What's in a Name?

     OK so the Social Media Communication course is over but I still want to keep the blog going. I must say I enjoy this social media stuff. For those reading my blog posts, leave me feedback in the comment column please. You may be wondering why I chose this business name (Jeniffer Nanlal Book and Stationery Loft) and it is purely after many attempts at a name that I did. Here is the story.

     I went to get the business name approved at the Ministry of Legal Affairs and had to do a name search to ensure no one else had the business name I wanted before I could think of registering the business. So I sat behind one of their computer console and searched for the name Jenna’s Book and Stationery Loft, because that was the name I wanted for the business at first. The “Jen” was from my first name “Jeniffer” and the “Na” was from my last name “Nanlal”. I thought it ingenious, a combination of my name, but it was rejected. I was deflated but decided I would try again.

     On my second attempt, I decided to drop the stationery in the name and go with Jenna’s Book Loft. That too was rejected. I went back a third time with the name Jenna’s Stationery Loft and again was shot down. This was getting to be frustrating and I needed a name fast because I did not want to spend so many hours in the crowded office space where there were long lines at the Ministry of Legal Affairs and it was so hot anyway that I decided to just give up with the Jenna and just use my original name. That did it! The name was accepted and I could move on to the next step and get out of that hot space. Yay! I was elated.

     So even though the name is a long business name, I am proud of it, and besides, it can be abbreviated to JNBSL. My advice to budding entrepreneur: be persistent; take your time and choose a good business name; in fact, have a few handy in case one is rejected and be happy with the name you finally end up with.

FOR THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

A video about the collaborative effort between myself and Cherrisse Foster.

It can also be viewed on YouTube at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw6ZhOeW7S8

Collaboration with Cherrisse Foster

Collaboration with Cherrisse Foster

As I said in my previous blog post, as per our Social Media Communication course I was required to collaborate with at least two other classmates whose project would mesh nicely with mines. My second collaboration was with classmate Cherrisse Foster, whose project involved ‘Embracing the Beauty and Body of Women. Cherrisse’s project meshed nicely with my project because she encouraged women to love themselves and in my small business I had to interact with women of all walks of life. I also had to learn to embrace my beauty and be comfortable with my body and Cherisse was there to help me. Thank you Cherrisse!

To read some more about Cherrisse and her journey, visit her page at 

http://confidenceisthekeytosucess.blogspot.com/

Here are one images of me back in the days and one of me now.  I never thought all those years ago that I would put on weight, but with the birth of my third child, I did just that! Cherrisse convinced me that was not such a bad thing. The other three images are of beautiful Cherrisse.

This is me back in the days.

This is me now.

Beautiful Cherrisse!!!

Collaboration with Ariel Hunt

As part of our Social Media Communication course I was required to collaborate with at least two other classmates whose project would mesh nicely with mines. My first collaboration was with classmate Ariel Hunt, whose project involved DIY (Do It Yourself). Ariel and I were able to work together to successfully create a few items for my desktop work-space and it was fun learning to create beautiful pieces that I could actually use to help organize my working area. Ariel was excellent at using items most people would throw out as garbage and produce work of art. I needed to organize the clutter on my desk, and Ariel came to my rescue. She used discarded boxes from supermarkets to craft a book-stand and supply holder for me as well as toilet paper rolls to and cardboard to craft a stationery holder for me. I was amazed at how beautiful it looked when completed, but most of all how functional it was in my work-space. No more clutter – YAY! Thank you Ariel! To view more of Ariel's work, visit her page at http://arielhuntdiy.blogspot.com/?m=1

Here are a few photos of Ariel's creations that I am now using on my desk.

My favourite mentor

Growing up I always knew I could go to my mother with any issue that bothered me. She was always willing to listen to me and even when we would sit and just talk, she would always tell me there were so much good things in store for me. She shielded me from danger, however I am thankful that unlike most parents growing up children in the 1980’s she did not shield me from certain topics that were considered taboo at that time. My mother was a great mentor and even though she never went to school and did not know how to write nor read, she encouraged me to do so, to the point of staying up every night with me under the lamplight as I completed my home-work. She would buy a book for me every week and beautiful stationery to write letters to my aunt in Texas, and thus began my love for books and stationery.

Every once in a while I think about her and smile. She died with cancer the year I was scheduled to write my CXC examinations. She had been suffering for three years prior. This post is dedicated to my mother,, my mentor, who taught me to love books. It is my hope that the readers of this blog post have wonderful mentors as I did my mom. Realize your dreams and make your mentors proud as I have made my mom proud.

Teamwork

Teamwork involves groups of people working together for a common good and there would be times when you would need to work along with others. It is very difficult working with some people and there can be a lot of friction, however if the members of the team keep in mind that they are working for a common good , they can make progress. With advances in technology and the world becoming a global village, it is important to learn how to work along with others. In order to work successfully with teams, keep in mind the following pointers:

1. Every team member opinion matters.

2. Team members have feelings whether they show their emotions or not. Try not to wilfully offend anyone.

3. Do not judge team members.

4. Leave lines of communication open with team members.

5. Do not be selfish. Share your ideas.

6. Do not be offended if your ideas are not chosen. Remember teamwork involves a democracy and what the majority chooses is what the team will go with.

7. Be an active part of the team. Do not just sit on the side-lines listening to what is said.

8. Get to know your team mates. You might be surprised. You may become good friends with the one you thought was unapproachable.

9. Ensure that you do what you are required to do while working in the team. No one likes it when others sponge off them and do not contribute to the success of the team.

Three Reasons for Business Washout and How to Avoid It

There are a number of reasons why some entrepreneurs suffer washout early in their business and having knowledge of those reasons can help budding entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls. Therefore, instead of having a flopping business you can instead have a thriving business. I am giving three (3) reasons why business flops and what can be done to avoid it. I hope this post is helpful to those reading it.

1. Failure to account for your monies – Do not borrow more money than you need and always keep track of how you spend your business funds. Remember, it is always easier to borrow than to pay back, and keeping proper financial records will help you to track your spending and profits made. If you do not have knowledge of bookkeeping or accounting, for a small fee you can hire a recent secondary school accounting graduate student to help you.

2. Poor Organization and Running of your business – It is always good to try and educate yourself as an entrepreneur in how to successfully run a business. In Trinidad and Tobago there are many evening classes offered for adults in areas such as accounting, principles of business and office administration at no cost. There are also short courses offered at a few educational institutions for a minimal cost.

3. Not having enough capital – some entrepreneurs fail to realise that in operating a business they would have overhead expenses that will have to be paid every month. For example, light bill, telephone bills, rent etc. In not properly planning for this, they can quickly use up their finances and expect to get money from sales to cover these expenses. In the event that sales are slow, they then suffer.

Three Male Celebrity Entrepreneurs

This short blog post highlights three young male celebrity entrepreneurs and their accomplishments. Be inspired!

1. Jay-Z

Most youths know him as a successful rap artist but did you know he owned several successful businesses? One such business is his “Roc Nation” business which sells tickets to many large music events.

2. Ashton Kutcher

This actor not only makes money acting but he has proven that his business sense can be rewarding as well. He is the proud owner “Capital Firm A-Grade Investments”, a company dedicated to providing funds for start-up Tech companies.

3. Justin Timberlake

This singer has invested some of his money in entities such as MySpace and the NBAs Memphis Grizzlies, the latter of which has been successful.

Read more of their stories at the link below:

http://myfirstclasslife.com/12-richest-celebrity-entrepreneurs/?singlepage=1

A Thank You Letter

This blog is in the form of a thank you letter to four of my good friends that are themselves young entrepreneurs. I have had the privilege of working with three of them at a large financial institution a few years ago and know that their business ethics are top notch and the other whom I met six years ago also proved to be one of the most ethical business personnel I am honoured to have met. I have stayed in close contact with all three of them and the invaluable advice they have given me throughout the years is very much appreciated. I will refer to them in my letter by their first names, Sandra, Anya, Sterling and Gilbert.

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank you first of all for being my friend. I know I can be a handful at times, yet you three seem to know just how to relate to me in such a way as to get me to relax and think before I act. In my journey to become an entrepreneur, each one of you in your own unique way have helped me to realise my dream with encouragement, valuable advice, examples from your years of experience dealing with clients and your perseverance in insisting I can make it.

Sandra as I worked with you, assisting you in planning events for the bank, you never treated me as an assistant, but rather you treated me as a friend. I am so very thankful for the many occasions you took time out to explain proper protocols to me as well as explaining why certain things were done the way they were. Thank you for always including me in whatever decisions that had to be made before you gave your final answer to our line manager and most of all thank you for staying in touch with me through the years while encouraging me to be the best I can be.

Anya, my darling Anya! Your creative ability and sunny disposition was always welcomed at the start of my work day. I was and still am in awe of the creative skill which you possess. I remember the first time you came to me and said you were going to open your own graphic arts business and I rooted for you because I knew you could do it. Thank you for always asking my advice concerning your creations when you worked on large projects. You did not have to include me in the process, but you did and for that I was most appreciative. Thank you for continuing to support me and be an example to me.

Sterling I want to especially thank you for inviting me to assist you from time to time in your business. Even though it is not the same time of business I am involved in, it was good to get the exposure of meeting some of your clients as well as your workers. The foods you prepare for your clients and the bar service you offer to them is an excellent example in how service should be rendered. Thank you for your many insights and for being my friend.

Gilbert, I so appreciate you and the many times you have encouraged me to be the best I can possibly be. Your expert advice in terms of information technology issues I have come to you with on numerous occasions were much appreciated. As I have said to you on a few occasions, “what would I do without you?” Thank you so very much my friend for being a part of my life and sharing your expertise with me.

Each one of you my friends are so very valuable to me, not for the advice you have given me, nor the helping hands you may have lent. You are all valuable to me because I love you all and appreciate each one of you for your own unique ability to make me a better person for having known you. Thank you.

Love Jeniffer.

Keeping the Dream Alive

This blog post will highlight five ways in which I have kept the dream alive of owning and operating my own business. It is my hope that they help you too in your journey as an entrepreneur.

1. I am constantly upgrading myself. I read a lot of entrepreneurial materials on the internet and even subscribe to some business magazines. Additionally I still attend University after having completed a first degree to ensure I have an edge in terms of education.

2. I attend small business seminars to see which direction the industry is moving. These seminars are also good for networking and meeting new people whom I can share ideas with.

3. I keep in touch with other entrepreneur friends and we share information on how our businesses are progressing. It does not matter whether your friends are in other types of business, because the moral support goes a long way. For example I have a friend that owns a food catering company while another owns an event management business and when we meet to talk, I learn a lot from them.

4. In upgrading myself, I wanted to be as business-like as possible and decided to have business call cards printed to hand out to my clients. These are inexpensive and is handy to give out to people you may meet while travelling that may become potential clients for your business.

5. In order to keep the dream alive, it is important to give back to the community and ensure my business succeeds so I can pass it along to my children. Giving out stationeries to school children in preschools and primary schools just before the new school year begins is a good way of maintaining community relationships. I one day hope to train groups of community secondary school students in how to start up their own business.

Advantages of being a Sole Trader

For this blog post I want to highlight the positives in becoming an entrepreneur, and as such I am going to discuss a few advantages a sole trader has in owning and operating his/her own business. As I tell my Business Studies students, “keep in mind the many benefits a sole trader enjoys because one day you may become a sole trader yourself.” That, dear blog readers is my advice to you and remember when you tend to get discouraged, that the shop owner in your community, the barber, the plumber and even the ice cream vendor all started off somewhere and made it with persistence and hard work and they can call themselves ‘Sole Traders’. Here are seven advantages that sole traders enjoy:

1. They have the ease of making all decisions for the business without having to consult any partner or anyone for that matter.

2. Sole traders have the assurance that confidentiality of information is maintained in their business as they are their own bosses and keep their own records. They do not have to share confidential information with anyone they do not wish to.

3. Sole traders can be assured that whatever profits they make for their business enterprise that it will not be shared with anyone. All profits are retained by the sole traders and they do not have to split profit sharing as entrepreneurs in a partnership do.

4. Sole Traders can choose to vacation at any time during the year. They do not have to wait for anyone to tell them they can take a vacation leave.

5. Sole traders have the option of setting their own work hours and even set the pace at which they work as well.

6. Sole traders can work on their own and not have any workers to pay or have the responsibility of being in charge of employees. (Note however that some sole traders based on the type of business may employ one or two workers for assistance from time to time).

7. To initially operate a sole trader business less capital is required for start up as opposed to a partnership.

I hope these seven advantages inspire someone to start a business. It can be as easy as baking cookies and selling every weekend to the children in the neighbourhood to offering your service of helping the neighbourhood kids with their homework for a small fee. Success!

Female Celebrity Entrepreneurs

As entrepreneurs we sometimes think we have to do a lot of hard work with little success. However, hard works do bring success as will be seen in the examples of these entrepreneurs. In my previous posts I highlighted the success of three local entrepreneurs. However, in today’s post, I want to highlight three international female celebrities that have become successful entrepreneurs. May their stories bring some hope to the budding entrepreneurs reading this blog post as I give a brief synopsis of their business enterprise and provide two links with their stories at the end of this blog post.

