A Strathspey woman’s recipe for turning challenges into opportunities

ENTREPRENEURSHIP is one of Strathspey’s most prominent and admirable qualities. A quick walk through this rapidly growing community reveals the true extent of various entrepreneurial ventures thriving within its borders. From vulcanising shops to boutiques and supermarkets, Strathspey is home to numerous business people braving the unpredictability of commerce.

Among these enterprising individuals is Karen Nicholson, a mother and business owner whose journey embodies the spirit of Strathspey’s development. Beginning with an idea and a passion for business, Karen’s venture has blossomed into a successful enterprise. Throughout the years, she has witnessed her business develop alongside the community of Strathspey, reflecting the area’s growth and transformation.

Life in the Community of Strathspey
Guyana is as vast as it is diverse, yet the essence of its people remains constant across regions. Strathspey has become home to individuals from surrounding communities far and wide. In the community’s early years, various people came to settle, among them Karen Nicholson. Like many others, she arrived during the community’s infancy, marking a significant change in her life.

Born and raised in Buxton, Strathspey presented Karen with a new environment and unfamiliar faces. However, it also offered a fresh opportunity for her family. The mother of six recounted, “I applied for a piece of land, and that’s how I ended up here. As I got older and had children, I needed to make my children and myself comfortable. I have three girls and three boys, but all of them are grown now.”

The transformation of Strathspey over the years is truly remarkable. Today, the village is home to more than a thousand residents, a far cry from its humble beginnings. Karen vividly remembers those early days, stating, “I was the first black woman in this scheme. I could have counted the houses; my house was the fifth one.”

She further painted a picture of Strathspey two decades ago, starkly different from what we see today: “At that time, things were very different. We didn’t have electricity or proper roads. I used to carry my daughter to get her to school. There were just a few small houses around; we didn’t even have these big houses we have now.”

Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, Karen maintained an optimistic outlook regarding the community’s potential. As a young mother seeking to create a better life for her children, she saw Strathspey as her only choice. “To be honest, when I first came here, I didn’t have any other option. And I wasn’t afraid,” she explained. Her view of the community has remained relatively consistent throughout the years, particularly concerning the relationships between Strathspey’s residents. She observed, “I don’t think the community is more united now. People normally just keep to themselves.”

Building a Business
Nearly eighteen years ago, Karen embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. She started with a small shop where she sold phone cards and drinks. As she recalled, “I had a little house, and I’ve always liked business. I used to sell drinks and phone cards.” With the community still growing, customers were few and far between. However, as the village’s population increased, so did the demand for a broader range of products.

Karen explained how her business evolved: “My grandson would be home and see these people come and ask, and he said, ‘People are coming for rice and sugar, granny. You should open a shop.’ He encouraged me, and I took his advice.”

Inspired by her grandson’s suggestion, Karen boldly decided to expand her business. She invested in stocking the various items that villagers frequently requested. The odds seemed stacked against her in the early stages, with even her husband expressing doubts. “My husband didn’t think it would work. He said nobody would come here because we had people who used to walk and sell. But I opened my shop anyway. I said whoever wanted to stop would stop. I’m going to open my shop. It was a small wooden shop. I opened it in 2007. Since then, everything just fell into place,” she recounted.

Karen has maintained that same optimism since the very beginning. Today, her establishment is among the most well-known in the area, attracting more people to the village, particularly those seeking her delicious cooking. Although business is going well, Karen explains that some days are still better than others. “It’s business – some days it’s up, other days it’s down. Some days, I get one or two customers, but you can’t give up,” she said.

Looking to the Future
As she looks to the future, Karen wants to return to farming. “I would like to have another piece of land for farming. I could do poultry; I used to do farming,” she shared. As a successful business owner and mother, Karen also emphasises the value of training for women like herself. She explained, “I would prefer training for small business owners.” Karen’s journey from a newcomer in Strathspey to a respected entrepreneur mirrors Strathspey’s own growth and development.