Final-year law student at the University of Guyana Joshua Edward began selling homemade pizza last year in order to raise money to conclude his studies. What began as a struggle for the young entrepreneur has grown into a thriving business venture, and he has since seen his market increase five-fold.
Edward, who was born to Guyanese parents, grew up in St Lucia and moved here a few years ago to attend university.
At the beginning, Edward and his mother, Wendy, were able to finance his studies with savings and financial assistance from their church back in St Lucia as well as UG lecturers. The 23-year-old shared that as he was starting his second year last September, they realized that funds were depleted, and they needed to do something to ensure that he continued his education. Money was needed urgently if he was going to be able to sit his examinations, and this led to him selling pizza slices his mother baked in February this year. And that was how Wendy’s Pizza Parlour began.
“My mother has attained a level of excellence in crafting the pizzas that would make this business a conglomerate once we play our cards right and do what we have to do,” he boasted. “The product is a product that has reached international standards. We just have to work to meet the level of international market.”
According to the law student, when he first started, he sold slices of pizza to his peers and walked all around the city Monday to Saturday trying to sell to passersby and local food businesses. At the time, Edward was living at Grove, East
Bank Demerara. He would take the pizzas to class and sell them after class. Several weeks ago, they relocated to Waterloo Street, which makes it easier for Edward to conduct his pizza business.
From the first day he turned up to classes with pizza for sale, the budding businessman said, his peers were encouraging and even asked what took him so long to get the business going since they loved his pizzas. Edward added that he was not going let fear stop him from achieving a goal, explaining that if one person shunned him for what he did, then he simply went on to selling the next person. They cannot all say no, he reasoned.
For him, with lack of finance already an issue, finding capital to get the business started was a major challenge. However, they were able to pull some strings and make it happen. When Edward boasted about his pizzas, people often asked how could they believe him when every entrepreneur bragged about having the best and most delicious of whatever they were selling. He then shared his intention for doing the business and would show them his UG identification card. They were not always won over, but Edward’s perseverance paid off eventually. “At the end of the day, I know that it would bring forth the fruit that I was looking for,” he said.
“Ten months later my business is [thriving]. People have helped us out so much… and I’ve always said that about Guyanese, the level of hospitality that you get from Guyanese is [immense]. They have supported and pushed the business. They wanted me to succeed.”
Today most of the business is operated through orders, but Edward still goes out into the streets selling his pizzas. Orders, he noted, are usually placed for a whole pizza, whereas on the street, he sells slices. He has also created arrangements with several small food businesses, where he supplies slices of pizzas for sale. Edward added that business has grown so much already that he and his mother reinvested by getting new utensils, more pizza pans as well as another stove.
Though the orders are more, he spends less time whenever he leaves on business as he no longer has to spend a great deal of time looking for customers as he did in the past. More orders, however, means more work for his mother. When asked whether he assists in the kitchen, the man said that while he can make the pizzas just as good as his mother, he is not as efficient. He explained that what would take him half an hour would only take his mother ten minutes. Though the Christmas season is not known for pizzas in Guyana, the orders seem to be on the rise, Edward said. At this point his mother still does all the kitchen work on her own but they are already talking about hiring someone to assist her.
“I’m not struggling with finances as I was before as some persons have made donations towards my business as well as my education. I am beginning to see a light at the end of tunnel. Already I have set aside funds for my tuition this year and I’m working toward saving for law school also,” Edward said. To pursue a career in law, a student is required to complete a bachelor’s degree in Law before moving on to law school where they study for another two years. Edward is hoping to earn himself a spot at one of the prestigious law schools in London and has high aspirations of also reading for a PhD in Criminology.
Edward explained that it is not easy to run a business and try to follow his dreams at the same time, but it is a matter of sacrifice. He acknowledged all who have helped him, whether financially or just offering words of hope. They have all motivated him, he said, adding that their motivation drives him when he goes out to sell in the streets and when he sits down for his studies. Though his heart is set on becoming a lawyer, Edward and his mother are also working towards establishing a top pizza franchise someday.
Wendy’s Pizza Parlour can be followed on Facebook and orders can be placed via 662-4843.