 1. Female Celebrity 1 – Tyra Banks

Model, actress, talk show host, Emmy Award winner and entrepreneur, has shown herself to be a powerful businesswoman who is capable of owning and running her business “Bankable Productions”.

2. Female Celebrity 2 – Beyonce

In 2015 at age 34 Beyonce made the Forbes “World’s Highest Paid Celebrity” with $54.5 million at #29 and that is for her singing career. Her company “Parkwood Entertainment” have made over $100 million.

3. Female Celebrity 3 – Sandra Bullock

We know her as an actress in movies such as “Miss Congeniality”, “The Net” and “Speed”. However we seldom hear of her as being the successful owner of a film production company “Fortis Films”. In addition to this business enterprise, Bullock also owns a restaurant “Bess Bistro” and floral shop/bakery called “Walton’s Fancy and Staple”.

Be inspired!

Links:

http://fortune.com/2015/02/11/female-celebrities-side-businesses-entrepreneurs/

http://nextshark.com/10-celebrities-who-also-became-successful-entrepreneurs/

Three Guidelines for Entrepreneurs

In today’s blog I am going to offer three guidelines for budding entrepreneurs that have helped me in my journey.

1. Dress for Success

Every entrepreneur should dress for success. Even if you are operating your business out of your home, waking up, showering and dressing in career apparels puts you in a frame of mind to approach your work as a professional. For entrepreneurs who are mechanics or plumbers, I do not expect you to dress in business suits however it would be advisable to wear proper coveralls rather than a t-shirt and jeans. Most of the clients who will visit you will be impressed that you took the time to dress properly for your chosen career path.

2. Plot your goal

As an entrepreneur you should have clearly defined goals as to what you want to achieve in your business venture. Every entrepreneur wants to make a profit from their business venture, however do not let the desire for profit making encourage you to lose focus of your goals. Remember that you want your business to become successful and in doing so you will need to get it established as a promising business that will cater to your clients’ needs. Therefore, build your business before you look at building your profits.

3. Do not borrow in excess

In your quest to start up your business you may need to borrow from a lending institution. However, be mindful in your borrowing that you do not borrow more than you really need to start up your business. At the end of the day you will have to repay the loan and you do not want to be stuck with the hassle of having to repay a loan for a longer period of time than is necessary.

I hope these three tips help you.

Another Success Story

     In today’s blog, I am going to highlight another success story of two entrepreneurs that formed their business enterprise from a desire to own and operate their own business when the company they worked for in Trinidad was liquidated. The entrepreneurs interviewed were Managing Partners of Baseline Technology Consulting Limited Mr. Gilbert O’Connor and Mr. Shawn Dopwell. Both men had years of working experience in the IT field in their area of expertise and as this was their passion they made it their ‘dream come through’. The business was registered in January 2013 offering technology services, with Mr. O’Connor responsible for IT Service Delivery and Mr. Dopwell responsible for Security and Access Control. The market opportunity for the business was ripe and the partners offered services such as Surveillance Camera Installation and Maintenance; Monitoring Systems; Physical Access Control; IT Support; IT Consultancy and IT Managed Services.

     A brief profile of each partner obtained during our interview told of both partners being in their early 30’s, having attained tertiary level education to Masters Level in the IT field. They both had previous working experience in their IT area working at a major financial institution. Both partners were married, however only one partner had children at the time of this interview. They both attested to being extremely responsible individuals, ensuring their Business endeavors were properly managed and executed. They were also both confident in using the skills acquired in their specialized IT area when performing work for clients and were extremely confident in their ability to keep clients. Additionally they were both willing to take moderate risk in that they invested their life’s savings into the business venture.

     During the interview it was revealed that both partners were motivated to excel at expanding their business venture. They believe that in the next 5 years their business would be a household name and they have set the goal of employing at least 30 full time employees within the next 10 years. Being in their prime years, both partners possessed high level of energy which they directed mainly to the  carrying out of their duty in the business and their urge to achieve made them determined to win at all cost. They both had a win-win personality and believed that agreements made with clients must be mutually beneficial and satisfying. The partners said they were flexible in that they were willing to work for long hours, even into the night to get the job done on time. They thought about future orientation for the business by familiarizing themselves with potential clients’ needs and catered to it even when the client thought he would not have been able to afford their service.

