17-year-old Uni Kujamäki founded a summer business that looks like her
Uni Kujamäki, 17, from Espoo, did not get the summer jobs she applied for and decided to become an entrepreneur. The close circle people helped to identify skills and strengths that could bring joy to others. The demand for custom-made cakes and childcare services eventually became more than Uni could offer. In addition to her own family, she received support from the Kesäyrittäjä programme of Espoo and Economy and youth TAT.
Based on her own interests, a business with her look was born
- In this business, I get to do the things that interest me, sums up Uni Kujamäki, a new entrepreneur and high school student.
Through her Unimaista company, she has offered spectacular custom-made cakes during the summer as well as pet or child care. The idea of entrepreneurship was born in May, when her stepmother, who is an entrepreneur herself, suggested the Kesäyrittäjä programme for young people. In the application, own business idea had to be described, which was not immediately obvious. Animal-loving Uni has been riding horses and the family has cats, so the first thing that came to mind was pet care.
- My family encouraged me that I can do more. We thought about what people need during the summer and where I could be of help.
Uni has previously worked at a children’s basketball camp in summer and in TET work experience period at a kindergarten, so in addition to pets, childcare felt natural. In the end, the most demand was for layer cakes, which people wanted to order for summer parties. The demand was more than Uni had time to bake.
- I was not even a very experienced cake maker, but I saw entrepreneurship as an opportunity to practice more.
Uni got excited about baking in home economics classes when she and her friends made a layer cake as a group project.
- It immediately felt like my thing, because I could use creativity in decorating! I have always liked arts and crafts, drawing and painting. I also got to use creativity and visuality in designing the design of my company’s Instagram account (@niin.unimaista).
During the summer, the business idea developed so that Uni was able to share her enthusiasm and know-how further:
- My mentor suggested that I combine making cakes and working with children. This is how the idea of a cake club was born and it was immediately full.
I found an entrepreneur in myself
When Uni was thinking about participating on the summer entrepreneur programme, at first only things that she did not know or could not do came to mind.
- I did not feel confident at all when I went to the entrepreneurship course included in the programme. I wondered if my business idea was good enough and if others had much better ones, she recalls.
During the course it was revealed that other summer entrepreneurs were also thinking about the same issues and received support and encouragement from their peers. One by one, even the twists and turns related to the business plan, accounting and invoicing were cleared with the help of family members and mentors.
Acquiring customers unexpectedly turned out to be the easiest step.
- I wrote messages to a few Facebook groups in the neighbourhood and interested people found before I could even get the marketing going properly, Uni laughs.
Encouraging messages came through social media and the young entrepreneur’s ideas were praised. The feedback received from a satisfied paying customer felt particularly good:
- I made cakes for a party and the customer praised that with this attitude I could go far.
Some of the clientships will continue even after the summer.
- Entrepreneurship will continue along with high school and choir practice. Fortunately, as an entrepreneur, I can plan my own schedules and the amount of work I take on.
The idea of entrepreneurship no longer seems foreign, but has become an option for a future career path as well. During the summer, Uni has identified skills that she would like to learn more about, such as customer service and digital marketing. As an entrepreneur, Uni thinks that she has learned independence and tolerance of uncertainty more than in a traditional summer job. She feels that the most important lessons of the summer have happened in her own attitudes:
- Prejudices towards difficult issues have decreased. At first, I was nervous about calling and meeting customers, but it has started to feel easier – even nice! Fortunately, I went outside my comfort zone. In this programme, I got to try entrepreneurship without the pressure of having to succeed.
In the summer of 2022, 34 young people aged 17–29 participated in the Kesäyrittäjä programme of Espoo and Economy and youth TAT. The programme offers an entrepreneurship course, a supportive community and a mentor, as well as 300 euros in financial support to start own business.
During the week of #RevealYourSkills 5.9.–11.9.2022, the skills that arise in different environments are encouraged to be noticed and made visible. We are in!