CEO of Yaaba Enterprise, Yaw Badu Shares His Business Journey: From Humble Beginnings to Success in Plumbing Supplies
In an interview with DJ Nyaami on Business Link, Yaw Badu, the owner of Yaaba Enterprise, shared how he built his business from scratch despite having no formal education.
Yaw Badu started his business in 1997 with just 350 GHC. He initially lived with his uncle, who sold door locks. While working with him, he realized that customers often asked for plumbing materials that were hard to find. This insight led him to shift from selling door locks and other hardware to focusing solely on plumbing supplies.
Despite not coming from a poor family, his parents couldn’t afford to send him to school. However, he believes education would have been beneficial. Through his business, he has been able to take care of his wife, children, and siblings.
Yaw emphasized the importance of honesty in business, stating that his integrity allowed him to trade successfully in Dubai and China. He recalled an incident where he faced difficulties in Dubai due to a shipping issue. A business associate helped him recover his losses, and upon returning to Ghana, he repaid the debt and continued growing his business. Over time, he switched to buying products from China instead of Dubai because of lower costs.
Yaw believes that problem solvers make money. He advises entrepreneurs to find a niche where they can excel rather than blindly copying others.
“Money is in Ghana. If you can solve problems, people will pay you for it,” he said. He encourages business owners to be hands-on, as relying too much on employees can be risky. Customers often form relationships with workers, and if those employees leave to start their own businesses, they may take clients with them.
Although he started with just one shop, he now has multiple locations, including one warehouse in Ashiaman. However, he warns against expanding too quickly, as it can lead to debt. Instead, he focused on strengthening his business before growing it further.
Yaw also spoke about his family, expressing pride in his children’s achievements. One of his sons is studying medicine and helps with the business when he’s free. Another child is pursuing a master’s degree while working with him, and his third-born was the best WASSCE student and is now studying in the U.S. on a scholarship.
He highlighted the importance of customer relationships, saying,
“All my customers know me personally. It can be stressful, but I like it. When they struggle financially, I help them, and in return, they support my business.”
Yaw has worked with over 30 employees, some of whom have gone on to start their own businesses. He doesn’t mind if workers leave after he has helped them, as he believes in uplifting others. He has even assisted employees in acquiring land and cars.
Reflecting on business challenges, he noted that many people in Africa still believe that success is only possible through formal education. However, he has proven that hard work and strategic thinking can lead to success even without schooling.
Yaw Badu’s business, Yaaba Enterprise, is located at Mankoadze Market in Tema. He also has property in Kwahu and continues to expand his business while mentoring others.
For inquiries, he can be reached at 0208155664.
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