University of Guyana dentistry student, Okacia Farley launched her clothing boutique called ‘Her Dress Code’ at Moor Park (No. 37) on the West Coast of Berbice.
The business officially opened its doors on 26th November, 2022, with the cutting of the ribbon.
Her dress code caters directly for women, they provide dresses, shoes, accessories and hand bags for women at a reasonable cost.
At the opening ceremony, Okacia expressed sincerest thanks to her family and friends for their support.
She added, “I’m extending thanks to my late father, even though he’s not here, he played a major role in supporting me from the start.”
Farley also expressed thanks to her mother, she continued by saying “My mom supported me along the way. Whether it’s ordering items, uplifting items, pricing and even decorating the business….thank you, mom.”
She mentioned that she registered the business on December 1st, 2021.
“The business caters exclusively to females. I am in no way gender biassed, nor am I advocating such, but women shop far more than men. Their shopping is not only on their own behalf but includes so many other people- their children, friends, partners, relatives, even workmates. Therefore, because of their caretaking nature, they create several markets by creating a link to several other potential customers,” said Okacia.
Further she added, “Women are generally thoughtful. They are always thinking about gifts, tracking gifts, wrapping gifts, and delivering them with a personal message too. The shoppers of the world are women. Therefore, that’s one of the reasons for deciding on the name “Her Dresscode.”
In addition, a dress code speaks of a set of rules governing the manner of dress; a set of rules about what clothing may or may not be worn. In this instance, it is basically rules concerning the quality of clothes, footwear, and accessories that will be made available to women in West Berbice. This code also extends to the presentation and packaging of these items since this shows that a business cares about its customers. This will be a different kind of shopping experience for women.”
At the launch, Okacia mentioned that the line of packaging is the first thing customers interact with and she intends to make a good first impression to grab their attention, in addition to the quality of the products she provides.
She added, “My packaging is unique from others in these parts. As the owner and CEO of this business, I intend to provide clothing, shoes, and accessories that are exceptional, glamorous, long-lasting, fashionable, and yet affordable from the best vendors around the world to women right here in West Berbice(Region 5).”
Delivery is also available to East Berbice (Region 6), Vreed-en-Hoop(Region 3), Georgetown(Region 4), Linden(Region 10) and the Essequibo Coast (Region 2).
When asked about how she juggles school and work, she stated, “I value being at the University right now and running a business. One of the many blessings is that the business is home-based and most of my classes are online. No doubt, juggling school and running a business is a tough juggling act. However, I clarify my priorities and make sacrifices, so I don’t lose sight of my end game which is to graduate with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and still have my business.”
She also has a daily plan to help her stay focused and organised, with efforts to maintain good health, and unplugging every once in a while.
“The obvious reason I opted to get into business is to relieve my single mother of the financial pressures of putting me through University, having lost my father in a horrific road accident in February, 2021. In addition, it started with a frustrated shopper (me) and an obvious necessity,” added Okacia.
She was becoming another of those women who complained about the difficulty in finding fashionable clothing, shoes, and accessories that are of superior quality and quite different from the others in West Berbice.
In order to solve the problem of women not finding quality clothing within the Mahaica/Berbice region, she launched Her Dress Code to help women make their shopping quite easier. As such she began researching brands and vendors to purchase quality products and what started as a fact-finding mission in June of 2021 is now an oasis for women shoppers at Lot 5 Moor Park (No. 37 Village), West Coast Berbice.
Her biggest challenge as a student entrepreneur is balancing school with the venture.
“Both are time intensive. There are times when school is face-to-face and that has me struggling to find time to keep the doors of the business open. In such times I try to identify what’s urgent and what’s not. Prioritising is key at such times,” she noted.
Persons interested in viewing what Her Dress Code has to offer can view it via their website – www.herdresecodegy.com or their Facebook and Instagram pages – https://www.facebook.com/HerDresscodegy?mibextid=LQQJ4d
