Pam’s sweet success
HE Phoenix- born mother of three boys started baking when she was a little girl. She used to enjoy making cookies and biscuits as well as cakes; it was like a hobby to her. She later started selling cakes to her friends and family.
“I started selling to friends, then went on to take orders from people working at factories,” Dorasamy recalled.
When the orders started to increase she decided to employ workers.
“I had to employ more people because of increased clientele I was getting; people were happy with the product and wanted variety, so I added different items to the line.”
The 46-year-old said she started her business alone but had a lot of help from her family when it came to getting orders on time. When her hobby turned into a business venture one of her sons joined, and works for her full-time now, together with 15 other permanent employees.
Pam’s Homemade Treats, which is based in Phoenix, occupies the shelves of Shoprite and Checkers with an assortment of biscuits. The business also makes wedding and birthday cakes.
It initially supplied only a few stores.
“I feel like I am dreaming now when I wake up to find that my mother’s recipe is on the shelves of 43 stores,” said Dorasamy.
She said it was not easy getting the contract, which took about eight months to finalise.
“I think the idea of homemade products was a challenge for them and we had to overcome that by making samples of each product, neatly packaging it and presenting it for the Shoprite buyer.
“Once Shoprite was happy with the quality of our presentation, we signed on the dotted line and our partnership is now in its eighth year.”
There was no better feeling than seeing her product on the shelves for the very first time, she said.
“I personally went with the driver and merchandiser on the very first delivery to a few stores and it was amazing to see our product. I was so excited, no feeling in the world can describe that.”
According to Dorasamy, maintaining her business while raising her boys and being a wife was very difficult.
“It was really demanding on me as I spent more time on the business and less with family; it affected us really badly, the change from our normal lifestyle of a housewife to a businesswoman. With time we adjusted,” she explained.
For Dorasamy, the whole experience has made her an independent woman as she has learnt things she never thought she would about business, labour and the food industry.
The staff of Pam’s also get to learn on a daily basis.
“I always advise women about their business skills and give them all the help they need,” said Dorasamy, who added that she always tells them to start small.
“I tell them to never stop pursuing your dream. I started out baking just for fun and look at me now.
“Never turn down good opportunities, never turn down an order, always try to accommodate a customer, never give credit and never give up.”