Can banana bread go viral? A student bakes up a plan
Brooklyn Park, Nov. 2, 2022 – So you want to work as a content creator on social media? Hennepin Tech student Sam Agboare seems to have the winning recipe. He has 600,000 followers on TikTok and he’s adding more everyday with his stunning videos that describe healthy living and eating.
At age 22, he figured out how to make a living as a content creator. Now, Sam is starting another online business that combines social media with food entrepreneurship.
Hennepin Tech: You are 22 years old and you have 600,000 followers on TikTok. Can you believe how quickly you became a success?
Sam: I enjoy cooking and sharing my food on social media. I emphasize quality over quantity. I put in extra hours to present my food.
Hennepin Tech: Today, you are a speaker at a culinary event for chefs and culinary professionals in the Twin Cities. They want to learn about your achievements on social media. You are a very busy entrepreneur. Why did you enroll at Hennepin Tech in the Interactive Design and Video Production program?
Sam: I have taught myself certain skills. I want to learn more from experienced people. I enjoy coming to class and I can ask lots of questions and get specific answers to what I need to learn. It isn’t possible to learn everything from watching videos.
Hennepin Tech: Your new business focuses on selling gourmet banana bread in crazy flavors. What’s the best seller?
Sam: Cookies and Cream banana bread is the favorite. I also have Fruity Pebbles, S’mores, Chocolate Chip, and new flavors I have yet to announce. It’s been busy. Sometimes I say up overnight working on social media to promote the business and the pop-ups shops. I started selling to friends and I keep adding new customers.
Hennepin Tech: How did this get started?
Sam: The business is Banana Scrumptious. It started out as an experiment in my kitchen. I was making fruit muffins. I wanted to create something fun and healthy. Then I started baking banana bread. I developed my own recipe that’s high-protein. I’m working on an oatmeal version that is high-protein, gluten free. I frequently have pop-up shops, I supply banana bread to a local store and also I sell to customers and deliver the banana bread directly to them.
Hennepin Tech: So you are essentially an Uber Eats for just banana bread?
Sam: Exactly. I have lots of returning customers. One customer purchased seven loaves of banana bread and then he bought more banana bread the next week. I asked him, ‘Are you just doing this to support me?’ And he said that he was buying so much because he really liked it.
Hennepin Tech: We know you enjoy Hennepin Tech because you have been a student before. Tell us about that.
Sam: I am a returning student. I started with nursing. I enjoyed it. I found myself spending all my time in the kitchen. At some point, I took time off to find myself. I know that’s a cliché. People think teenagers do this. But I realized that I wanted to go back to school and do something that is my passion.
About Hennepin Technical College
Founded in 1972, Hennepin Technical College (Hennepin Tech) is the largest stand-alone technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, the college offers degree and non-degree courses in over 40 programs. Achieving a high job placement rate, Hennepin Tech prepares students for in-demand and high-paying employment opportunities.