Imagine Caribbean: Alberta Henry of Alberta Henry Photography

Photo Credit : Alberta Henry Photography

Today I am featuring Alberta Henry of Alberta HenryPhotography in St Lucia. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Alberta’s photos tell beautiful stories of love and joy and family and togetherness. Alberta who runs the business with her husband, is making quite a name for herself with her uber creative, themed photo shoots. Her baby photography completely slayed me with cuteness. But, get this...Alberta is not only an extraordinary photographer, she is also a trained Chemist who lectures at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College .  I asked Alberta to share a little about her business and her Art: 

What prompted you to start Alberta Henry Photography?

I love to do portraits and I used to take so many photos of my friends they called me "Paparazzi". My friends liked the photographs I took and they encouraged me to do it professionally. My husband also encouraged me to buy a professional camera, I did that and the photography took off from there.

What did you do before starting Alberta Henry Photography?

When I started I was studying at UWI, because of all the free time I had, I tried it out.

What do you love more Chemistry or Photography?

I love them both. I really love to teach, I love to teach Chemistry and I love my students, I give my students 100% during the week and on weekends and vacations I give my photography 100%. They are both rewarding. The photography keeps me sane but I still love teaching.

Were you afraid when you launched this business?

Not really. I am only afraid when I get too much business. I fear that it’s going to cut into my work schedule and I won’t be able to juggle them both. I would love to do photography full time, but I’m not sure that I would be able to do it full time in St. Lucia. I don’t know if I would  have steady clients to sustain the business. With my current job I have the benefit of a fixed salary.

How has your University education prepared you for managing this business?

I have a BSc. in Chemistry and Mathemathics and a MSc. in Theoretical Chemistry. I don’t think doing Chemistry has prepared me for managing this business. I use my Chemistry degrees in my day job but not in the photography per se because I do digital photography. To do photography you have to be creative and think outside the box, Chemistry is more analytical and more rigid. With Chemistry there is less room for mistakes, a mistake can be fatal. Photography on the other hand is art, there are no mistakes with art.

Do you like being photographed? 

I used to. I am always smiling and posing, but I am a bit awkward, I don’t really have many good photos of myself because I’m always behind the camera. I prefer to be behind the camera and I really love to edit the photographs, that’s my thing.  

How did you break into the market, did you have a defined strategy or did you just wing it and learn as you went along.

I only use Facebook to market the business. I did my first shoot, I posted photos on Facebook and the business took off from there. I would have to say word of mouth and Facebook. I did a baby shoot for the editor of SHE Magazine, but I haven’t done any television ads or other promotions because I worry that I may get too much business to juggle both the photography and my day job.

What type of session do you look forward to the most (maternity, newborn, child, weddings, engagement shoots) and why?

My husband loves the wedding and engagement shoots, but I prefer the baby shoots. A shoot generally takes about 5-6 hours. Baby shoots are not as easy as they look. People look at the photos and they think it is easy, they say wow the baby is sleeping so soundly, it’s not until they’re in the session sweating they realize how hard it is. I have to try a lot of things to get the best shots; if one thing doesn’t work I move onto the next thing, it takes a lot of time.

I love to get those newborn photographs of the babies in their natural state. I don’t really try to pose them because they always slip off the poses. Believe it or not at that stage they have their own personalities, they’re unique, some babies smile and co-operate other babies struggle and fight. Ten days after birth they change, their skin is different even their hair is different. I love to capture those newborn moments forever so the parents can look back and see their child at that stage. If it’s so special to me, imagine how special it is to the parents.

How do you conceptualise the shoots?

I collect props to use in my photo shoots, when I see things I like I collect them, right now I have my eye on 3 stools and a bench. I try to get boxes, baskets, antique chairs, baby beds, anything a child can sit on. I also make headbands for the babies. I used to make roses from scratch, but the easiest way is to get headbands with different designs and stitch pre-made flowers to the headbands. The day before a shoot I chose about 5 of the props, and co-ordinate the headbands and other accessories to go along with the shot, so even with the same props, no two shoots are alike.

What do you think makes a memorable photo shoot?

One time we had a shoot and we went to a location and it was an awful location because there were a bunch of abandoned buildings. We worked with it and the photos looked wonderful, it turned out being one of my favorite photo shoots. I guess because the location was so horrible we had to put everything into the photos and it worked. For a memorable photo shoot, it’s all about planning. If you just show up for an engagement shoot, and you’re not dressed well, or not prepared it just doesn’t work.  Sometimes persons will show me what they’re wearing or what they’re thinking of wearing and I give feedback or offer ideas about how it would go with the particular type of shoot. It’s not about just showing up and trying to make things work, planning is very important.

 What do you want viewers to take away from your work?

I want them to see love and relationships; the love between a couple, the love for the child. I want people to see family, love…humanness. That’s what I aim for in my shoots whether it’s an engagement shoot, a wedding or a baby shoot, I want people to see love and family. I don’t want to shoot models because when you do that there’s no sense of community, you don’t get that sense of family and love and togetherness. With my shoots, I want people to look at the photos and embrace the persons and share in their joy, even if they don’t know them.

What do you think sets Alberta Henry Photography apart and makes your business so successful?

I find that people tend to be more comfortable with women. Most photographers are men, especially for weddings but men don’t think like women, a woman would see a moment and go awwww and capture that moment in a photograph but a man might gloss over that. As a woman I capture those awww moments. I think my personality sets my business apart as well, when I do the shoot my clients automatically become my friends. I remember the children’s names. Even if I did a baby, I remember the child years later when I see them. I love to see how they have grown and changed.  I also love to capture people’s personalities. I like to get persons comfortable and laughing so I get their true personality…when the person sees the photo they must say "Yes this is me".

What do you love most about being a photographer?

I love the smiles from the clients.  A lot of people come with high hopes for their photo shoots and it’s scary, that’s a lot of pressure. One lady brought her 6 month old baby and she said that the child was friendly and smiles all the time and the baby did not smile for the photos. When we finally got the baby to smile she was so excited she was jumping and smiling. I love that. Even on Facebook when the children’s photos get likes, the parents come back to me and they know exactly how many likes the child gets. I love when people feel good about the photos and themselves.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I am self-taught, so sometimes I’m doubtful about my ability. The more persons see and like my work, the greater the pressure to expand and do more, so sometimes I am a bit apprehensive.  When people meet me and ask are you the photographer, they have high hopes and I’m scared of that, it’s a lot of pressure. My biggest challenge is to have confidence in myself and my capabilities.

What is the 1 thing you wish you knew when you started taking photographs?

I once did an online workshop and the lady that was doing it advised us not to belittle our work, if you list a price let the client take it or leave it. If you give your work away persons will not respect the time and effort you put into it. Photography is art. Some people think that when they get a photograph they just get an image, that’s not true, there’s a lot of time and effort and planning that goes into a shoot. As the photographer you just have to say this is who I am, this what I can give and this is the price and walk away. There are persons who will understand what it takes to get there and who will pay to have it. Don’t undervalue yourself, don’t sell yourself short. I knew this when I started out, I just wasn’t applying it.

How would you like to see Alberta Henry Photography evolve?

I want a huge studio , with different aspects and elements, I would love to have a team of photographers to do the different types of shoots: weddings, newborns etc.

If you could have lunch with one entrepreneur or inspirational person who would it be and why?

I would love to meet Yaisa Tangwell, a few years ago I found her page on Facebook and she does such beautiful wedding photos and portraits. Before I discovered her I did not know there were any female wedding photographers in the Caribbean. She has won so many awards internationally and she’s from the Caribbean. She shoots with her husband but she is the primary photographer. She does high profile weddings, she knows her value, she doesn’t compromise.  She is everything I want to be but with baby shoots.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Go forward. The only way to survive in a business is to do what you love. I love photography. If you love what you do and you do it well your business will not suffer, clients would pick up on that and your business would grow. If you’re just doing it for the money it won’t work. When we started it we did not do it for the money, because we weren’t getting any.  We started this because we thought that everyone would want a special picture of themselves that they could have forever. 