     Mr. O’Connor and Mr. Dopwell business venture was registered legally and they have been guided by a set of operational procedures and policies they created for the business. They also had a business strategy where they allocated resources in advance to complete jobs in a timely manner so as to be paid on time. In terms of management, the equipment supplied from providers were regularly checked to ensure they were of the highest quality as well as seasonal employees are supervised to ensure they conform to the policy of the business enterprise. Both partners keep their own books for now, and they do not owe any lending institutions. Their overheads were covered and they recorded a profit every quarter since their inception. These partners believed it was important to give back to the community and as such planned to train youths in the area about information Technology (IT).

     The following is a synopsis of Baseline Technology Consulting nature of business and a link to their webpage:

Baseline Technology Consulting was born out of a need to address major flaws within the existing Information Technology service industry, with a view to servicing the following markets:

·        SMB (Small to Medium Business)

·        SOHO (Small Office, Home Office)

·        Residential

At Baseline our philosophy begin with “Analysis”, more than just bits and bytes we begin the journey of understanding why you do what you do and how Baseline can assist by right sizing and recommending the correct blend of solutions that will best “Align” your business to industry standards and best practice.
Solutions:

·        Technology Solutions

o   Software/Hardware sales

o   Core Infrastructure

o   Network & System Security

o   Web Development and Design

o   Web and Email Hosting

o   Audio Visual Solutions

o   Physical Access and Electronic Security

·        IT Management Service and Solutions

o   Asset Management

o   Change Management

o   Managed Helpdesk (Remote and Onsite Support)

o   IT Project Services

o   IT Auditing

Link: http://www.baselinett.com/

A Success Story

I worked at a bank for a number of years and while working there, I met a man who told me his success story as an entrepreneur. He would come to the bank, dressed in his cleanly pressed shirt, his tie and dress pants and the staff would eagerly rush to their handbags to get money to ensure they got at least one of the product he offered. Everyone knew when he came into the bank, because as soon as he ascended the escalator and arrived on the mezzanine floor, some of the staff would rush to the telephone to buzz their friends on the intercom to announce his arrival. He would travel the eight floors in the elevator to get to as many clients as possible and usually when he came down again, his bags (or should I say briefcases) of goodies would be all gone. I remember the first time I experienced his arrival to my unit as if it was yesterday. The loan officers that were with clients excused themselves, quickly handed me some money and told me how many of his product to purchase for them while they quickly returned to their clients. Even the manager and supervisor of the unit got in on the action, telling me to discretely ask the front-line staff if they needed any before he departed our unit.

When this entrepreneur became accustomed with me after I repeatedly purchased from him and chatted with him every time he came by, I finally asked him how he got into the business he was in. He relayed his story and pulled out newspaper articles which he carried around with him. He was featured in both the Trinidad Guardian newspaper and the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Leaving a budding career in the insurance industry, this entrepreneur helped his wife to bake and sell pone, for which he says, they have made a thriving career out of. His story was such a fascinating one that I want to share it with my readers today. He is commonly known as the “Pone Emperor” and can usually be seen walking the streets of Port of Spain, stopping by most business places in the city. If you are travelling to Port of Spain in a maxi taxi on the bus route from east to west after 3 in the afternoon, you may get a glimpse of him. Always very friendly and with a smile on his face he would greet you. To read his story and be inspired, click on the links below. 

http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2007-05-05/features7.html

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,58810.html

A Few Business Ideas

In this blog I want to focus on suggesting a few ideas for those who may be thinking about becoming entrepreneurs. My advice would be to invest in a business which you would love and one that will bring you the type of rewarding satisfaction that every entrepreneur should feel. For example, I invested in a book and stationery store because I love reading, writing and I am fascinated with most genre of literature. You can decide which type of business is suitable for your taste by first looking at the different types of business entities operated in your country and doing some research about what have made some of the business owners successful. Most business owners are happy to talk about how they began trading as well as give advice to budding entrepreneurs. Remember all new business will have teething problems, however with dedication, hard work and persistence you can successfully establish and run a business.

The following business ideas can be started from home and should not take much in start-up cost:

1. Babysitting service – parents in most communities is always looking for reliable, responsible babysitters. This business requires no start-up cost, and you can set your working hours.

2. A Gift Basket Creation Initiative – for this type of business you will definitely need some start-up capital. You can create different types of gift baskets with items such as fruits, cookies (which you can bake at home), chocolates, candies/snacks, toiletries, wines, different type of nuts, soap etc.

