Doing what she loves #MakingIt

KwaThema - If you are a sweet-tooth and a lover of cake, then Felino's Catering and Confectionery, situated at the corner of Kgaswane and Kodisang streets, is the place you need to be.

Sannah Nkosi bakes a work of art.

It was her love of baking that got Sannah Nkosi (42) to quit her job and put all her energy and resources into staring her business and, she says, she does not regret this bold move.

“I started to loveg baking while I was still in school, as my aunt use to bake the most delicious cakes ever, while I was growing up,” she explains.

“By 1993, I began selling cakes at my house, while doing my matric.”

Feeling the need to grow in what she was passionate about, in 1999 Nkosi started creating and selling birthday cakes.

“Things were not, however, going as I had planned, so, seeing as my small business was facing troubles and I had responsibilities, I opted to go to work full time in 2007,” she says.

“But, people would still ask me to bake for them, so I found myself having to bake when I came back from work.”

As time went on, Nkosi taught herself the skill of designing cakes, then went for a six-month course in Tswane, where she formally learnt the art of designing cakes.

After seven years of working, she quit her job to pursue her dream.At this point, Nkosi says, she had finally set her sights on growing as a person and growing her business, which she had always dreamed of.

“I was unhappy working full time and I finally realised that working at a permanent job did not always fulfil all my needs, I just kept making money for someone else and constantly had to worry about retrenchment,” she explains.

“On the other hand, I was starting to see my business grow, which meant it demanded more of my time, so I had to choose.” she explained.

In May, last year, the entrepreneur set out to start a formal business in Tsakane Extension 19, but ended up wasting a lot of money fixing the premises.

“I wasted money putting up shelves and fixing the place, because, after a few months, I realised it wasn’t suitable for my business,” she says.

“So I packed and moved to Mbalenhle, in Secunda, and worked from there for about a year, until June, when I decided it was time to come back home.”

Nkosi adds that it is important for young people to do something they love and will be dedicated to, as this will be what drives them.

“But also be prepared, when starting a business, as it has its own sets of challenges and risks,” she warns.

“At some point I was afraid of letting go of the comfort of knowing I had a job, but because I was finally sure of what I wanted and had faith, God got me this far.

“Now I can proudly say I specialise in big cakes, scones, muffins and buckets of biscuits, among other things.

“If you have talent and are passionate about something, go for it. It’s a huge risk, but one that does pay off in the end and, always remember, even those people who are millionaires today, started somewhere.”

Other #Making It articles: