Even with challenging margins, consistent growth on Amazon is preferable to quitting entirely. “You must persist—one unit at a time, one Amazon order at a time,” the POKS spokesperson stated. “No entrepreneur wants to admit, ‘I failed,’ right?” Nevertheless, the company recognizes that it will require “a few years to recover from what has transpired.”
In the meantime, they are trimming costs wherever feasible—halting all in-person trade shows and marketing efforts for the foreseeable future, along with discontinuing its website once the web hosting agreement concludes in May. Foli is also actively seeking full-time positions to support her income while managing daily POKS activities.
“I’m witnessing too many small food brands shutting down,” remarked Akua Kyerematen Nettey, the founder of Mampro Foods (formerly Berry Bissap), who connected with Foli through an online Ghanaian community.
Mampro, akin to POKS, is among countless small enterprises primarily operated by individuals of color that lack substantial external financing. “We’re delivering natural ingredients to the market, without preservatives, fillers, or undesirable additives … and due to limited capital access and increasing costs in the retail sector, scaling up is very challenging.” She and other advocates expressed their support publicly, applauding POKS and its role in bringing West African cuisine into more American households.
Shortly after POKS shared its announcement, there was a notable increase in sales on Amazon. (A boost in support typically follows such announcements, yet it does not guarantee sustained purchases, the spokesperson highlighted.) July turned into the most successful month of 2025; by August, revenue had grown by 50%. The company also climbed in Amazon’s search results, which may assist the seasonings in garnering additional visibility and clicks to the cart. The orders come at a significantly higher expense, but until POKS can forge alliances with more advantageous retailers, Amazon remains its best and sole choice.
