Shella Meiliza (32 years old) or commonly called Mrs. Shella is one of the alumni of culinary training (Baking Class) organized by Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun or known as the Foundation for Inspiration of Indonesia Development (YIIM) supported by Insight Investments Management Company (INSIGHT) in the year of 2018. This training program is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 1 regarding on ending poverty. This program is one of the community empowerment programs with the aim of improving the community’s economy and producing entrepreneurs and independent individuals.

Shella currently lives with her 9-year-old child in a rented area in Sawangan. Every day Shella works as a student’s driver and also runs her business in the culinary field.

Convincing Herself to Start a Business

Before attending the training, Shella have had a culinary business as a side-job. She normally only takes orders once or twice during the week, because she feels she has less of knowledge in culinary field. Until one day she was invited by one of her friend to take part in culinary training held by YIIM and INSIGHT. After attending the training, Shella received business assistance in the form of digital scales and oxone bread mixers. She is very grateful to be assisted by YIIM and INSIGHT to run a business.

“I am very grateful and didn’t expect it. At first, I was invited by a friend but I didn’t expect I found my path through a friend, have found YIIM and get helped. Honestly, it’s encouraging because I used to be unconfident. I used to feel like I didn’t have any additional knowledge. Because I also haven’t taken courses anywhere before. Since participating in the training, I be able to meet many friends and share a lot. I also met many young people who have a business, and be a motivation to me. I am beyond grateful to meet and be assisted by YIIM”

After attending the training, Shella became more confident and sure to start her business again. Her business was eventually re-run under the name “Zee’s Kitchen”. Shella sells a variety of cakes starting from IDR. 2,500. Ordering her business uses a pre-order system or making an advance payment or DP (Down Payment). Shella markets her business through word of mouth, Whatsapp groups, and Instagram. Many of her customers come from friends or from Instagram.

Currently Shella is getting orders every day. Shella is very grateful because her income has increased. Currently, the gross turnover received by Shella ranges from IDR. 3,000,000 to IDR. 5,000,000. For the net turnover obtained by Shella as much as IDR. 1,000,000 to IDR. 3,000,000. Shella also started slowly running her business, namely selling cakes. During the development of her business, Shella began to pay in installment for some equipment for her business needs. Now, she also trying to put her baking business in a café.

Life Transformation as a Business Motivation

Previously, Shella ran this business only as a side job. But due to something that happened to her family, it makes her became a single parent. Shella has to find a way to support herself and her child. She also felt stress at first but finally he became stronger and stronger in her decision to run this culinary business became the main job.

“I felt desperate, and I lacked of motivation. Then I became less confident and thought “am I be able?”. Then I kept thinking I should continue it because of necessity, so I had to be forced. In difficult circumstances, I was really lack of motivation about what to do and wondering where to find a source income. I also have to find a way to become a hobby that produces, but I’m glad I was majoring at in food management in vocational high school. Yes, I think I should do it. Because I feel like I’ve had a basic, so I can take culinary field business more serious.”

To improve her abilities, she added more knowledge such as looking for baking demos. Shella started the transition from following new knowledge. As time went on, Shella also started taking orders that are currently getting orders every day.

Improve Culinary Business with School Children Catering

Over time, Shella now has a business innovation, namely catering. The beginning of this catering business was from the birthday of the child. Shella made yellow rice and she wrapped the food interestingly. When it was given to the child’s friends, many were interested and in the end one by one Shella got a food order. Not only yellow rice, but Shella also gets food orders for schoolchildren’s lunch. One lunch box contains dessert/fruit/jelly vegetable side dishes. Shella provides a price of IDR. 15,000 for each box. The sales system was pre-ordered the day before. In a day Shella gets an order for rice boxes of about 6 to 30 boxes.

In addition to rice boxes, Shella also during Eid receives orders for side dishes and vegetables, one of which is vegetable ketupat. Then Shella is currently also focusing on selling cakes, one of which is risol with various flavors. She had once entrusted her risol to one of the café places. In addition to risol, she also accepts orders according to consumer requests such as sus cakes, sponges, pastels, and others ranging from IDR. 2,000 to IDR. 100,000.

Shella is very grateful that her business has grown. With her current efforts, she can support herself and her child. Shella’s dream in the future is to have her own store with the products she makes and also friends’ products to help other friends who are running a business.

Shella also expressed her hopes for YIIM and INSIGHT,

“Thank you to YIIM and INSIGHT for conducting this training. I hope that this training will continue to be carried out and also the alumni will be developed also by YIIM and INSIGHT. The training alumni continue to be involved with YIIM and INSIGHT activities.”

For friends who want to try Shella’s cakes and catering, you can visit @dapurnya_zee Instagram account or call this number 0812-8277-0262