BYOB Stories – Immaculate Store

At Oze, we believe small businesses are the future of Africa. They drive innovation, support families, and shape the future of our economies. That’s why we created the BYOB Story Series, to share their stories, struggles, and lessons they’ve learned with aspiring entrepreneurs.

When Life Gives You 200 Cedis…

What do you do when your school goes on strike and you’ve only got 200 cedis?

Buy some fufu and groundnut soup? 

Take a trip to the beach? 

Or… start a business?

For Diana Quaye, a young entrepreneur in Ho, Ghana, there was only one option: get busy starting a business. 

So she bought a few perfumes and body splashes and started selling. At first, it was slow. Every sale mattered. Every mistake felt expensive. 

Buy. Sell. Repeat. All while trying to make a profit. 

Some customers wanted to buy on credit, 50 cedis now, 100 later. She made the sale, hoping they’d stick around. Sometimes they paid. Sometimes they didn’t—school fees, sick relatives… you know the story. 

No wahala. Diana kept going. 

She focused on giving her customers quality and built trust by posting pictures of her products on social media and delivering on time, every time. 

(Even when the customer’s timeline was… ambitious. You know the ones: “I have to travel Friday, can you get it to me yesterday?”)

She hustled, learned on the job, and things started going well. She opened a small storefront in Ho and began giving out samples and little gifts, like a hand cream with every purchase. Soon, orders were coming not just from around town, but from Accra and other cities. That’s when she knew she was onto something.

And now? She doesn’t need to sell on credit. The value is clear and her business is thriving. 

When I asked Diana what advice she had for aspiring entrepreneurs, she gave me two words: Consistency and Oze.

“There will be days when sales are slow,” she said. “And days when they’re so good you can’t keep up.” On both days, you may ask yourself, do I still want to do this? 

Her advice, “Accept that business comes in seasons and keep hustling!”

And get Oze. 

Diana saw the Oze business app on Facebook not long after she started her business. She realized it could help her get a loan and manage her transactions. She downloaded it, started recording her sales and expenses, and soon got her first loan.

Before Oze, she wrote everything in a notebook, flipping pages and typing long reminder messages when customers owed her money. Now? On the rare occasions a customer doesn’t pay upfront, reminders go out in just a few clicks.

Every week, Oze sends Diana a report showing how her business is doing and when she needs to restock. Her customers love the professional invoices and receipts she sends through the app—a clear sign that Diana means business.

Ready to start your year with a new scent? Visit Immaculate Store by Diana Quaye for authentic, quality perfumes and body splashes that leave a lasting impression. (Instagram: @immaculate_store_gh | Facebook: Immaculate Store Gh | TikTok: @immaculatestoregh )

Musings of a Business Coach

Talking to Diana reminded me of three truths every entrepreneur eventually learns—sometimes the hard way.

Number One: Consistency wins.

The hardest part of building anything is taking the first step. 

The second hardest? Showing up every day after.

Most businesses don’t fail because the idea was bad. They fail because the owner stopped doing the small, boring things that move the business forward.

Are you doing the little things, every day?

Number Two: Credit is not always a growth strategy.
Yes, selling on credit can help you get started. But it can also drain your cash flow and your energy. Every credit sale comes with risk and follow-up work. And while you’re chasing old money, you’re losing time you could use to make new money.

Before you say yes to a credit sale, ask: Is this helping my business or just helping this customer?

Number Three: Friends are not always your best customers.
Your friends are not always your best customers.

Some friends will buy from you even when they could get a better price elsewhere simply because they want to support you.

Others expect freebies, want to pay later, or ask for discounts they’d never ask for at the mall.

Set boundaries—because friendship isn’t a business model. 

Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?

Diana’s journey shows that consistency, smart decisions, and the right tools can turn even a small start into a thriving business. Whether it’s tracking sales, managing customers, or getting a loan, having the right system makes all the difference.

Start your year the smart way. Download the Oze Business App here today and take control of your business—just like Diana did. #DoBusinessBetter

To share your story, contact us here.