Hi Kendia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Caribbean Links first came about when I joined CSA UCF, I saw how everyone would rep their flags and it started to make me think of ideas that people could wear everyday instead of having to carry their flag around. Also, shortly after the country that I’m from, The Bahamas was hit with hurricane Dorian I figured what better time than now. I always had a love for jewelry so all in all it made sense to me. I started looking for vendors to actually make the jewelry, then came the name, and shortly after, the logo. I started my business off with about $100 and that allowed me to get my name out there and expand to what you see now. We do create every country possible, although our focus is mostly the Caribbean Islands, also being that I am Bahamian majority of my customers are Bahamian which is why so many of our pieces reflect symbols known around the Caribbean but native to my island. Now I find the challenge to create something new, that embodies the Caribbean islands intriguing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as relatively smooth road?
Some struggles was definitely getting our name out there, it was hard to build followers or build momentum in terms of orders and keeping that traction. For some reason I thought the pandemic would’ve been a curse and hurt business but it did the complete opposite. It gave us time to focus solely on the business and push out the best content and come up with new “Links”.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Caribbean Links specializes in Stainless Steel Island Maps; currently were known for our Bahamian Coat of Arm coins and all the custom countries that we do. I, Kendia Williams, am the founder and CEO, I handle mostly dealing with the vendors, shipping, and product distribution. Along with my sister who is CO-CEO we both bounce ideas off one another for new releases and new products. I’m most proud of starting, although many people would be proud of the amount of sales, or how much business has grown, I’m honestly proud of the fact that I started. So many people come up with ideas and let them remain in their mind instead of pursuing them and I’m grateful I had the push from family and friends to actually go forward. I think what makes Caribbean Links stand out is the interaction that we have with our customers, and its more than just a company or a brand to us. We lived the Caribbean life or lifestyle. Our pieces symbolize and embodies the Caribbean lifestyle, and being linked makes you feel a part of a community of those who wear theirs. When I go out and see someone wearing a link, or even scrolling on Instagram and seeing someone, you feel a sense of pride because you know that’s what you produced. Our links literally stand out for themselves, whether it be an anklet, bracelet or coin.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
“You never fail until you stop trying.”- Albert Einstein. Like many people say without risk there is no reward, I took the risk of putting $100 which later turned it to a business that profits more than that. Then I took the risk of investing into an Independence Collection when that launched it increased profits even more. I think what’s the point of NOT trying, like Einstein says you can never fail unless you stop try, but if you never try you’ve failed yourself.
Pricing:
- Map $20
- Custom Maps $20
- Anklets $20
- bracelets $25
Contact Info:
- Email: caribbeanlinks2@gmail.com
- Website: caribbeanlinks.shop
- Instagram: caribbeanlinks_
- Facebook: caribbeanlinks.shop
- Twitter: caribbeanlinks_
Image Credits
@Zakariawhitephotography
