Entrepreneur turns childhood passion into profession

“Salon is my whole life, that’s all I know, so being here is all that matters for me. At the end of the day when I do a service for a customer I just like that when they come and when they leave, they like how it looks.” – Shona Drakes 

Shona Drakes, a 37-year-old mother, is an ambitious woman who managed to push forward, surmounting challenges and becoming an inspiring entrepreneur.

Her journey started in her childhood, growing up in Georgetown.

“Growing up in Robb Street was fun, I could never say I had a bad childhood, my neighbours and everyone that grew up here, we had togetherness. On Sundays we would play cricket, go fishing, or go to the park.

“Some mornings we would even get up and go to the seawalls. We would even find out if our parents or neighbours needed anything and make a run to Bourda Market to get it,” Shona recounted during an interview with the News Room.

As a teenager, Shona would assist a salon, called Touch of Class, across the street from where she lived. There, she helped with hair braiding and later learned other styling techniques.

Little did she know that what she practised there would become a venture she immerses herself in every day.

“I did a single parent and drop out course sponsored by (a government ministry). For me I wanted to be certified because I just gained the knowledge of it from looking at someone but I wanted to be properly certified. When I went there I learnt how to perm, cut, install wigs, braid (and how to) do pedicure and manicure.

“I had been in the business since I was a child so it wasn’t hard I just needed a bit more knowledge than I already had so it was easy for me,” the entrepreneur highlighted.

Shona now owns and operates a salon at Robb Street, Georgetown where she offers all of these services including laser liposuction and herbal hair growth oils.

Still, getting her business, Shona’s Body Contouring, off the ground was not an easy task.

It started at her residence and later, with assistance from her grandfather, she made some improvements to the environment to be more comfortable for herself and her clients. Eventually, she ventured out and rented at another location but it was too taxing on her business, so she returned to the original location and did some major upgrades to bring the salon to the standard that it is today.

It hasn’t been just smooth sailing since then, though.

The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly difficult for service- providers like Shona. The slowdown in business pushed Shona to work elsewhere to make ends meet. During that period, she worked as an ANSA McAL brand ambassador. Beyond her ‘9 to 5,’ the woman did what she could at her salon.

Some of her ANSA McAL earnings were reinvested into her salon business, allowing her to offer sound service to her clients every time.

That, perhaps, is why she is well-supported. As she spoke to the News Room, she was knee-deep in work for the holiday season. This, Shona said, is a hectic period.

“For the Christmas season that’s the most busy time, I think Christmas is what I love about this business because whatever you don’t get to do during the year you get to do during Christmas time.

“So January and February, it catches me in a good place but business don’t be busy in January and February so you just save back some of what you made during December and keep it,” she noted.

As she continues to improve her service, Shona is keen on being an innovative entrepreneur.

She said, “For me I am not a follower I am a leader, whatever I put my mind to no matter how long it takes I’m gonna do it. No matter the negative things that people might say I never let it get to me, I always keep it pushing and I hold to my beliefs.”