Exploring Life & Business with Repeka Avegalio of Wiki- Licious Chandler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Repeka Avegalio.

Hi Repeka, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’d like to start off by thanking you for the opportunity to share my experiences with you. I am the owner  of Wiki- Licious Chandler but definitely not the only reason for it’s success & growth. I have been married  to my amazing husband, Fata, for almost 14 years. Wow! We have a set of boy/girl twins who are 11  years old. My parents, siblings, and their families are all nearby. I’ve also got plenty of extended family in  Arizona as well. We are tight knit & run deep! What’s most important in my life is faith, family & the  freedoms to pursue the life I can be proud of. 

The chance to own Wiki- Licious Chandler came about when there was an advertisement on social  media. I’ve had many malasadas & these were by far my favorite. I was so excited for the chance to be a  business owner with an amazing product & flexible schedule. I also found the opportunity to incorporate  my family into the business as well. With my family’s support, I applied. It’s been such a worthwhile  journey both personally & professionally.  

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced  along the way?
Growth comes from tension & struggle. It’s not fun while you’re going through it, but you have to believe  that you will be beter on the other side. It’s what I tell my kids & I also contend with it on a regular  basis. Initially, I was happy to primarily work from home as my family dynamic best suited that. What  started as home pick-ups have grown into weekly engagements, markets, events, partnerships & great  networking. We know we have an amazing product, so when people have them, it gives us the  confidence to segue into opportunities.  

My first challenge was atier my first few weeks of home sales. Initially, the buyers were pursuing me and  the orders just came in. Then, they decreased weekly. Instead of focusing on home sales, I pivoted more  towards farmers markers and events. That’s proven to be a critical addition to our growth. Looking back   at that challenge, I realize I could’ve approached it differently. But with that brief struggle came other  opportunities. However, so many opportunities have come from the markets. Currently we are in 3  farmers markets, partner with fund raisers & do many local events. 

As a business owner, balancing life & family is an ongoing conversation & reflection. Thankfully, I  communicate regularly with my husband, children & extended family as well. They all contribute to the  success of our business. With family & business, our kids will sometimes make boundaries & state,  “Family time. No donut talk.” Ha!  

Thanks for sharing that. So, could tell us a bit more about your business.
We are currently a home-based bakery. We specialize in making delicious, fresh Hawaiian-styled donuts  called malasadas. We make them fresh for farmers markets, schools, fund raisers and special events.  These treats are popular in Hawaii but were originally brought there by Portuguese immigrants. If you  know Hawaii food culture, you can see & taste the influences from many parts of the world. And the  food in Hawaii is distinctive and delicious. We’re now helping to popularize them on the mainland. When  people have our donuts, it is our that hope they experience the aloha we put into each & every bite.

If you see us at an event, you may see any number of my family. It might be my husband, kids, in laws,  cousins, nieces or nephews. They all contribute to our success and reputation. Ohana. Aiga. 

We’d like to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Opportunity & a series of decisions have led me to where I am today. I am not naïve to think that it is all  because of me, that I am where I am. I am fortunate to be born into a family where my parents instilled the values I have. As an individual, I know that it is my mindset that moves the needle, for beter or for  worse. But also being Samoan, the collective is most considered in decision making. 

I am a sum of my experiences, good and bad. However, there were certain decisions I did not want to  leave to chance or handle frivolously. When I met my husband, I knew he held the same type of values  that I was raised with. From that point on, he has supported me in anything I wanted to pursue,  including Wiki- Licious. With the family values my parents passed down, it has led to all of my siblings and their families all moving to Arizona.  

To sum it up, I do feel lucky but I also know the importance of key decisions and the long lasting impacts  that they have. I was lucky to have been introduced to Wiki-licious malasadas and I trusted my decision  to move forward with it, with the support of my family. It’s been a blessing since.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wiki-licious.com/sales-page1646797137644
• Instagram: wiki_liciouschandler
• Facebook: WikiliciousChandler