King’s determined to make Nieci Natural a success

by Marlon Madden

What started out as a challenge for her among her peers about two years ago, quickly became a business she decided to start during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nieci Natural, a personal care business that offers a variety of handcrafted beauty and cosmetic items, was also born out of the need for Tanicya King to find a product that would help her manage her dry skin at the time.

The former Springer Memorial School graduate, who is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, is the founder of the company which she started just over a year ago.

“My business came out of two events. One, it was a school project, the $20 challenge. We did that and after that I just continued to keep up the brand and it also came out of the fact that I suffered from dry skin and I really wasn’t finding a product that catered to my needs,” she recalled.

“I did some research on a couple of courses to gain knowledge on how I could make a product that suits me, and through trial and error from various friends and family members we are here today,” she added.

The $20 Challenge is an annual competition that forms part of the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation’s national initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship on the island.

While starting the business during the height of the pandemic was “a big risk”, King said it was one she was willing to take, and it has been paying off.

“So far, it has been going great,” said King. “Sales could always be improved but thus far sales have been pretty good,” she said.

She said she had a great support team in that of her huge family and friends. “Especially with school and running a business by myself sometimes it can be really intense but I am very passionate about my business and school so I have to get it done and I will get it done,” she said.

“My vision is to be recognised as one of the world’s leading cosmetic brands. That is my goal and hopefully I get it there,” said King. mKing, who recently took part in the new business fair and expo put on by the Ministry of Energy and Business Development, said that was an opportunity she welcomed.

However, her biggest wish for entrepreneurs in Barbados is that they get a lot more exposure and form strategic partnerships.

“What I would love to see is more support, more exposure, more promotion and more partnerships. I find that a lot of small businesses don’t really come together.

“We operate on our own, which is okay, but together it could be a lot better especially for a small market like Barbados and small entrepreneurs like us that find it hard in the market where you have all the big brands,” she said.

Nieci Natural offers a variety of cold processed beauty and skin care products including flavoured soaps, beard oil and hair growth oil, body lotions, blended body oil and body scrubs.

“We are hoping to add more to our products including natural deodorants and natural shampoos and conditioners, but that is a work in process,” said King.

The 20-year-old is a member of the Pink Parliamentarian – an organisation that caters to women who have an interest in learning more about politics and government operations and developing leadership skills.

Her advice to anyone thinking about starting their own business is simply “take the risk”. “Be passionate about your dream. Running a business is going to challenging and you have to take risk. Without taking risk there is no business, you have to take risk. So once you are passionate about your business and your brand and what you want for yourself then you can do it,” said King.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb