On My Own
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Sherilla Gordon, all woman writer
Monday, August 22, 2005
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| Sandra Samuels |
Last week, our feature on Jamaica's powerful women attracted lots of attention, but one thing which certainly stood out was the fact that four of our five were independently wealthy business women.
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| Norma Henry |
In today's world, where money, independence and power are inextricably linked, one sure avenue to success and power is the ability to write your own paycheque since after that, only you determine your level of success.
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| Sophia Max Brown |
For those of us who have often toyed with the idea of becoming self-employed, making the decision to actually do it can be a major feat. The first step in any long journey is always the hardest one, and this week, all woman chats with five successful female entrepreneurs who talk about when and why they took that critical step. Maybe you'll be inspired.
Sandra Samuels, Aesthetician, Barber, Fashion Consultant and Managing Director of Totally Male Limited.
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| Lorna Myers |
Sandra Samuels thought she had a career for life as a flight attendant, but when Air Jamaica made her redundant, she was forced to think again.
"I decided that I never again wanted to be in the position where someone had the power to just send me home. I wanted to be my own boss," she said.
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| Marcia Erskine |
In 1994, she decided to start a business. After doing her research and surveying the market, she realised that there was no place catering exclusively to men's grooming and aesthetics - services she felt sure men wanted, but in an environment where they could receive the same pampering as women without feeling effeminate.
That year she took the plunge and started Totally Male Limited, located in New Kingston's Island Life Shopping Centre, where men have access to a variety of services including manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, haircuts, shaves, and shampoos. As the business grew, Totally Male expanded into wardrobe consultancy, clothing and accessories.
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| Imani Duncan |
Today, at the head of an innovative and successful endeavour, Samuels says she's happy with her choice.
"The business is doing relatively ok. We have our challenges and our ups and downs, but it's nothing we can't manage."
"We have our regular clientele, so I'm happy," she added.
Norma Henry, owner and operator of Norma's on Whitehall Avenue.
After finishing school at age 18 and with one child at the time, Norma Henry started working at a local restaurant. Her experience there was not a pleasant one, mainly because she was unhappy with her employer's attitude, so one day, completely fed up, she packed her things and left the job.
Since she had a young child to support, she had to find another way to make ends meet. First, she started by selling market produce as a roadside higgler, and later graduated to frying and selling chicken. Her fried chicken was an instant success, and soon the demands of her customers motivated her to set up a formal restaurant.
In time, with much saving and sacrifice, she opened Norma's on Whitehall Avenue, in the heart of the community where she was born and raised. Today at Norma's, patrons stepping out of million-dollar vehicles wait in line just as patiently as those who park their bicycles or walk, because the food is just that good. Norma Henry's restaurant is today doing well, and in her years on the avenue, she has built a 'second family' of faithful customers.
Sophia Max Brown, Manager and Buyer for MAXBROWN UNLIMITED.
As a young, single woman, Sophia Max Brown says her independence - financial and otherwise - was very important to her and that was the main reason she went into business for herself.
"I wanted to direct my own self-growth, have my own income and I did not want to rely on a man to provide for me," she says.
At the time, there were no high fashion menswear boutiques, so, with her passion for a challenge, she decided to partner with her mother and open Maxbrown Unlimited in the then-trendy New Kingston Shopping Centre. Initially, the store catered only to men, but after six months was so successful, it branched out into providing female fashions as well. The New Kingston store has since closed, replaced by boutiques in Liguanea's Sovereign Centre and in the Mall Plaza, and this December, the store will celebrate its twentieth anniversary.
Today, independent and prosperous, Sophia Max Brown has achieved what she set out to do, although her twenty years in the business haven't been a complete cakewalk.
"It has its difficult times where cutbacks on expenses and overhead costs are necessary, but the business is doing very well," she proudly revealed.
Lorna Myers, President, Restaurants of Jamaica Limited.
In the 1970s, Lorna Myers seemed to have it all. Her husband was a captain with Air Jamaica, and she and her young children led happy, comfortable lives. Everything changed suddenly, however, and the couple was faced with making important choices as a family.
"When my husband lost his professional capabilities due to medical reasons, we still had to support a family. It was at that point that we decided to explore our entrepreneurial side and take it to the next level and open our own business," she recalls.
She and her husband started the company Restaurants of Jamaica Limited, which today owns and controls the operations of KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants islandwide. Together they managed the business, until he passed away in 1990.
It all began with the opening of the first KFC restaurant on Old Hope Road in June, 1975, at a time when few people were investing in Jamaica, but now, thirty years later, Lorna Myers is virtually a queen atop a fast-food empire. She's still at the helm of the now thirty-five restaurant strong business, and has been steering the company single-handedly since her husband's death.
Marcia Erskine, Managing Director, Marcia Erskine and Associates
Marcia Erskine started her working life as a journalist, along the way working in major public relations firms in the public and private sectors. She, like many other women, often considered going into business for herself, but lacked the conviction to do it, although her husband, who is from an entrepreneurial family, kept urging her to do her own thing.
Eight years ago, she finally decided to give in and start her own company, Marcia Erskine and Associates. The company offers communications consultancy services, event planning, speech writing, press release and publicity plans services.
"I felt the experience I had gained after university in writing, project management and in event planning would be valuable skills in my own communication company. I felt that if I didn't like being on my own, I had the qualifications and skills to go back to being employed by someone else," said Erskine.
"Running your own firm gives you many employers since you represent different companies and agencies and manage a variety of projects," she commented.
Today, she says, the business is doing relatively well.
"We are able to pay all the bills - and there are a lot of those," she says with a smile. "We are just eight years old but we are getting stronger," she added.
Imani Duncan, Managing Director, My Tropic Escape.
She's not yet 30, but Imani Duncan always knew that she wanted to start a business that would contribute to the development of Jamaica. To prepare herself, she studied International Development at Harvard University, and afterwards worked with the World Bank and a consulting firm to gain the experience and knowledge needed to make development happen in Jamaica.
After working three years full-time at an international development consulting firm, Imani decided she was ready to take on the challenge of building a business, training people and seeing everything come together with teamwork. At age 28, armed with loads of innovative ideas and free of the responsibilities associated with children, she decided to take the risk and follow her dream.
She started My Tropic Escape, a luxury adventure travel company with a strong development focus that provides tailor-made tours and holiday packages to visitors interested in more than the beach. Using local guides to take the tourists to off-the-beaten-path attractions, My Tropic Escape offers patrons the opportunity to experience aspects of Jamaica's culture they wouldn't ordinarily come in contact with if they stayed within the gates of their hotel.
"The company is based on community tourism where hiring is concerned, so people in the communities make money while visitors get to see the best of Jamaica," says the young entrepreneur. So far, the company has exceeded all expectations, and is even looking toward expanding into other regional markets in the not-so-distant future.
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