You can check out more of Alberta’s work here:

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Imagine Caribbean : Ailene Bailey of Ailocious

Photo Credit: Errol John Photography

I recently caught up with Ailene Bailey, the designer behind the Ailocious jewelry line and the last of the creative trio from St Vincent to be featured on the blog. Ailene is passionate about her art and dedicated to her business. Not surprisingly, her jewellery has been gaining popularity on the local Vincentian fashion scene. The pieces are unique, eclectic and edgy and have the potential to transform any outfit from blah to fabulous. This free spirited, Vincy/Bajan, wild child believes that people essentially wear their personalities so she customizes jewellery that seeks to embody that. She incorporates rustic metals, wire, polished stones and other jewels to create whimsical bohemian inspired statement pieces. If you are keen on letting your accessories speak , Ailocious just might be the brand for you. 

 Did you always know that you wanted to do this? How did you get into this field? 

I believe the universe chooses us. We are all born with special abilities and functions that we need to fulfill in life. I am a certified Early Childhood Educator and a trained office administrator, but I have always been artistic and creative. If you met any of my school mates they would describe me as “weird” or “different”, but I guess they didn’t understand that to mean “unique”. About three years ago a started a degree in Creative Arts online, I finished the online modules but I needed to be there physically for the rest of the program, so I put the program on hold until my kids are older and I can travel for an extended period. After I did this I stumbled onto a local fashion design course hosted by Vincentian designer Alex Grant. She gets the credit for reawakening my creative awareness and helping me to realize my true potential. So I guess I didn’t choose this field, it chose me and I am totally prepared to accept my calling and go where it leads me.

 Who or what inspires you? 

 I am inspired by people, I tend to feed off the energy of my family and friends. I am very free spirited so I’m inspired by freedom; of mind, and of movement. I am also inspired by culture, shapes and music. I love rock music, strange I know, but I love bands like Led Zeppelin, I’m also a big fan of Buju Banton. My kids also inspire me, they are artists as well.

How would you describe your personal style?

I would describe my style as very gypsy, rock & roll, bohemian. I love colour. I guess I wear my personality, I wear who I am on my sleeve so perhaps I say that my style is soft but hard and edgy at the same time. Imagine the street style of homeless person living out of a suitcase, I am very eclectic in my taste. I tend to switch up my hair a lot, I have even had blue hair. I wear my friends stuff all the time so my wardrobe has a lot of items from Fashion is Payne and Ikesha Art. 


What is a typical day like for you? 

No day is typical, I have an unconventional household and I have teenagers. I usually wake up early and although I have a studio room I prefer to work from my breakfast nook . I listen to music and work on wirebending or string art and I tinker around until I create something I like, people don’t even get to see half of the things I make, I don’t share everything. I don’t really have a set routine, I do sketches or create when I’m inspired. I am what you would call an introverted extrovert. I’m very much inside my own head especially when I get creative, I need that space to recharge and create but it’s also important for me to be around my friends and family because I feed of their energy. 

 What has been the most amazing moment for Ailocious so far? 

 Partnering up with other persons who are just like me, I have a close relationship with Ikesha and Jeremy, we work together and each of our work is featured in the other's photoshoot. I love the dynamic that we have, we just “get” each other in a way that nobody else does and I love that. It’s just important to have persons to encourage and share with.


 What has been your biggest challenge? 

 I have trouble sourcing the raw materials to make my jewelry, I love organic stuff and I love my jewelry to have a very rustic organic feel. Also the tools that I use to work the metals are expensive to import and the cost of production tends to be high. My biggest challenge right now is finding a way to be creative on a budget and make a profit. This has challenged me to improvise with materials, I also recycle and re-use material in a creative way. I have also had to find out the hard way that everyone is not around you because they want to help or support. Some persons are very opportunistic, you just have to weigh persons properly and learn from your mistakes and associations. However I think this will be my defining year, I have become more self-aware, I have been putting my products out there and I am becoming more committed and doing the market research. 

 If you could pick one celebrity as the brand ambassador for your line who would it be and why?

 I can’t just pick one. Locally I would have to say that my muse is Zen Punett because she is so free spirited and zen. Internationally, I would have to say Lisa Bonet. They are the embodiment of a lifestyle and essence that I try to articulate through my craft. They’re the vibe I feel when I am creating; freedom, nature, peace and love. 

 How are you currently marketing your brand?

 I primarily use social media and my clients also tell their friends about my pieces so word of mouth helps. Initially, I created my Facebook page as part of a project for a course that I was doing but then it took off and now it’s an excellent marketing tool for my business. People visit the page, they tell their friends and the orders roll in. The response from the public has been favourable, they just can’t get enough of the jewelry.

How would you like to see the brand evolve?

I would like to work with other metals such as copper and to expand the range of my jewellery. However I have big dreams of starting a company that provides support for other Caribbean creatives not only artistically but from a business perspective. I want to leave a legacy of building the industry and providing a safe space for creatives. I want to guide and empower them so they would not be exploited. This company should give a home to artists who have no voice, it should be a safe space where artists can be seen, heard and understood by like-minded persons. This company should be like a springboard to help artists launch into their business. 

 What advice do you have for aspiring designers/creatives seeking to make a career in your field?

 I would tell them to find your inner child, embrace them, love them and then introduce them to the world. You will be criticized but you must be strong for you and your inner child. If your child is collecting rocks, people will wonder and as “why, why? Nobody else is doing it” just ignore them and believe in yourself. 

 If you are in the market for eclectic handmade jewelry check out Ailocious Jewellery here: 

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Imagine Caribbean: Jeremy Payne of Fashion is Payne

Photo Credit: Errol John Photography

What do you get when you combine a passion for fashion, an education in Fine Arts and a love for street wear. I hope you said a glamorous T-shirt line because you would be absolutely correct. Jeremy Payne, the Vincentian designer behind Fashion is Payne creates hand made cotton T-shirts which seem to have a personality and a life all of their own. His SS2014 collection incorporates vibrant colours with geometric patterns and fringed appliques. This collection resonated with me because I'm an 80's baby and it gave me a distinct 80's tropical vibe. I recently connected with him to discuss his work and realised that the T-shirts are an extension of his jovial personality. 

How did you get into this field?

It was a natural progression I studied Art & Design at the St Vincent Community College but it wasn't until 2007 I realised that I could actually make a career from this. From there I went full speed ahead, I initially launched my line under the name Silky Ruff in 2008, I rebranded as Payne in 2012 and now my clothing line is represented by the name Fashion is Payne because it just made sense. T-shirts are like quintessential street wear and they are comfortable...I'm sure even Queen Elizabeth wears T-shirts.                                                 

Who or what inspires you? 

I am inspired by nature, patterns, eclectic personalities, music, street style and art, I also like industrial type stuff like street signs and street cones.  

How would you describe your personal style?

My style is eccentric, I like looking very dapper and preppy at times but at the same time my style is very grungy. I like ripped clothes and rugged cuts, washed out pieces and paint spattered clothes. It's a bit ecclectic, but there is some direction to my messiness. I don't take fashion too seriously, I don't want my clothes to be too pretty. I guess the best way to describe my current style is afro-punk. My clothes reflect me, I keep strict control over my personal life but I'm very free with what I wear. I just try not to over think it too much.                                

What is a typical day like for you? 

It varies, some days I don't do anything at all even if I want to. I usually wake up with the energy to create and get right to work, I capitalise on that energy because I don't want to break and lose my momentum. When I think I've done sufficient work I do other things like browse online, check out my favorite magazines such as Vogue etc, to get inspiration. I hoard a lot of photos of things that I see and like . I also sketch a lot, I try to do 1 sketch per day.  Later on I might take a walk around my neighbourhood, it's very green and full of trees, it relaxes and inspires me. 

What has been the most amazing moment for your brand? 

 In 2009 when I was in my second year in college, I went to Miami Fashion Week this was facilitated by Invest SVG and the Center for Enterprise Development. It was a great learning experience to see how other designers work and to experience fashion on an international level. This sealed the deal for me and showed me that I needed to work in the fashion industry. Fashion is generally a cut throat business but I liked the interaction with the other designers, I saw how seriously they took their work. They didn’t treat me like an amateur at all, they treated me really well. It was a very enlightening experience.

Every day is a highlight, when a client sends me a picture of their Payne Stash that excites me. The brand is a reflection of me so when people believe in the products I take it a little personal. I am just inspired by the respect and appreciation that people have for my work.

What has been your biggest challenge?

