Young Professional and Manager A sense of Style 4 THE OTHER WOMAN Nadine I. DeSouza. Photo: VINO

Persons can visit the store's Facebook page to like and get a chance to win a prize.

The boutique is located on Drakes Highway, at Slaney Point. Photo: VINO

Inside the store.

Some of Nadine's most popular products on display in her store. Photo: VINO

Some of Nadine's most popular items on display at the store. Photo: VINO

Nadine I. DeSouza is the proud owner of ‘A sense of Style 4 THE OTHER WOMAN’, a boutique located on Drakes Highway, at Slaney Point, which caters especially for the ‘plus size’ women or the "Beautifully Big" as Nadine would say, between sizes 12 - 32 (0x-5x). Nadine is also into real estate and has two apartments for rent.

For our Young Professional, just being alive today is a beautiful reward as she was born with drepanocytosis or ‘sickle cell anaemia’ and doctors had given her a life span of 13 years. Nadine has seen more than 30 years and is even a proud mother of a 14-year old daughter, who has been one of the inspirations for our Young Professional, especially when life would throw her a lemon.

There is an old Chinese saying that goes “be careful what you wish for because it just might come through” and for Nadine it was not exactly a wish as she prayed to become her own boss and although she has realized that today it did not quite come as a hand-out, as she had to face the heartrending reality of being laid off from her job twice and after the frustrations of being financially challenged and not being able to find a job while having to provide for her daughter as a single parent, Nadine finally remembered and embraced her prayer of wanting to have her own business and be her own boss.

Before then Nadine worked at Barclays Bank Plc. for six years before joining a trust company, Citco BVI before the so called punch of the economic downturn of 2008 dealt her a heavy blow that saw her lose her job of nine and a half years. She would then land another job at a trust company Appleby, but eight months later herself and 11 others were made redundant.

Nadine said the idea of a store for plus size women was far from her thoughts of what the Lord would give her. “Four years ago I told the Lord I did not want to work for anybody. I wanted to have my own business and work for myself. It was such a difficult and emotional experience. I had my mortgage, my child, and not enough money to last for an extended period of time. I sent out several applications trying to land the next job, however, most didn't even respond. I even send to jobs that would be considered entry level jobs. I landed a few interviews only to be told I was either 'under qualified' or 'over qualified'. I felt inadequate. I felt like even with my 20 years of knowledge and experience I knew nothing. I felt like I let myself and my family down since I was the main provider. After not receiving an answer from an interview in May of this year, even after following up, I remembered my prayer of 2007. In May, that was a confirmation to me that the prayer that I prayed back in 2007 had been answered, even though the process has been extremely difficult. Although the process has been challenging and I am not yet earning an income, I can truly say that I love this new job. I am happier than I have ever been doing a job. I don't just do a job, I serve my ladies well. I make them feel like the queens that they are. The first 8 years of my working experience dealt with direct interaction with customers and I never realized how much I loved and missed that until now. I lack the personal finances temporarily, but what makes up for it is seeing the look on my customers’ faces, that satisfaction that when they leave they are happy. That gives me a great joy and pride and makes me feel that all this hard work and all the struggles are not in vain.”

Nadine says her niche market (plus size) is one of the hardest in the market to cater to because a lot of manufacturers do not really cater 'true to size' clothing for the plus size ladies. “Shopping for my ladies can be very difficult especially in finding quality, trendy and affordable clothing that fits true to size. This market is where I was placed and I intend to do my best as always, to bring satisfaction to my 'Beautifully Bigs'. Having my ladies come through the door and being able to serve them is an honour. When they first come to the store and see this small 'skinny' lady, you could see the look on their faces like, what does she know about plus sizes. After I begin to work them and tell them about our products, our brands, and then I tell them what size clothing and underwear they are, I gain their confidence.”

