Taiwo, a Law graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, worked in the banking sector for 12 years before abandoning a career in banking for catering. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, the Chief Executive Officer of Purple Pot, a catering outfit based in Lekki, Lagos State, speaks on her experience as an entrepreneur.

Background Information

I am from Omu-Aran in Kwara State.  I was raised in the far northern part of Nigeria, from a middle class family. I am number two out of four children. I had my primary education in Maiduguri, Borno State, and went on to Federal Government Girls College, New Bussa, now in Niger State, for my secondary school education. I read law at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and proceed to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2000.

How I became a banker

I did National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in a bank and I was retained thereafter. This birthed my 12-year banking career, though I was lucky, I was in the Legal Department.

On why I ventured into catering

I would say, I have a knack for tasty food, if a food was not well prepared and really delicious, it was usually difficult for me to consume such food. So at an early stage of learning to cook, I would always find a way to make the food tasty. I asked lots of questions and if I went somewhere and liked the food, I would find out the ingredients and try it out or improve on the method I already knew. I think I discovered very early in life that I had a passion for cooking good food. This never left me. Back in my school days in Ife, I would volunteer to cook for free for my friend’s birthdays or small group events. Even as a banker, I would cook for colleagues’ small parties and so on. I finally resigned from my banking job in 2012 to focus on my passion and started a catering outfit, called Purple Pot.

Challenges faced

The first challenge was how to launch out. I needed to introduce my brand somehow, so, I started by making vegetable salads and taking it to my church, my former office, other banks and companies. It was well received, so, I did that for three months. I continued until prices of vegetables went up (due to seasonal changes). Then I realised, I really did not like to hawk. I decided to start supplying, based on orders. By this time, I had started getting orders for food packs to offices and to cater for small events, thus, the brand Purple Pot was launched. Another challenge I had was staffing, I had to try out cooks/chefs, till I got those who could adjust to my style and standard of cooking (as most of them have worked in various organisations and with different caterers, they usually want to do things the way they’re already used to). I also learnt from them though. There was also this challenge of lack of adequate mentorship. I made mistakes that could have been avoided and learnt through experiences which were not always palatable. Still on challenges, being new to the business, there were periods when the jobs were just not forthcoming, I was underpaid for some jobs, meaning I made very little or no profit at all. Obviously, all these affected my liquidity and this was tough and quite discouraging, but I never contemplated quitting because my passion for catering never waned.

On how I came about the name, Purple Pot

This is a question I particularly love to answer. The name, Purple Pot, is connected directly to my vision, which is primarily to deliver quality food and services befitting only to royalty. I, however, did not want to use the word royalty or king so it occurred to me to choose colour purple which symbolises royalty. Basically, what our clients should expect from Purple Pot is what befits royalty.

Coping with competition

Competition is rife in every industry and we have our fair share in catering as well, depending on one’s field of play. By this I mean, whether one is into indoor/outdoor catering, fast food, restaurant, finger foods, and the rest. I have had a stint with all of the aforementioned at different times and have had to deal with some level of competition. The first coping mechanism is to understand that you are not in competition with every other caterer; hence, you must know your target customers and then benchmark those who cater to them as well. I believe in excellence and this has always worked for us. People know and appreciate good quality; it keeps them coming back. Once you can maintain high standards, you could get so busy that you may not even realise you are in a competition. On the flip side, competition keeps you on your toes and drives you to step up your game.

On why I started training

I did not set out to get involved in vocational training until I was invited to join the team in RCCG Vocational Training Institute set up by RCCG, Region 11, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos. The institute was set up to provide a platform for skill acquisition for youths, not only in catering, but in fashion, cosmetology, events planning and so on. This was precisely a year ago and, for me, it has been a wholesome experience. I discovered that I have a flair for teaching/training and it is so fulfilling for me. It is indeed a privilege to be able to impart knowledge to others and to see people who otherwise did not have a sense of direction in life, rediscover themselves.

Carving a niche for my business

We have been able to carve a niche for the brand which we have continue to build on and we ensure that high quality is maintained. Our staff are trained to be courteous and friendly. We also use good quality equipments, crockery and accessories. We believe the food should not only be tasty, but our presentation and service are also very important. I have had situations where some very choosy first time clients would insist on seeing our plates, glasses, cutlery and so on, before engaging us. Thankfully, we have always passed that test.

Most defining moment

I am honestly still waiting for that defining moment. Purple Pot is still at its early stage; we just turned five years. We have found our toes, but we are still trying to find our feet. For now, I will say, every time we execute a job successfully, by this I mean leaving our clients satisfied or surpassing their expectations. This is a defining moment for me. It tells me I am doing something right and that I am on the right track. I am glad to say this has happened over and over again. What can possibly be more defining than this?

Advice to young unemployed graduates

I want to say to them that skill acquisition is an acceptable means of wealth creation. Vocational training platforms are set up to bridge the gap created by inadequacy of white collar jobs. I will advise the unemployed to acquire skills in their areas of interest, this will empower them to be independent; while they await their dream jobs. For some, skills acquired could become another stream of income, while some become entrepreneurs and employers of labour.  For instance, I have not stopped being a lawyer, just that I am more focused on catering and training, but I still earn income from commercial law practice such as drafting and reviewing of legal agreements, giving legal advice and so on. Last year, there were two graduates awaiting NYSC, who came to acquire skills and, right now, we have another young graduate in our RCCG Vocational Training Institute. It is the smart thing to do.