 I have trouble sourcing fabric and other things. There is a demand & people ask for it all the time but it's hard to source the fabric or it costs an arm and a leg to import. I am a small business and I don't have a steady cash flow so funding has also been a challenge. Another challenge is finding the right persons to link and collaborate with. I think it's so important for artists to form the right associations with persons who share your vision. 

If you could pick one celebrity as the brand ambassador for your line who would it be and why?

Well these persons aren’t celebrities but locally I would have to say Eniye  Kagbala and  Peta Odini. I love their fashion sense and the way they wear their clothes, they just have their own identity, the clothes don’t wear them and you can always tell exactly who they are because of their clothes. That’s true personal style.

Internationally, I would pick Solange Knowles, I love the way she follows her own path. I also like Grace Jones because of her androgynous features. She tells my artistic story. She would be the perfect muse for my artwork, she’s hardcore, edgy, she tells it as is. She is totally herself. I live vicariously through these people, I admire them as people first and then as style icons. 

How are you currently marketing your line? 

Well I have been doing the fashion editing for a local editorial called Vincy eZine. In it we promote local content and I feature a lot of my work along with the work of other local artisans. I also use social media, I take part in fashion shows and I do collaborative work with other creatives like Ikesha Art and Ailocious. I also do a lot of networking because I am looking to expand into other areas. 

What's next for Fashion is Payne?  

I want to do more collaborative projects and get more experience with persons in other fields. I would really love to do photography and videography and learn the other technological aspects of fashion. I just want to be cutting edge and stay fresh. It would also be great to get my line into more stores so it's readily accessible to more people. 

What advice do you have for aspiring designers/creatives seeking to make a career in your field? 

Don't go into this business blindly, don't think you know everything, take time to research every aspect of the business. Eat, sleep and live what you do but try to balance it with your life...but what am I saying? This would be your life! Just prepare yourself and breathe what you do and it becomes your life. Surround yourself with like minded people who understand what you do. It's also important to surround yourself with persons who would give honest feedback. 

To build your Payne Stash check him out here:

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Imagine Caribbean: Corey McClean of Sips Smoothie Bar

Image courtesy Sips Smoothie Bar

Anyone who has ever had a smoothie from Sips knows that their smoothies are mouth watering, highly addictive and nothing short of magical! Since opening, this mobile smoothie bar has been taking the Barbadian public by storm, leaving loads of satisfied Sipsters in their wake.  From the products, to the branding and marketing this is Caribbean entrepreneurship and innovation at its finest. This week I am honoured to feature Corey McClean the mastermind behind the Sips Smoothie brand. 

What did you do before Sips?

After university I worked with my brother at a construction firm for a year while working on the concepts for Sips. Then I did product testing and launched at the end of the year.

What prompted you to open Sips Smoothie bar?

I had an idea for a traditional coffee shop, and decided to go the way of the smoothie bar because there wasn’t a big smoothie market in Barbados. Coffee and protein shakes had taken off but smoothies had not been explored deeply and people who were making smoothies were not really making smoothies they were making beverages from concentrated syrups. I decided to introduce Barbados to real fruit smoothies. I also had funky flavours such as Cookies & Cream and Chunky Monkey, as well as a wide range of healthy protein shakes. I especially wanted to introduce protein shakes that were inviting and packaged in way that was appealing…shakes that you did not have to brace yourself to drink because they tasted good.

Were you afraid when you launched Sips?

I was scared that what I was doing would not work, that people would not buy into the brand idea. I had fears that I was deluded and had quit my job for nothing. There was a lot of fear but I had to ignore it. When launching a business, you need a support system, people that can give you positive feedback, people that will literally tell you that you are great, people that would lie to you to keep your spirits up, people that will tell you no matter what happens it will be ok. You need people in your corner that keep you grounded but will also lift you up from the doldrums when the pressure descends. Any entrepreneur will tell you that highs and lows are part of this game you can have the highest moment today and then wake up tomorrow morning and get hit with something. That’s why you can’t just say that you did great today and relax, you have to continually fight the fear and push.

How has your University education prepared you for managing Sips?

