Success Lifestyle Magazine Issue 4 - April 2019 | Page 31

...from the most daring woman to the most conservative woman. more structured designs similar to what she creates. Wh� i� your greates� inspiratio� & wh�? How hav� yo� bee� abl� t� surviv� a� a� entrepreneur i� Jamaic�? One of the things I’ve learnt as an entrepreneur is the importance of forming relationships with people in the same industry. Yes, those people we call our competitors who for some reason society thinks we should stomp on and walk over to get ahead. There is such undeniable beauty and authenticity to be found in these relationships that it’s no surprise to me that businesses fail because this fact is ignored. I find that most Jamaicans tend to focus on how difficult it is to get things from overseas rather than how easy it is to send things overseas. Most of my clients are from the US and Canada. I use our local post office system to ship. There is a very talented local designer who I met by chance on Instagram. Her name is Believe it or not, our post office is the bomb! and it’s super efficient and reliable. My experience has been great with it because it has been super efficient and reliable. I use their fast track service for $2,200 and my clothing is delivered to my Rhea Gayle and her company is called Rhea client’s doorstep or mailbox within 2 Imani. She’s a bit ahead of me in terms of working days. Amazing isn’t it? what she has accomplished for her brand. Although we’re the same age, she has built a I’ve gotten most of my local clients small team and opened her showroom. through Interestingly, she was the person who common misconception that when people actually inspired me to create my own appear on these popular shows like Mission showroom. Catwalk that a word-of-mouth. There’s a whole flood of business starts rolling in immediately afterwards. I now call Rhea my friend. We support each Those platforms are great for exposure, but other and continue to build successfully aren’t the be all and end all for securing businesses because of the relationship we new business. have formed. I truly believe that she is my Word of mouth advertising and extensive greatest inspiration. Instagram marketing have been my tools Additionally, there are a few Instagram- for reaching local clients. It doesn’t matter based personalities who what field you’re in, your business won’t inspire me. I think Style Pantry is my biggest Instagram inspiration right now. It’s owned succeed if you don’t put your brand out there and neglect to put enough emphasis by Folake Kuye Huntoon. Her aesthetic is on marketing your brand. designers and awesome and I hope to one day get into ISSUE:4 APRIL 2019 31