You may have seen a young girl on Market Street under a blue tent selling waffles, ice cream or snow cones. It could have been on a Saturday during Christmas, summer or Carnival when you glimpsed her at Anna Banana’s Waffles Express.
For those who are not familiar with her, that hardworking youngster is Jo-Ańna Gasper. The 17-year-old is a pre-med student at the American International College of Arts and Sciences (AICASA) right here in Antigua.
This young business owner, who’s a former Head Girl of Antigua Girls’ High School, graduated in 2022. Like most promising things in their embryonic stage, Jo-Ańna told YouthZone that Anna Banana’s Waffles Express is flourishing gradually.
“My business has come a long way. When I first started, it was at home and we used home appliances,” Jo-Ańna recalled. She would later relocate to the busiest spot in town, but the change in venue did not coincide with upgraded technology.
“During the Christmas of 2021, we were on Market Street but still using those slow machines,” she said.
Jo-Ańna pressed on as consumers waited patiently for their treats. She really appreciated her customers and melted their hearts with her genuine smiles of gratitude. Jo-Ańna’s current location allows her to get lots of foot traffic from curious customers who were just passing by. “People have even come back to say that the sixteen-year-old’s waffles are the best on the island!” Jo-Ańna recounted.
As her customers increased, she did not just pocket the money; she invested in the technology that could generate greater sales. In January 2022, she bought three waffle-making machines. She also bought a waffle cone machine, so she is also selling waffle cones. Jo-Ańna is elated at the strides she has made, and like a true entrepreneur, she is identifying more opportunities. Jo-Ańna hopes to start making her ice cream cones too.
She credits her customers and mother for all her accomplishments. So, if you ever see the blue tent or a sign that says Anna Banana’s Express Waffles, don’t hesitate. Stop by and try something; it might just be your new favourite thing.
Now, with a heart filled with gratitude, YouthZone would like to thank the Assistant PRO of the National Youth Volunteer Corps, Aja Ralph, for helping me out with this article. She selected and researched two inspirational young entrepreneurs. It’s time now to shift our attention to Ophel Bowens, a 20-year-old student who’s studying Management at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. In his free time, he operates Ophel’s Grass-Cutting Services.
Imbued with the entrepreneurial spirit, Ophel’s advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs is “to find something they are passionate about, create a business plan, work hard, and trust God.”
He added that being an entrepreneur gives him the freedom to create his work schedule and prioritise assignments and activities that are important to him. In his early teenage years, Ophel gained work experience and used that knowledge to help manage his business.
Ophel’s clientele expressed nothing less than contentment, and presently, he is reaping the benefits of working honestly. Last year October, Ophel purchased a car, which is of great help to him and most importantly, his family.
So this concludes this YouthZone of two thriving young entrepreneurs who are not consumed with that get-rich-quick mentality. Ophel Bowens and Jo-Ańna Gasper could have chosen any other field but, instead, they chose to work hard.
It’s not too late to find something that you are passionate about, and please take note that there must be some element of planning, as Ophel indicated.
I leave you with some advice from Jo-Ańna: “If you’re thinking of starting a business, do not let self-doubt stop you.”