I studied Management at UWI, this will not prepare you for running a business but it helps because it teaches you to analyse what’s beyond the surface of a business. This information is good when developing a business from scratch. It helps you to pay attention to things that would otherwise be overlooked by a novice. I took courses in marketing and psychology so I incorporated this when developing the brand for Sips, everything from the colours I chose to the font. These are things that the average person generally does not consider. You become meticulous about small things, the way things look, the way things sound , it’s like building a story. The degree helped with market analysis and approaches to traditional market research.

How did you break into the market? Did you have a defined strategy or did you just wing it and learn as you went along?

Traditional market research can’t tell you yes or no, only what people like on a particular day but if enough people say yes, I am going to go ahead with it. I remember the first major event where we did market research for Sips, we borrowed everything, the blenders, the tables, everything and we sold out in two hours. I had to send friends to the supermarket to restock, it was overwhelming and it continued like that for the rest of the day. That’s the first time people really got a taste of Sips.

I used a concept called “The Lean Startup”. The idea is to get to your target market with the product as soon as possible instead of extensive product development. So you start as minimalist and as basic as possible and get the product out to market. I have a business partner and I also did crowd sourcing. I leaned a lot on the expertise of friends and persons in my circle of influence, these were people in areas such as graphic design, marketing as well as people working in bigger organizations.

How are you marketing the brand?

We focus a lot of our efforts on social media, so we are on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We have good relationships with the radio DJs they give us shout outs, we are able to pop in to the stations and shout out our customers. You get more mileage from this kind of marketing. We even had DJ Puffy as the face of Sips for a few months. The idea has always been to set up Sips as that other friend. We were one of the first businesses on the island using Blackberry messenger to interact with our customers back in 2010. Customers can message Sips, interact with Sips via social media, take photos of your smoothies and tag us on Instagram, have your photos taken with us at Sips… it’s as if Sips were a person. That was always our aim. With marketing, you just have to dabble until you realize what works.

What is a typical day like at Sips?

We are mobile so during the week we go to different locations. Every day we make multiple stops at different offices and one of the vans goes to the boardwalk in Hastings from 7pm. On weekends we’re stationed at Accra beach.

How many different combinations does Sips Offer?

The menu currently has 7 smoothies, 3 health shakes, and 9 milk shakes. However we give customers the option of building their own shake. We also have a secret menu which features different combinations created by our customers. Customers tend to be surprised when they see other customers ordering drinks that are not on the set menu. What happened is that after  customers become a part of the fold they explore the menu and they may settle on a favourite or they may offer suggestions on how to tweak it. We test taste some of the combinations of our repeat customers and if they taste really good we will offer it as the smoothie of the month with the name that the customer has chosen for it. It’s an interactive process and our customer gets to be a Sips celebrity for the month.

Which smoothie creation is your favourite?

I am a chocoholic so it’s the Chocolate dream which contains ice cream, chocolate sauce and milk

What is the worst combo you have ever tasted?

I can’t remember, I think I may have blocked it from memory.

What drives you?

Success. It may sound clichéd but my picture of success is more than just material things. I want a situation where my family can grow in a way that I see as being healthy. One component of that is of course being able to have material things, such as a home, a car, travelling. I want to be able to do all that stuff without panicking about being able to pay for things. When I have kids I want them to be able to take advantage of opportunities, I want them to have all the things they need.  If my daughter decides that she wants to go to ballerina space camp I want to be able to provide it. I also want to leave a legacy and do something bigger than Sips. I want to be known for creating this brand that is bigger than me, a brand that leaves a positive impact on my customers. I want to leave each person better than I find them.

What do you think sets Sips apart and makes your business so successful?

From the basic end our products are different, compared to our competitors we offer a premium product. We use real fruit instead of concentrates and syrups and our milkshakes have a richer flavour profile. On the deeper end, we do not focus specifically on selling smoothies, what we try to sell to our customers is a relationship. We try to develop a connection with our customers in so doing the customers become emotionally invested in the brand, it is not just a transaction.  Sips becomes like another friend that you have, when you see that orange van you get happy. No matter who is working you have the same type of conversation, the same types of interactions. People drive past the vans and wave and smile and honk their horns, these people don’t do that when they drive past KFC or Sagicor. This relationship building has been our approach to marketing, we spent no money on formal advertising until last year and even then it was only for about 2 months.

