BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
by Gabrielle Bushell
I
started this business with $100 and a dream to be
my own boss. In the beginning I didn’t think it was
possible but with motivation and perseverance anything
is possible.
I began this journey at age 17 years when my cousin Ms.
Dionne Inniss offered me a spot in her Introduction to
Cosmetology class on evenings, and with any good
supportive parent, my mother advised me to go learn a
skill and she would buy all I need for the class. The thing
was I didn’t really like anything like that but I still did it
and I did it exceedingly well. I tapped into my artistic
nature. At the end of my course I was skilled in Acrylic
Application, manicures and pedicures.
My journey took a detour shortly after that when I got my
first job, I retired from the nail business to focus on a
more steady income. After three years I returned to my
skills, and I found a course offered by the Welfare to
Work program, Introduction to Beauty Therapy. I did the
course as a refresher and it also offered other interesting
aspects I’ve never done before. I went ahead and also
excelled in that class. I graduated in the top five students;
it was tight since we were all so talented. After that I
went on to offer my neighbours and friends specials on
nail services and continued my practice from the comfort
of my home. At this time I wasn’t consistent and much
didn’t come of it being a young woman in the business. I
met many challenges so I retired the job yet again.
NOV 2014
I went on to do General Nursing at Barbados Community
College, for four years and it was during this time I
reverted back to my skills to acquire extra income to
sustain myself during college. But this time was different,
this time I felt more in tuned with it and it became a part
of me. Seeing the joy I brought to my clients after a job
well done gave me hope and purpose and drove me to
continue and not to give up on my former dream. So I
pursued it with full force and it was then that I gave birth
to Swexy Gabby Kryashonz. I did hair styling from the
time I was about 14years old and again at age 20. I did a
small course with my cousin’s mother with chemical hair
so again I leant and built upon my skills to gain income
and also popularity.
I remember in 2010-2011 my friend brought their friends
for me to do their hair in braids and nails in Acrylic tips
and maybe some stilettos. From there business looked
promising. Word got around about this Gabby from St.
Philip doing nails ‘good’, her designs are nice and clean
and people frequented my facebook page and contacted
me for my location. From there, things just got better.
Social Media played a huge part in my success, with the
birth of Blackberry Broadcast services and facebook
group pages I put myself out there amongst the veterans
and I took a chance to compete in the ever growing
market for esthetics. I knew I had to stand out from the
others, and encourage persons to want to come all the
way to Castle Heights, St. Philip.
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