Etta Patrick Ndongo, widely known as Kais Links, is a remarkable entrepreneur whose journey from a business management graduate to the owner of two thriving ice cream parlours in Buea is nothing short of inspiring. Kais graduated as the overall best student in Business Management from the University of Buea in 2013. After seven years of gaining valuable experience working for various employers, he decided to embark on his entrepreneurial journey.
With a vision in mind, Kais invested in an ice cream machine costing 1.5 million francs. He utilized his savings to pay 500,000 francs upfront and cleared the remaining balance in three installments. Setting up his first ice cream machine by the roadside at Mayor’s Street, Molyko, he quickly began raising capital to establish a more sophisticated ice cream parlour. Kais’s hard work and strategic positioning in a competitive market paid off. His commitment to branding and value allowed him to stand out, and within just two years, he opened his flagship parlour, Kais Cream, which now employs over 10 Cameroonians. His success led to the opening of a second location, Kais Cream Annex, at Mountain City Building, Mile 17 – Buea.
Kais believes that effective management is crucial for long-term success. He emphasizes that:
> “Managing a business is much more important and difficult than setting up one. A good management system ensures the satisfaction of different stakeholders before profitability. Prioritizing profitability at the expense of any is costly in the quest for sustainability.”
Kais Links’s journey from a single ice cream machine to owning two successful parlours is a testament to his dedication, strategic thinking, and business acumen. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, showcasing the importance of management and the potential for success through hard work and innovation.
If you’re looking to start your own business, remember Kais’s journey and the principles he values—passion, management, and sustainability. Your dream could be just an idea away!
