Caricia Taylor is an entrepreneur who has embarked on not just one but numerous business ventures. From RICI Cosmetics, to VALE Ultra Inclusive Brunch and more. She believes that ‘no goal is ever out of your reach’.
By day she is the Senior Marketing Executive at Digicel SVG but according to Caricia your entrepreneurial spirit awakens at night.
ANN caught up with Ms. Taylor for an interview where she gave us insight into her reasons, challenges and highlights of starting her own business.
We started by asking just who is Caricia Taylor?.
‘A simple country girl whose family roots stem from Orange Hill, across the Rabacca Dry River. My primary education began at the St.Mary’s Roman Catholic School, then onto the St.Vincent Girls’ High School, SVGCC and I also hold a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies (Open Campus).’
We asked Ms. Taylor what was the reasoning behind the businesses that she chose to delve in and passion for those industries was the answer.
‘Beauty products and entertainment define major segments of my life. Rici Cosmetics because of a childhood passion, events- because I enjoy delivering unmatched experiences to patrons, creating moments that will last a lifetime’
According to Caricia her passion for business was inspired by her parents, seeing them run their own business sparked the ember that would even become the entrepreneurial blaze that is within her.
‘I think my passion for owning a business emerged since childhood. I grew up looking at my parents run a small scale operation of distributing FMCG products. During summer breaks from Primary school, my father occasionally took me on his truck to sell produce such as rice, onion, flour and other dried goods which created a competitive and keen sales interest in me from a very young age.’
Caricia gave us her take on challenges in business and what her mindset is like dealing with them whenever they arise. She noted that she generally keeps an optimistic attitude whenever she encounters challenges in the operation of her various businesses.
‘What’s life without setbacks? Challenges will occur in various shapes, forms and even people; and they come when you least expect them. Learning from experience, I can only share that as challenges arise, the idea is not to give up. It’s at that point you should actually crack down and work harder. I like to look at the topography of St.Vincent as a key example. If I stopped every time I met a hill, I’d never complete the journey. Cry at first if you have to, then devise your strategy to overcome your obstacles and I assure you, every hill after that gets a little easier or manageable.’
When asked what she would do differently if she were to hit the reset button on her entrepreneurial journey, Caricia said that she would have increased the amount of confidence she had in herself at the time. She emphasized the importance of believing in the business venture that you’re embarking on.
‘I would have definitely had more confidence in myself and discipline with my skills. It is important to have faith in the things you pray for receiving. You must believe in your craft. Starting out with the right level of self-confidence sets you up for success. Do not let others dictate how you should run your show. Do not get me wrong, it is important to do research and seek advice. Just ensure that someone who have previously walked your path mentors you. The most criticism comes when you are just starting out from people who do not share your vision or even understand what it is like to walk in your shoes.’
The multifaceted entrepreneur let us in on some of the most satisfying aspects of owning and running her own businesses.
‘Rici Cosmetics was my first noteworthy business. I’ve always loved lip products. Being able to create and publicly sell an item I am so passionate about truly brought a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment and humility. Imagine being able to offer a product that embodies you to customers across 256 countries worldwide. VALE and my other pet projects also bring about the same sentiments. Humility undoubtedly ranks number one because every time I hit a milestone in my businesses, I am left in awe. It’s as if I’m always humbled about the results I can attain once I set my mind towards something’ Taylor said.
Caricia says success for her isn’t solely defined by how much a business makes her, but by a combination of numerous factors. From what she has experienced so far in her business ventures so far, she considers her entrepreneurial journey to be a definite success.
‘This is a two-fold answer. On one hand, success for me isn’t always solely based on how much money you can make from a Business venture. Success for me includes a wider spectrum of awareness, engagement and then ultimately conversion. It’s about leaving a positive impact on your consumers. Then on the other hand, if I have a short term goal that I am trying to achieve for my business, I will judge my success based on the uptake I receive from consumers at that point. Based on the above, would I say I’ve been successful thus far? Absolutely, but I am nowhere near where I am destined to be.’
In closing ANN asked Caricia Taylor, owner of Rici Cosmetics, and organizer behind VALE Ultra Inclusive Brunch and more, what advice she would give to young women out there thinking of starting a business of their own.
‘Nike! Just do it! The only thing stopping us from ever realizing our true potential is our fear of failing. So it’s best to Dream Big, work smartly towards your goals and erase the element of fear because the time will pass anyway.’