Entrepreneurial couple talk about the challenges of owning a business

BEING a part of a business venture is an exciting prospect for many, but the unpredictability of owning a business is what causes the majority of people to see the field as daunting. Entrepreneurial couple Nassica Joseph and Troy Sertimar explain that owning a business does have its fair share of issues. The couple say that the field of small business is challenging because it goes far beyond a job. It is their means of survival, and with every fall in the market, small business owners feel it the most.

When Nassica and Troy opened their clothing business in 2016, they saw it as a way to provide for their family and several months ago, they opened a snackette in Clonbrooke. Nassica explained that being a business owner allowed her more flexibility and time for her family. “I felt more comfortable working with myself. It is about the little income that we get. We do not look at the amount of money that we have. But we find more time for ourselves, more time to do things,” she said.

Like most entrepreneurs, when asked about the hardest aspect of owning a business, Nassica says that it is undoubtedly the beginning. Getting the products and capital needed to make an entrepreneurial dream a reality is the first and most daunting step.

Nassica stated that although a business venture may not be what you would expect, it is the owner’s job to be determined so the business can succeed. “When you start a business, sometimes it may not be what you expect, but your determination is what helps your business to get bigger and bigger.”

The unpredictability of the small business field is perhaps the first and most obvious challenge. But what is often not fully understood is the fact that for a family where their business is their primary source of income, ups and downs for the business are ups and downs for the family.

“There are definitely ups and downs in business. For example, if you invest a million dollars, you can expect that the million is going to give you two or three million but sometimes, you barely manage to make two or three hundred [thousand]. Business is not smooth all the time, especially the clothes business. You do not sell clothes every day,” Nassica said.

The mother of two explained that the shifts in trends in business impact the family. But they have to be determined to keep the business going. “The ups and downs of the business affect us, yes, but we have to keep on going. It affects me especially because we have children going to school, and I have to find money to give them. I have two girls, 13 and 15.”

She went on further to say, “It really affects us because we have bills to pay and things to buy daily and children to look after. There are so many things you have to do with the money from the business. We have to pay bills and get back the capital and the profit but I just keep on going.”

The couple opened their business in 2016. Since then, they have seen a number of changes in the growth of their business and the larger sphere of business industry around them, “It has changed a lot. Business has increased. We have more customers, new customers, and more people support the business,” Nassica said.

Her fiancé, Troy, firmly believes in being an asset to the community as a small business owner. Both he and Nassica try as best as possible to keep their prices and products in a place that the everyday man, woman or child can afford. When asked if keeping their prices stable places a strain on the business, Troy stated that he does not see it that way. “I do not see it as placing a strain on myself. Most of the people that shop here are children,” Troy said, referring to the couple’s business in Clonbrooke. He further explained that he and his wife tend to the needs of the people who support their business as much as possible. “The biggest challenge facing businesses is that as a small business, you have to fight among bigger businesses,” he said. The couple state that they will continue to fight to grow as a business while doing their best for their customers.