How to Turn Your Passion into a Profitable Business

A successful business is built on passion and hard work. – Unknown

Do you have a passion that lights a fire that fills you with excitement and purpose? Imagine turning that passion into a profitable endeavour, allowing you to do what you love while making a living from it.

Meet Euphy Ngami, whose passion for flowers led her to set up an online florist business in May 2022.

“I love flowers. I enjoy flowers myself. I am not a native of Nyeri. However, when I moved to Nyeri, I wanted to order flowers but couldn’t find someone to deliver them. I felt like it was an opportunity to see if it could work as a business,” she stated.

Identifying an opportunity, Ms Ngami decided to set up her business online, and by November 2023, she had opened a physical store on the outskirts of the town.

With a capital of Sh500 from her savings, she ordered her first batch of flowers and posted them on her social media pages – that was the birth of Nyeri Flowers.

Her business focuses on selling flowers with unique floral arrangements and bouquets for small-scale events.

“Most people associate flowers with weddings and funerals, and the majority source the flowers from Nairobi, even funeral homes, but my business has made it easier as they are locally available,” Ms Ngami said.

In the age of self-care and public displays of affection, the demand for flowers has increased in major cities and also in other towns such as Nyeri. Most people are embracing gifting flowers to their loved ones for anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, and even without a special occasion.

“When I started, I knew my target market was women, but this year, on Valentine’s Day, most of our clients were men, which was so different for us. There is such a big change in the perception of gifting flowers,” said Ms Ngami.

Furthermore, in the past, people who wanted to decorate their homes with flowers would find themselves shopping for them from supermarkets that sell artificial flowers. Fresh flowers offer brighter colours and a more natural feel for your living space.

Many people are also embracing the concept of self-love, in which they celebrate themselves by gifting themselves a bouquet.

Lessons from the story

How can you monetise your passion and profit from doing what you love?

• Find Your Passion

To turn your passion into a business, you must first understand what excites and motivates you. This can be anything, such as baking, photography, writing, fitness, or even an obscure hobby that sets your soul ablaze.

• Discern Your Niche

Determining your ideal niche is critical once you have established what you are passionate about. How does your passion differ from others in the same industry? You will need to understand what makes you different from other players to position yourself in the market and attract desired customers.

• Grow Your Skills

One way to stand out from competitors is by developing foundational skills and knowledge while increasing quality delivery competence.

• Establish A Brand

Create a consistent brand that represents all your values, aesthetics, and messaging to enhance credibility for expansion purposes and lead to customer loyalty.

• Be Steady and Persistent

Persistence is key to ensuring business success. Building a business takes time, so keep working hard and modifying plans based on feedback and outcomes.

See problems as opportunities for improvement; be flexible towards emerging trends in markets; otherwise, hold onto one’s purpose and love for something forever.

Courtesy: The Standard