Self-made 23-y-o entrepreneur making ‘boss’ moves

March 06, 2024
Johneka Williams
Johneka Williams
Johneka Williams, founder of Chin Company Limited.
Johneka Williams, founder of Chin Company Limited.
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When Johneka Williams walked into her office on Tuesday, she sported a wide grin.

Her bald head was hidden under her company branded hat. There was no make-up on her face and her feet were tucked neatly in a pair of black Crocs. It is not the typical appearance for a 23-year-old, but this multimillionaire is all about the business that is her Chin Company Limited.

"Overall, I am just a simple person. I have a bald head and while I do have the 30-inch wigs, I do not necessarily have to wear them. I like to feel comfortable as I am a very busy woman. I dress up when the situation is called for and at this point in my life, I don't have to impress anybody," Williams said

The Maxfield Avenue native, more popularly known as 'Boss Chin', said that she has much to pat herself on the back for as she has used $5,000 to build her international organic brand.

"We have a warehouse in Portmore and a store front in Half-Way Tree. We supply 7,000 vendors islandwide and we have 22 international distributors. I shipped containers with bathroom and household supplies. I have a contract by a delivery service and I do a bit of real estate along with a gaming company," she said.

With her parents struggling financially -- mom especially sold scrap metal or drove trucks -- a track and field scholarship at John Mills Primary and Junior High School got Williams a place at Vere Technical High School. But Williams has always been an entrepreneur.

"I used to get in trouble for selling candies and [stuff] at school. I am from Kingston so I would save my lunch money and I am familiar with downtown, and Vere is in Clarendon. So anytime I get dorm break, I would go downtown and ensure say I buy up the little panties and bras. Sometimes mi deh on the dorm and mi buy corn beef and bread and cut it up and sell $50 a piece. More time the dean take away my sweeties because she say mi a do too much selling on the compound," Williams said between laughter.

After graduating, she worked as a promotional representative but after being paid one day, she ventured downtown and bought five mats from a vendor for $1,000. She sold them online for $2,500 each, reinvesting the profit into the business. She said when her customers started asking for other items such as shower curtains and towels, she quickly added them to her online store. She said she then got a link to ship her goods directly from China and decided to purchase pallets of goods.

"I didn't have a store but I lived in a little one room and I used it as my bedroom and store room and office. Mi hold out and some nights mi a sleep on mi bed and the way the bed pack up, a one little part mi kotch on. It was worth it in the long run," she said.

Williams, who shared aspects of her story on her TikTok account, said her journey from rags to riches was far from smooth, as when she approached potential clients, some did not take her seriously due to her age [18] and her mode of transport [a Subaru].

"Suh when mi a 19, mi upgrade mi car to a BMW 5 series and when mi approach people, dem start take mi serious now," she said. Her business got a major boost when she incorporated her skin care line which includes stretch mark remover cream, belly fat remover and remover for dark area. At age 21, Williams said she purchased her first property on which now stands her dream mansion.

Williams has more than 70,000 followers on social media. She noted, however, that some persons consider her boastful.

"I just post to inspire people and if you have a clean heart, you will receive this message from an inspirational standpoint. But with a dirty heart, you will receive it and think I am boasting. I am not a scammer or in drugs nor do I have a rich uncle. You see whenever a young girl in Jamaica is doing extremely well, it don't resonate well with people. This happens because people limit their minds, but overseas we see children as young as 12 owning their own businesses," she said.

As the world observes International Women's Day on Friday, Williams encouraged young people to stay focused.

"If yuh have stall, try and upgrade to a shop, then a wholesale, then a brand supermarket. Change the game when you are young and keep focused. Dream big and don't put limitations on yourself and surround yourself with positive people. If you fail the first time, don't give up. Things are going to go wrong and you may get caught up with the wrong friends or even the wrong set of men, but stay focused and don't let setbacks define you," she said.

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