3. Thrift Shop – you can designate a room in your home as your thrift shop and invest in some career apparel that have some minor stitching defects which can be obtained from Janouras Custom Design Limited or other design shops. If you can sew you can sew your own career apparel as well as designer curtains, throw pillows etc. and sell them in your thrift shop. Additionally you can invest in dinner ware, costume jewellery, and other items to have a variety of stuff for selling in your very own thrift shop.

4. Food Service Caterer – you can prepare food from your home and sell to office workers. The challenge with this business is to get your first set of clients. However, as soon as you do and the word spreads you will be well on your way to a successful business, especially if you love cooking and have a ‘sweet hand’. You will need a good working vehicle to deliver the lunches to the offices.

5. A lessons teacher or homework centre – you can either choose to give lessons students or to assist them in doing their homework for a cost. Many working parents will pay well to have their children get help with their lessons.

I hope these ideas inspire a budding entrepreneur to take the challenge and be well on your way to owning your own successful business.

The Client

Attracting clients and keeping them interested in your products or services determines the success of any business. Even if that client is a friend or family member, if you, the entrepreneur do not endeavor to be professional and treat your business as a profession, then your clients won't take you seriously.

The old adage "the customer is always right" should be the mantra of every entrepreneur. If this is always kept at the forefront of an entrepreneur's mind he/she will see positive results for his/her business. The fact that, if a client is pleased, he will return should also be considered. Additionally, the entrepreneur should remember that a please client will do some free advertising for him. I believe ever entrepreneur have experienced instances when one of his friends or family members have bought and endorsed a product that he was pleased with or received good services and boasted about it. Client endorsements have a ripple effect and clients can either ‘make’ or ‘break’ an entrepreneur’s business.

Helpful tips to keep clients attracted to your business are:

1.      Even after the sale has been made, keep in contact with your clients. This includes clients that have experienced any problem with your business. Resolve the issue quickly and maintain cordial relationships.

2.     Always pay attention to your clients’ needs. Show them you care about them.

3.     Always speak to your clients politely, take a genuine interest them and always keep them satisfied with your service.

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Hi everyone! Here are a few pictures of the shelves I had built and some of the stationery I started selling the first time. My son claimed one of the shelf for his figurines and video games. He said I had enough left for my supplies. If only he knew how correct he was because I had minimal supplies to start off with, but a start none the less which I was proud of. I also had my fax machine and my printer and laptop so I was set to go.

Finding a location for my business

Having funded my project it was now time to 'set up shop'. I did not have the required amount of money to rent a physical space and as I had a daytime job which required my attention, I decided to dedicate a room in my home for my business office. This allowed me to work comfortably when I was away from my day job on weekends and some evenings.

I had a few bookshelves installed in the room to store the products I would purchase. I got the bookshelves built for an excellent price from a young man in my community and even though I wanted an office desk I could not afford one at the time. I decided therefore, to use my computer desk for my workspace in the interim. My home office was looking good and I felt proud.

When starting a new business there would always be challenges, but having a positive outlook along with supportive family members and friends help tremendously. I was fortunate to have that and to also have a friend who was a seasoned entrepreneur. He gave me some very valuable advice that encouraged me to keep at it despite the challenges. 

When it was time to order the products I wanted to sell, I went to John Dickinson at Factory Road in Diego Martin and with my business account already opened there, I placed an order and wrote out a cheque for the cost of the items ordered. Writing out that cheque felt awesome. Little old me had a business account and was writing out a cheque for items purchased on a company's cheque, 'my company'. I felt so privileged. When I got home, I spread the items on my bed and looked at them for hours before I could arrange them in my workspace.

The following day I started selling. I had previously told a few friends about the products I would be selling and so to support me they bought a few items. The pens and pencils I had were quickly bought by students at the school I taught at in Belmont. I had asked permission from the Principal to sell to the students and she said yes. That same week I reordered some additional pens and pencils. I was also able to sell some stationery items to the school's administrative staff. They already had a supplier that they were loyal to but they decided to give me some sales as well. I also was able to sell to fellow teachers. Sales is an area that can be challenging yet rewarding. Budding entrepreneurs be mindful to always stay positive. The experiences you get as you try to market and sell your products or services, let those guide you as to how to improve in your strategy and style. Stay focused and positive.

Project Funding

Hello everyone.I have put together two video clips on how I financed my business project. Do enjoy and feel free to comment.