Kami’s Kitchen – the place where food lovers go
Young Entrepreneur on the Move
By Sueann Wickham
Young Entrepreneur: Kamilah Lambert.
Kaieteur News – Today we introduce you, the young and talented, to Kamilah Lambert, owner of Kami’s Kitchen, a local fast food business. Launching into this world of business was second nature to the 19-year-old entrepreneur, as she had long surrendered to her fate of loving cooking and eating delicious foods. In her exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Lambert, who attended Central High School, said after completing her CSEC exams, she went on to seek employment and study at Computer World. But she somehow knew there was more in store for her and decided to launch her business on June 21 last year, just months after the onset of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Her famous popcorn chicken with sides.
Other delicacies offered such as macaroni and wings and loaded chicken and fries.
Starting her own business was always one of her greatest aspirations. Reflecting on her journey to making the business a reality, Lambert said some factors were the inspiration for a good start earlier than expected. Perhaps one of the biggest drivers of her enthusiasm was hearing people doubt her ability to successfully create her own business. “Many people told me I couldn’t do it, start a business that is, but look at me now, I’m not perfect but I’m on the road to greatness,” said the 19-year-old with pride. The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, brought with it a number of challenges that came along the way and even threatened to hinder the proper start-up of its business. One of the expected challenges she faced when starting a business was the fact that she did not have enough customers. The resilient entrepreneur recalled, “When I first started out, if I sold two combos for one day, that would be enough. Many times I wanted to quit, but I kept the faith and eventually my customer grew. ”Lambert initially introduced chicken wings on her menu and while her client was initially low, she eventually received enough support and was able to include popcorn chicken and loaded fries. Social media also helped boost its clientele, as many people who had tasted its delicacies would have shared testimonials, which encouraged others to want a taste for themselves. Further, she noted that some of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed had also had a negative impact on her new business. The initial curfew time, in particular, where businesses were forced to close their doors early was the biggest impact. “Having to close my business early was definitely difficult for me and my customers,” lamented Lambert. Although she must and continues to do a lot of hard work, the young entrepreneur admitted that she had great credit for her support base that came through various government ministries, people living in her area, and even even out-of-towners. did not let distance affect their support for their dream. Her long-term goal is to expand her business, add more items to her menu and eventually open her own fast food joint. As he is concerned with the role of young entrepreneurs in society, Lambert believes that “young entrepreneurs, like me, play a vital role in today’s society; we provide employment, experience and advice to others. ”Notably, Lambert would in less than a year have set up her business and is now on its way to providing people with employment in the near future. Lambert also revealed that she plans to launch another business in August. “I think government needs to invest more in small businesses, keep small business explanations, small business competitions; judging us for grants or awards. They can also run business and training classes, ”said the 19-year-old.