A step-by-step guide to building a professional Somali catering website using AI tools - demonstrated at SOMBEL Conference, Antwerp, Belgium (December 13, 2025).

📊 Step 1: Market Research

🛠️ Tool Used

💬 Prompt

Create a comprehensive market research report for a Somali catering
business in Oslo, Norway.

Include:
- Market size and customer demographics
- Pricing analysis
- Competition landscape
- Seasonal trends
- Financial projections

✅ Result

• 12-page professional market research report

• Key findings:
• 40,000+ Somali residents in Oslo
• 150-200 weddings annually
• Pricing: 400-500 NOK per person

• Competition analysis with market gaps identified

• Revenue projections for first 2 years

🎨 Step 2: Brand Identity

🛠️ Tool Used

💬 Prompt

Create a complete brand identity for a Somali catering business
in Oslo, Norway.

CONCEPT: Built on "Martisoor" - the Somali cultural value of
hosting guests with exceptional generosity

Include:
1. BRAND NAME based on "Martisoor" concept
2. TAGLINE capturing Somali hospitality as an art form
3. COLOR PALETTE (primary and secondary colors)
4. TYPOGRAPHY recommendations

✅ Result

• 🟤 Terracotta #C65D3B - Warmth, tradition

• 🟡 Golden Saffron #E8A537 - Celebration, joy

• 🔴 Deep Burgundy #6B2737 - Elegance, richness

• 🤍 Warm Cream #F9F5ED - Comfort, hospitality

• 🤍 Ivory #FFF8E7 - Purity, traditional

• 🟫 Bronze #CD7F32 - Heritage, quality

• Headings: Cormorant Garamond (elegant serif)

• Body: Nunito Sans (warm sans-serif)

💻 Step 3: Website Development

🛠️ Tool Used

💡 What is v0? Built by Vercel (the company behind Next.js framework), v0 generates production-ready React code using modern web technologies. No coding required.

💬 Prompt

Create a modern Next.js website for "Martisoor" - a Somali catering
business using React and Tailwind CSS.

BRAND:
- Name: Martisoor
- Tagline: "The Art of Somali Hospitality"
- Colors: Terracotta #C65D3B, Golden Saffron #E8A537,
  Deep Burgundy #6B2737
- Fonts: Cormorant Garamond (headings), Nunito Sans (body)

SECTIONS:

1️⃣ Hero Section
   - Full-screen gradient (burgundy to terracotta)
   - Large brand name in Cormorant Garamond
   - Headline: "Authentic Somali Catering for Your Special Occasions"
   - CTA buttons: "Order Catering" and "View Menu"

2️⃣ Featured Dishes
   - 8-dish grid gallery: Bariis iyo Hilib, Suqaar, Maraq, Canjeero,
     Sabaayad, Halwa, Kac-Kac, Basbousa
   - Hover effects, Somali + English names, descriptions

3️⃣ Menu Packages (Norwegian Kroner pricing)
   - Intimate Gathering (20-30 guests)
   - Celebration Feast (50-75 guests) - MOST POPULAR
   - Grand Event (100+ guests)
   - Custom Package

4️⃣ Order Form (2-step with progress indicator)
   Step 1: Event type, date, guest count (10-200), location
   Step 2: Package selection, dietary requirements, contact info,
   special requests

5️⃣ About Section
   - Story about Martisoor tradition
   - Stats: 100% Halal, 15+ dishes, family recipes, affordable
   - Cultural heritage focus

6️⃣ Contact Section
   - Contact form
   - Phone, email, service areas (Oslo region)
   - Social media links
   - WhatsApp quick contact button

DESIGN FEATURES:
✨ Framer Motion animations (fade-in, slide-up)
✨ Card hover effects with subtle glow
✨ Somali textile patterns (10% opacity overlays)
✨ Fully responsive (mobile-first)
✨ Form validation
✨ Loading states
✨ Success confirmation

TONE: Warm, welcoming, culturally proud, family-oriented

✅ Result

• Complete, production-ready Next.js website

• Fully responsive across all devices

• Professional design with cultural authenticity

• Working order form and contact system

🌐 Step 4: Hosting & Domain

🛠️ Tools Used

• Hosting: Vercel (free tier)

• Domain: Vercel, Namecheap, GoDaddy, or similar ($10/year)

📝 Steps

1. Deploy website to Vercel (one-click deployment from v0)

2. Purchase domain (e.g., martisoor.no)

3. Connect domain to Vercel in settings

4. Done - website is live!

💡 Example: My personal site https://www.abdifatah.dev uses the same setup

⏱️ Time & Cost

• Time: 30 minutes

• Cost: $10/year (domain only, hosting is free)

📈 Total Summary

⏰ Time Invested

💰 Cost

🛠️ Tools Used

1. ChatGPT or Gemini - Market research & branding

2. v0 by Vercel - Website development (v0.dev)

3. Vercel - Free hosting (vercel.com)

💡 Key Takeaway

What Used to Require:

• ❌ 10,000€+ capital

• ❌ 4-6 months time

• ❌ Team of professionals

• ❌ Technical expertise

Now Requires:

• ✅ ~$10 for domain

• ✅ 3-4 hours of time

• ✅ Just you + AI

• ✅ No coding required

AI didn't just make it cheaper. It made it possible.

📍 About

🔗 Links

• Live Website Demo

• Code