A flair for fashion

– Medical student Andrea Bernard dreams of owning ‘Chic Couture’

Aspiring Neurosurgeon Andrea Bernard is no ordinary medical student. In fact, she is one with a flair. A flair for fashion.

The 23-year-old Greenheart Medical University student is turning heads with her sense of fashion. The owner of A &J Fashion Direct said she started the business which focuses on fashion and a superior online shopping experience in 2017 with a colleague. Her aim is to ultimately own ‘Chic Couture’, one of the world’s leading online shopping sites.

Though her partnership didn’t survive, Bernard has since partnered with her mother, Juliet Herod, who assists her with a pickup location and provides outfit ideas she could source from vendors to pre-order and stock.

The young entrepreneur said she intends to raise the bar for online shopping and shipping outlets in Guyana. She told Village Voice Guyana that when she first started her business in 2017, the demand for online shopping was not as high as it is today, so it was easier to get clientele.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also ramped up online shopping services and with that increase in online shopping, the medical student said she had to re-evaluate her business and become creative.  She believes that her business continues to do well because of her superior customer service and competitive rates.

However, the challenges posed by COVID-19 has affected what has been described as a ‘clean’ customer service record. Global shipping has had its fair share of delays and challenges as a result of the pandemic. This challenge has resulted in Bernard providing orders late.

“There’s a lot of shipping delays due to Corona so sometimes you have to be telling costumers that even if they want an item for their birthday they won’t be able to get it because of the shipping delay,” the medical student said.

Bernard said that despite the delays her customers are understanding. Conversely, the pandemic has given her a chance to review and improve her business.

Managing school and business

The young woman told Village Voice Guyana that she is a diligent student and does not find it difficult to balance her studies and her business.

“For me I don’t see it as a task, because it’s something that I like to do. I like to put together outfits, I like to dress up and it comes naturally to me so I don’t see it as a tedious task to do it for other people,” she said.

Persons desirous of shopping at A&J Fashion Direct are to send hyperlinks to the Facebook: A&J Fashion and Instagram: ajfashion_gy. Shortly after indicating the order, a quotation is provided to the customer.

In addition to online shopping and pre-stocking of clothing, A&J Fashion Direct prides itself with providing fashion advice to customers. Bernard can be contacted on mobile number 609-8316.