Business is booming for Young Entrepreneur Keianna G. Smith, the owner of ‘A Classy You’ retail store, an online destination where persons can buy high-quality fashion merchandise and have them delivered anywhere in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided

Our Young Professional owns an online retail store called 'A Classy You' but said as a result of the current business climate, she was unable to do her home deliveries from online sales. Photo: Provided

Some of the products available at 'A Class You'. Photo: Provided

Keianna, a mother of one-year-old baby Xae’Mora, said she grew up in East End, Tortola and currently lives on Virgin Gorda. Photo: Provided

Hand Bag available for sale at the store. Photo: Provided

At just 20-years-old, Young Professional Ms Smith manages the online retail store and has seen colossal growth and increased sales despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of her inventory selling out as soon as it is listed.

“'A Classy You', is a woman’s number one source for all her fashion needs. Our business strives to give women the opportunity to express themselves through fashion,” Ms Smith told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).

Founded in 2020, the online store takes on a mission to providing and creating new trends and styles. “At ‘A Classy You’ we want to provide our customers with the ultimate shopping experience,” Ms Smith said.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created new opportunities for entrepreneurs and has caused some to rethink their strategies, Our Young Professional said one benefit of COVID-19 is it allows her to stay close to the ones she loves the most.

“I must applaud the Government for all their efforts to keep the Virgin Islands safe. All merchants, particularly small and upcoming Virgin Islands businesses, would benefit from any economic boost to the Territory,” she said.

Life & Education 

Keianna, the mother of one-year-old baby Xae’Mora, said she grew up in East End, Tortola, and currently lives on Virgin Gorda.

She attended the Francis Lettsome Primary School and then the BVI Seventh-day Adventist Primary School in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, for two years but graduated from Willard Wheatley Primary School in 2011 and Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) in 2018.

Our Young Professional revealed that she was in the senior high-school year and freshman college year at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College at the same time. At HLSCC, she studied Human Services.

“I love travelling to different places and seeing the world. I consider myself to be a shopaholic. If something is cute, doesn’t matter what it is or what it does I will buy it. In my free time I often see myself singing, dancing or listening to music,“ she further revealed about herself.

Business Growth 

Turning her attention back to the business, Keianna said her’s has helped her to grow professionally and personally. 

“I enjoy seeing my business page mentioned on different social media platforms in search of the products I sell. That’s the best feeling anyone can have. I also enjoy seeing the reaction on my customer's faces when they get their products. It is priceless!”

The most challenging part of the business, she said, would be time management. “I’ve always struggled with managing my time. I always think I have time to package orders or update my social media pages and end up rushing at the last minute.” 

However, creating a business also takes a lot of time and dedication to get things off the ground, “To build my business, I created my website and designed flyers and while challenged, I enjoyed it. So now I have a new appreciation for the creative industry and was even offered a job to create the website for another female-owned business.“

She said the inspiration for the business came from her aunt, who is also a business owner of a local store.

“She’s the owner of a baby store ‘Taddy & Coco’. I worked with her for a couple of weeks. We took trips to several countries to purchase items for her store and that was when I knew I wanted to start my own business. I didn’t know what I wanted it to be, I just knew I wanted to own a business. My passion for fashion and eccentric taste is what led me to establish, ‘A Classy You.'”

Life Lessons & parting advice 

The biggest life lesson so far she said, is learning to be organised and stay focused, “I’ve learnt once I have something to do just do it one time. Don’t put it off until later.” 

“Without my mom and my boyfriend, this business would’ve never existed. I spoke to them and told them my plans and ideas and they were fully on board.” 

Keianna said her daughter was also a huge factor of getting into business.

The ambitious mother and entrepreneur said she hopes to one day have a flagship store in the VI to display the products and ultimately designing her own line of sunshades, handbags and clothing.

“Do your research and have a vision for your future,” Ms smith left as inspiration for persons looking to get into business.

“Want something better than what you currently have? Work hard. Stay Focused. Adjust where you must. Remember why you started. Dig Deep and Keep on Pushing! Enjoy the journey!” Our Young Professional also shared as parting advice. 

'A Classy You' can be found on website aclassyyou.net; Instagram/ Facebook: A Classy You; or contact number 284-440-6943.