Described as one of the best in event management, Pembi Stephen-David writes that Hek Jays is never backward in making each event it manages an affair to remember.
It is completely unlike any wedding ceremony that was organised here. No rushing to get a better chair, no struggling to get a calendar or hand fan, water is served on time, the flowers are lovely, the whole place is cute, you name it. You cannot fault anything here. ’’These are the words of Matala Kane, one of the guests at a wedding reception in Ribadu Square, Yola, the Adamawa State capital, in mid- September 2011. The reception was something else and has become a point of reference in the state. Hek Jays, known for its attention to detail, giving its clients every moment just as they dream, was on duty at the well- celebrated reception.
Hek Jay’s ability to fashion occasions and receptions to be committed to memory is unmatched. From its romantic stage decorations to good balloon décor, enviable floral arrangements, eye catching bridal train flowers, state -of- the art canopies, sitting arrangement, distribution of souvenirs, entertainment, and excellent video coverage, a high degree of excellence is attained. Hek Jay has a win-win culture and always has something new to offer any day. ‘‘Everything here is adorable and precise. This is special and classic. It is the real deal,’’ commended Stanley, one of the guests artists at the venue.??
None of the over 2000 guests at the wedding reception had the least doubt in his or her heart that Hek Jey went out of its way to make a difference and become a reference in the process. The guests were truly at home. ‘‘I have attended a lot of wedding ceremonies in Yola but I can tell you that any wedding organised by Hek Jays is always different,’’ disclosed Amina Moddibo who was also at the reception. ‘‘Look at the whole place, the decoration is out of this world, the precision is bam, and you beat it. The setting is final, that is Hek Jay for you,’’ she concluded.??
‘‘At Hek Jays, we believe that every assignment is a new challenge to improve on the previous event. We also look at it as an opportunity to express ourselves. Our work is our identity so we do our best to make sure that everything is rightly done,’’ explained Helen Tumba, general manager of the business. This act has made them outstanding ‘‘we have made this our tradition right from time and I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that we have no regrets,’’ she added. Hek Jays started in 2009 but have engraved its name in the hearts of its costumers and guests at events it has managed. The honeymoon between Hek Jays and its clients is just two years old but looks like it has been on for a decade.
Hek Jays has the enviable task of giving every occasion a desired attention and definite treatment “Our only qualification is that we believe that every ceremony is an exciting moment for family, friends and well wishers, so we do our best to handle it pertinently and give it a personalised touch to deliver the expected result and achieve a smooth running day. I am sure this is what makes the difference and we have good costumer relations. Your costumers are the life of your business.
Without them you are gone. All our costumers are important to us so we give them equal treatment,’’ Tumba revealed.
Glamour may not be what comes to mind when it comes to event management, yet what comes to mind at Hek Jay is appealing. ‘‘We work such that when the last guest is gone all that can be remembered is a perfect get-together. We always try to create something to remember and be happy about,’’ the general manager explained. Hek Jays has brought with it a transatlantic touch to social occasions and has established itself as a force to reckon with. Tumba revealed that for every event they manage, they consider how others will see the company so they look inwards to see if any action they take is fair, true or worth it. ‘‘We always look at our clients and their guests and make sure we give them outmost satisfaction.’’ This, she argued, ‘’ will tell more on our business and has always given us an edge.’’ Giving insight into her ‘working principle’ as she calls it, Tumba said ‘’ First, we ask our clients what they want, when they want it, how they want it and where they want it. After that, we offer advice where there is a need to do so. We don’t just arrange the canopies and start décor work, we instead get a copy of the reception programme to know what to expect. This has kept us out of trouble.’’
Almost working with Napoleon Hill’s thought that all achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea, Tumba added that ‘‘all you need is the idea that the earlier work you did and the one you will do can promote your work. It will put you on the market and people will compare what you have to offer with what they have been offered.’’ Vast in event management, she said that most events she managed were as a result of the services she rendered. ‘‘Your task is not necessarily to find a particular work although you may have to. It is about creating an opportunity for the next by doing your best in the one you have at hand. We offer our service to maintain our clients and also make new ones,’’ She added.
Tumba said the road to success is not a tea party.? Like anyone who would grow in business, she said she started small but today Hek Jays is not behind. ‘‘It was not smooth at all, I had it rough. There were times I thought quitting was the best option. I struggled a lot and had reasons to close shop. People will book for one thing or the other and wake up a day or so before the event and tell you stories. Meanwhile I had refused to accept offers from other clients. But today, the story is different.’’ She has indeed paid her dues. Her successful business is run on her diligence and expertise added to her staff dedication that has satisfied her clients continuously. ‘‘This explains why government ministries, corporate organisations, the eminent in society schools and even religious bodies keep coming back to us.’’
Tumba’s speciality is the manner in which she utilises the interplay of floral arrangements with chosen colour scheme to create a truly magnificent scene at ceremonies, receptions and banquet. More appealing to the eye is the array of beautifully- arranged and strategically-placed floral decorations to enhance events. From her work it is evident that her panache is intrinsic, such that it enables her to design a unique event where sophistication and elegance meet affordability. With 25 staff on it payroll, Hek Jays has done well to reduce the number of unemployed youths on the streets of Yola, Mubi and Michika.
Speaking about likely competition, Tumba says it has never been a problem as she has her style and it has always set her apart stressing that the reputation the company has built is solid. ‘‘We live in a competitive world so you must stand out and be outstanding in order to make a mark. There are a lot of firms handling occasions in this state but we try our best to be the best.’’??
Knowledge acquisition, for the wise, is a journey that begins in the cradle and terminates in the grave-it is a life long exercise. This perhaps explains why the management of Hek Jays took the economically informed decision to train its staff on event management. The training, which lasted for two days, was ‘’ so educative, it has indeed added to my understanding of event management,’’ Magdalene Nanfas, manager of the company reveals. Equipped with foreign canopies such as one, two, and three rooms costing N2000, N3000 and N4000 respectively and locally constructed ones costing N1500 andN4000 depending on the sizes, Hek Jays is out to serve both the haves and the haves- not in society.Nanfas revealed that clients normally book ahead of time to allow them prepare and pay in advance so as to avoid disappointments. ‘‘We encourage our costumers to book on time and make necessary payments as a sign of commitment so as to be sure that they will not tell us stories when the time comes.’’??
It is not just that they are competent -although they undoubtedly are; it is not just that they work hard and take their service seriously -although they do. But in a way that is almost uncanny, they have clutched the spirit of event management right from the beginning, and become part of it almost as if they had always belonged. It is this that makes it so easy for residents of Yola, Mubi and Michika towns to patronise and appreciate them; and now it is hard indeed to think of a ceremony in Adamawa State without? Hek? Jays.? ‘‘ I can confidently tell you that today, no special occasion, big or small, in the whole of the state is worth organising without the trademark? touch of Hek Jays ,’’ Nanfas boasted.