What has been the most amazing moment so far?

The fact that friends and family are not our only customers. When total strangers develop a love for something that you started in your head it is a very humbling experience. I remember scribbling ideas on notepads back in the day and to see my passion come alive like this is remarkable. It’s also great when I hear customers introducing new customers to the brand and telling them all about it. It’s great when you have a whole army of customers doing that for you. It’s good when family and friends do that for you but they’re your friends and family so they will do this but when total strangers do this for you that is remarkable.

We cover a wide geographical area so it allows us to have a wide client base and the demand is crazy high. People have an emotional connection with Sips they build us into part of their routine for the day and when you put those two things together you have a pretty potent combination. People think “this smoothie is what will fix my day” if they have a bad day or relationship issues people want a smoothie. This kid got a belt in Karate, and his mother had to drive around for an hour looking for us to get his smoothie, and he was only like 3. People celebrate with Sips and people drown their sorrows with it.

What has been your biggest challenge?

One of the first challenges was getting people to understand the product and the taste profiles, moving people away from a smoothie made from syrup or concentrate to a real fruit smoothie. Another challenge stemmed from the fact that Sips was mobile and not in a building because of this we had to move past people’s perception that we were not as high quality or were not as serious about the brand. Although we had built up a clientele, when we started going to offices we had difficulty getting past secretaries and security guards, their job is in fact to keep you out. Additionally, since we are a mobile company the vehicles required continual maintenance and broke down a lot. We have had mechanical issues that could have been prevented and stuff that was unavoidable. While you save on the rental costs by not having a building, you have to consider the cost of maintenance for the vans.  Being mobile can be a drawback in terms of customer’s ability to find you, even if they figure out where you are they may not be able to get to you.

                                                                                          

Are you now where you thought you would have been when you were 18?

Running my own business yes, but the thing is, where you want to be is like an unattainable goal. You are never where you want to be because you always want to be somewhere else. At that age I wanted to start, run and build my own business, so from that perspective yes. However at that age I wanted to be an Architect, I did an Associate’s degree in Mechanical Engineering but I did not pursue architecture. I always knew that entrepreneurship was my path, even when I wanted to be an architect, I wanted to own the architectural firm.

How would you like to see Sips Evolve?

I want Sips to be a household name throughout the Caribbean. No matter where you are you should have the same brand, the same level of service and same connection to the customers, regardless of the accent.

If you could have lunch with one entrepreneur or inspirational person who would it be and why?

Richard Branson is my idol. I have two of his books and like 3 magazines with him on the cover. What I like about him is the fact that he is very invested in building strong brands and brand connections, he is pretty much fearless. He does not have any of the things that would inhibit a rational person, he is not limited by boundaries, or even gravity for that matter. I would have to say lunch with Branson on Necker Island… although he might want to go kite surfing and I can’t swim.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

You need to be stubborn, don’t wait for perfection, the time would never be perfect, just start as quickly as possible, as cheaply as possible then learn from the feedback and change and grow. Surround yourself with good people to support you and good people that you can learn from, I have never met Branson but I read his books, and I learn from him. It’s important to look at people like him, to understand how they think, how they act, their rituals, methods, routines and draw inspiration from them.  

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Imagine Caribbean: Ikesha Delpesche of Ikesha Art

Photo Credit: Errol John Photography and Design

I recently stumbled across some images on Facebook which perfectly articulated my vision of a Caribbean Fashion Aesthetic. The images captured the rustic charm that is synonymous with island life but they had a very cosmopolitan appeal. They were part of the promotional shoot for Ikesha Art's SS2014 Handbag collection. Ikesha Art is the brainchild of Vincentian designer Ikesha Delpesche who specialises in making one of a kind clutches, purses and handbags.  Between the vibrant colours, the intricate detailing of the work, her incorporation of African print fabrics and the styling of the photo shoot I was hard pressed to choose what I loved most her bags. I was so proud of this Vincentian designer’s use of her creative talent and imagination to create this awesome brand, I knew immediately that I had to feature her.

How did you get started in this business? 

