Meet Chakera Smith | Entrepreneur with beauty and brains

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chakera Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chakera, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was just Tired of working for people. I know a lot of people can also relate to that. Getting up everyday to the same routine and can barely make it in life was not my goal. As an immigrant from the beautiful, exotic island Jamaica coming to the United States was to be rich. No more mackerel and dumplings to eat every day or shower in cold water in the mornings to go to work or school. In my little mind at 19 years old pregnant with my first child, I could not fail moving here. I had to make it somewhere somehow and I am not going back to Jamaica in this hard life I thought. I worked all types of jobs you name it I did it . My last job was a flight attendant I loved doing it, but it was still a system I had to work with. I want my own system that I build that I had to do. I also worked from home too,but I wanted the kick of going somewhere to work just not for other people. My first initial idea of a business was a Jamaican restaurant. Still a dream but the steps were so far fetched to get started, so I said to myself what other business I can just start off with then come back to doing my Jamaican restaurant that never left my mind. One day I said Chakera, what do you like? I said to myself I like jewelry diamonds, any thing that looked rich or fancy. Then I was on YouTube one night and a ad came on my screen as to how to get a Shopify store selling and drop shipping I raised my eyebrows like mhmm, maybe I can do this in the meantime. So I started my research signed up and got started no hesitation. Did a short course and got my store up and running. My store website is www.Fancigoddess.com if you would like to take a look! where you can find fine jewelry-earrings to match your vibe. I still did not have much clue what I was doing, but the whole time a voice just kept saying don’t stop Chakera keep going and I did just that. Ran up in some obstacles and dishonest people, but I kept going. A whole year went by and I barely had sales it was rough, but I kept going. From where I started to where I am now I am just grateful and I can’t complain. God has been good to me. It only gets better from here. One thing I learned in starting a business is do not stop, no matter what. Believe In yourself always and keep going. One advice I would give a new entrepreneur is just get started and once you start keep going. Once you get started then everything will fall into place. It is so peaceful waking up to me just doing me. No one to tell me what to do or where to go. In my Jamaican terms I am unruly. Meaning I don’t like when people tell me what to do. I like to do my own thing. I am a Capricorn, I am In my own rich world per say and That is my story.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The first slide has a lot of those information that I had put in. Didn’t know another slide would ask for things, so I would refer back to the first introduction I did. It has everything in it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would tell people to visit my Jamaica in the blink of an eye. Go to Montego Bay, negril and ochi rios. Rick’s cafe is a great spot. Triple century is a great restaurant to visit. Go to the beach of course and visit Kingston but don’t go by yourself.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to God, My Son and Myself.

Website: https://fancigoddess.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopfancigoddess?igsh=bmNibG9jMjE0Mnpy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A31z87aDd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fancigoddess?si=Ksdjfic7iEZM0BaK