THE US is considered the land of opportunity by some, but for Mufetta Krueger, Jamaica is the place she wants to do business.

Krueger returned last year and started her company, which produces natural household cleaning agents and insecticides, in Mineral Heights, May Pen. She uses rosemary, mint, lemon grass and pimento, and other herbs, in her products. “My mom was a big proponent of using natural products. Years ago, I passed out from using bleach and after I graduated from college I decided to start a cleaning business,” she said. She was insistent that the business use only herbs and other natural products instead of chemicals.

Mufetta Enterprises is the 17th nominee in the Observer’s Mogul in the Making start-up programme.

Though having experience abroad, she had some difficulty setting up locally, as the herbs and oils she needed for her products could not be found easily. She also had trouble sourcing containers, labels and other things needed for packaging. “We’re still having some challenges where that’s concerned but we are getting there little by little,” she said.

That aside, she has not had many other problems starting up but said this might soon change.

“From where we are now, we sell to a few stores but we’ve found a distributor and we will move from this location to meet the demand of the product.” The move is expected to take place next month. “Once we move into a bigger facility, there could be financial challenges. (However,) We’ll determine whether or not to get some investment or a loan,” she said.

Though focusing on cleaning products and insecticides, Krueger said there are plans to expand into other areas. “We’ve gotten many requests for skincare products and that’s something we want to go in, but after we get this part of the business of the ground.”

“It’s really about a lifestyle,” said her nephew and business partner, Omar Blagrove. A regular job isn’t for them, he said, adding that it’s important that people pursue opportunities that allow them to be entrepreneurs.

“Branch out and do something on your own if you’ve done the research,” he said. “If it doesn’t work you can always fall back on what you have (education). Everybody should try it (starting a business) and then you’ll be able to appreciate the rewards of seeing something you started come to fruition.”

The company is currently developing furniture polish, a scouring powder and air fresheners to add to its existing line of products.

Muffetta Enterprises will expand into the local market with its new distributorship and also has plans to export its products in a couple of years. “We don’t plan to be a start-up forever,” Krueger said.