I started out as a dressmaker and a  jewellery designer. However, because I always had a 9 to 5 job, I was pretty laid back with the dress making although I did sew for a few persons in between jobs. One day when I went to drop off an order of earrings for a customer, I had a sling bag made from fabric that I had bought from a street vendor. My customer knowing that I could sew, asked me to make a bag exactly like the one I was wearing. I went home and de-constructed the bag just to see how they put it together. I was able to draft a pattern and I made her a bag from floral upholstery fabric. In two days I put a price to it and delivered it and she was so amazed by the bag. From then on, I started making bags and advertising them on Facebook and from there I built my clientele. If you check my product page on Facebook I outline the services I offer; it includes dressmaking and as well as accessories. However, I focus on the bags because there is a market for it. There aren't very many Caribbean handbag designers and I want to make a name for the Caribbean on the international market.

Who or what inspires you?

 I am inspired by a lot of things in nature; the plants, the clouds, the moon, the stars, African prints & African art. I draw inspiration from whatever is around me.

How would you describe your personal style?

I love fashion and style. I would describe my style as very relaxed and laid back. I am drawn to long dresses, long skirts, head wraps and very colourful patterns. I wear a lot of Ailocious jewelry and local leather sandals.

 What is a typical day like for you?

I have two kids so I wake up and get them ready for school. In addition to the handbags I also offer dressmaking services so once the children leave I settle down to work on any  custom orders that I have. I might make a bag or try to create a new design or a new concept. After this I check blogs, websites, pinterest for inspiration. Between 3-4 I pick up my kids from school, when I return I finish the orders that I was working on. In the evening,  I hang out with my children then put them to bed. I am usually in bed very early, I need to get my sleep. 

What has been your biggest challenge with your business to date?

It's difficult to find a wide variety of leatherette and African print fabric in St Vincent to create my bags. Also, finding the hardware to embellish the bags such as the rivets etc, they can be very costly especially when they have to be cleared at customs. I want my bags to be affordable, I would like to make a profit but I don't want to have to pass on the high costs to my customers. To control my costs I try to recycle, customers can bring in their old bags that need fixing.  Funding for the business is another issue, not only for raw materials and equipment but  getting sponsorship to attend more trade shows outside of St Vincent in order to promote my bags has been difficult. 

What has been the most amazing moment ?

Well there are too many to count. My friend Ailene of Ailocious and and I joined up for a regional conference and exhibition put on by Youth Business SVG in September  2012 and were awarded most outstanding entrepreneurs. At the time I created retro themed jewelry with telephone wires and the response was very encouraging. More recently in December we went to Canaoun for an exhibition and the sales were great, the response was even better than on mainland St Vincent, I had a lot of enquiries and the bags sold out very quickly. 

How are you currently marketing your brand?

I use social media,I have a Facebook fan page for the brand and word of mouth helps, people who buy my bags tell their friends and I find that once customers buy a bag they tend to return. I recently started offering my services at Florangements, a boutique at #31 Central Market Shop in Kingstown. It's right there on the first floor and they carry my bags. I also promote my work at trade shows and exhibitions.

If you could pick one celebrity as the brand ambassador for your line who would it be and why?

To be honest I’m not very big on celebrities . The person who best embodies my brand is Jennlee Shallow a Vincentian currently living in New York. In fact she was the model for the photo shoot. She is a natural beauty, very down to earth, very unique very humble, very talented. She loves custom made pieces and she understands the dedication that goes into the art. She herself is a creative who is multitalented and versatile; she sings, she models, she acts.

What is next for the Ikesha Art brand?

I would love to work with genuine leather, there is no supply  for it locally, if I could source it overseas at an affordable price that would be great. I also want to improve my labelling, and packaging and I want to get a better sewing machine so that I can do neater stitching. I want my bags to look like authentic, high quality designer bags. I dream of owning a bag factory that rivals Prada.

What advice do you have for aspiring designers/creatives seeking to make a career in your field. 

I would advise them not to do it unless you have a passion for it, the ideas wont come and your business will not develop. Work hard and produce quality products that people will appreciate. Don’t be afraid to create and don’t be afraid to fail, don't be afraid of criticism either. Also, spend a lot of time on researching and developing your art.

To see more of Ikesha’s amazing work or to purchase her bags, follow Ikesha on:

Facebook : Ikesha Art

Pinterest: Ikesha Delpesche