Nadine not only spoke about her clothing and products, but she spoke about her services also. "I don't only sell clothing to plus size women, but one of the most important service that I provide (free of charge), is bra fitting services. This service is provided to all shapes and size women. When it comes to providing such a service to my ladies, I have to get real intimate with my ladies, as I have to take them into the dressing room for fittings. While in the dressing room, I not only tell them their correct bra size, but I also tell them the issues surrounding their current bras and why their shoulders have those deep sinks and why they have those headaches, back pains and back fat. I also tell them how to remedy some of those issues. I specialize in a wide variety of quality bras that not only looks sexy, but supports and fits with comfort. I stock over 600 bras thus far ranging from a B cup to an N cup. Yes, an N cup. Ninety percent of the women that comes through our doors do not know that bras go pass a DD. When I mention sizes like a 42J for example, they are quiet shocked until I fit them into the bra.”

Other items that Nadine specialize in are shape wears (small -5x) and accessories such as bra back extenders, clear straps and interchangeable shoes that consist of a pair of soles and replaceable tops. Our Young Professional said there are over 800 selections of tops for the One Sole. The shoes, which she says she has exclusive rights to retail in the BVI, are foot conforming and shock absorbent ranging from 1.5" up to 5" in height.

She said the challenge, however, has been getting the word out about her business.

And in an effort to further promote her business; this astute business woman has created a Facebook page (A Sense Of Style 4 THE OTHER WOMAN) where persons have the option of liking the page and automatically getting a chance of winning 1 of 3 prizes. She said if the page gets 1000 ‘likes’ by November 30, 2011 she would be awarding three prizes. She has also created an up-to-the minute website (www.sos4theotherwoman.com) whereas persons can log in and see some of what is in store. Persons also have the option of shopping online. This website she said was created when her business was at her home.

Nadine envisages her store to expand not only in the Virgin Islands but abroad. “I see myself having chains in different islands because it will set a trend especially for our plus size beauties. I can take the name in different Caribbean islands. It is already known in different countries. I have customers in Jamaica, Antigua, and St. Thomas. The name is unique. A ‘Sense of Style’ In abbreviation it’s SOS, for the other woman and which stands for help for the other woman. I know in the future I would definitely have employees because I am anticipating that the business will grow.”

As for her fully furnished and air conditioned, executive style apartments, Nadine says they are currently unoccupied as the economic recession continues to pack a punch but she is holding the faith and optimistic that the situation would improve.

“My biggest support and encouragement comes from God and my family. I also have two close girl friends that encourage me also but other than that it is just praying and trusting God because whatever you doing once it is new, those challenges sometimes make you feel like quitting but because of the personality I have, I am not a quitter, I keep going.”

Nadine constantly emphasized a mother’s love and desire to see her child live a comfortable life noting that after graduating from the then BVI High School she did not complete her college education as she began to focus her energies on her daughter and the thought that she could die anytime from her ailment. “And every year that was just in my mind that I was going to die. So I didn’t go forward with college because it was not a priority of mine at the time because all I was thinking about was that education was great, however, if I die I can’t pass it on to my daughter so what I did, I started looking for property and then after finding that I started to build my home because that was a priority for me because if something happens to me I can leave a home for my daughter and for my mom.”

Nadine advises youths to follow their dreams with a passion. “It might be difficult starting but you can, once you make the steps and keep going. Do your research on what your passion is. You don’t tell everybody your dream but tell the people that can help you to achieve that dream. Don’t quit because life is not a bed of roses. You have to keep pushing and fighting.”

Our Young Professional also had some extra advice for single and independent women. “Some women feel that they could only achieve certain things in life when they have a man in their life. That is not true. I have been single, I don’t know for how long but I have built my own home, I have done that as a single parent, as a single woman. I have built my own business, therefore when you have drive and God on your side, you don’t need a man to fulfil your goals. Yes it is good to have a companion to be there with you through it all and I do want to have that right companion someday but you don’t need a man to accomplish the things that you need to do.”

Nadine hopes to do more than just lip service for women one day and even though the idea has not been quite been revealed to her by her Master, she wants to be able to help particularly single mothers. “I am a single woman and mother so I know the struggles and the challenges, therefore I want to be in that position to help…for now, I just want to encourage the single women and mothers out there to keep pressing forward because there is a reward coming.”