A unique, attractive way for women-owned small businesses to market their services

By Michel Outridge

SMALL business owners who are now starting and have intentions to launch their products can now find the ideal spot for it at Feme, a collaborative space. It is a safe, reliable and comfortable location to display your products.

Feme is a store with shelves that can be rented to display products. It also serves as a pick-up location and strategically located at 22A Shell Road between Lamaha and Alexander Streets, Kitty.

The owner, Nickita Fung, a Guyanese born and raised in Meadowbrook, Georgetown, aims to provide the best co-op experience for customers.

Fung is experienced in managing several businesses. She provides daily updates of sales transactions on Google spreadsheet and does the marketing of the products on social media platforms with weekly payouts and no contracts.

After facing many failures in establishing small businesses, Fung was very determined to make something finally work out for her and the idea of Feme was born.

Feme opened its door to the public just over four months ago and it is quite impressive what Fung has done with just a bit of space. She managed to transform it into a store with lots of shelves and interesting décor.

The 32-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that from a young age, she didn’t like the idea of working for other people, which motivated her to become a small business owner.

“I always wanted to have my own business. Working for myself, by myself is appealing to me because it allows me to utilise my potential and work toward my goals and with Feme, I am getting there,” she said.

Some of the display shelves with products, all women-owned small businesses at Feme

Fung related that her love for business keeps her going and she likes what she does for a living.

After experiencing several business failures when she started at 28, over the years she managed to endure some hardships in maintaining balance whilst dealing with business ventures.

However, Fung first launched her storefront small business, NikkiNicks, selling custom-made jewellery, accessories, skincare, lingerie and all feminine products.

The first anniversary will be celebrated next year and all products are sourced both locally and overseas for the display shelf at her own store.

“Often business isn’t always good, all the time, and to tie small business owners to a contract is burdensome, so in my store there are no contracts. If a business fails and the owner wants to clear the shelf at any time, they are free to do so. Feme is a win-win solution for small business owners, and I am here to provide quality service at an affordable price with no hidden fees,” she said.

Fung told the Pepperpot Magazine that small businesses can survive and at Feme, its shelves cater for women-owned businesses and more than 30 such businesses have their products displayed for sale.

She explained that so far, the demand has been good and she has a few persons on the waiting list and with that in mind, she is looking to expand Feme to accommodate more businesses and customers.

Fung added that because of her drive for business, she maintains an active presence on social media platforms with a lot of colour to keep it fresh and to garner a wider customer base.

“With small business, the hardest part is to start and once that is achieved, it can be lucrative if you have a plan and choose to do something you love. It will survive with profits,” she reasoned.

The business owner reported that she is far from perfect and from her mistakes in business, she learned a few things to maintain her stance as being multi-talented, a versed marketing personnel, a photographer and an entrepreneur.

Following the opening of Feme, the response to that kind of business has been overwhelming and it provides customer satisfaction from Mondays to Saturdays except on Sundays and holidays.

Growing up, Fung disclosed that she came from humble beginnings and has two brothers and three sisters, one of whom passed away and she was brought up by her mother alone since her father was bedridden.

Fung stated that her father passed away when she was 19 years old and her mother raised them well to learn to be contented and work for what is needed.

It is now her time to take care of her mother,56; her immediate family is her constant support system, and she is grateful for that.

The Collaborative Space-type business has, in the past few years, become a popular structure locally for allowing small businesses to have an affordable storefront or pick-up location for their customers. Feme joins a few other local businesses with the same structure, including Babe Cave, Sach Stores, Collage and Save Space.