Kim-Loy Chung is a 20 year old student of the University of the West Indies attaining a Bachelors in Integrated Marketing Communication. She is the owner of Khymmy-C’s Collection, a sole proprietorship parent company established in March 2015 for products such as a bow tie line “Bow Ties by Khymm” and other upcoming products that will be added to the collection soon. Here is our conversation with Kim-Loy Chung.
Q: How did you come up with the idea to start a line of Bow Ties?
I have a fervent love for bow ties and I realized that it has become a staple in the fashion conscious man’s wardrobe and has also extended to women’s closets and is continuing to experience many changes in form, function and they transcended from the purely formal and traditional stereotype.
Q: Are you a business person or entrepreneur or both?
Business person
Q: Who or what motivated you to go into business?
Being broke! I always wanted to have my own business and manage a career in marketing and communications. After facing financial difficulties in my first semester and having to go on leave of absence from school, I decided to launch one of my business ideas and start earning from it. (See Kim-Loy’s Go-Fundme page for her college fund)
Q: Did you face any challenges in mobilizing your capital?
I had an initial start-up budget of $25,000 JMD but with no income or savings, I had to downsize my plan and start with $2500 JMD. My business started with 3 bow ties and then initially grew to having a stock of up to 50 bow ties.
Q: Many businesses have a moment they call their “big break”, whether it be a news story, a big contract etc. Have you or your business had that “”big break “yet?
I was featured in an article in the Jamaica Star on June 13 2016 which gave my business a well needed boost. I was also featured on Weekend Smile Jamaica on TVJ June 18, 2016 and I did radio interviews on Nationwide fm and Suncity fm.
Q: Currently what is your biggest business challenge?
Getting third party fulfillment for my bow ties. A lot of customers would prefer to just be able to walk into a store and access my bow ties. I have reached out to numerous stores in the corporate area and St.Ann but only little success.
Q: Other than the money what types of satisfaction do you get out of your work?
Seeing a customer rock a “Bow Tie by Khymm” to its fullest potential. Neat, nifty and noble!
Q: What motivates you on a day to day basis?
I’m basically financially responsible for myself so I have to “hustle”. I have a personal saying “Realize your passion and maximize your potential”. I also love to listen to Jessica Reedy’s song entitled “Better” and “Watch me Lord” by Christopher Martin.
Q: How do you motivate people that aren’t close to you and enable them to see your vision?
“You may not like me but you will respect my hustle”. I try to let them see that a bow tie is cool and trendy and it doesn’t have to be worn with a formal look. Regardless of your gender, a “Bow Tie by Khymm” can definitely compliment street style, runway and celebrity fashion as they take a variety of different looks.
Q: How do you remind yourself of what’s important?
My biggest fear is to become a disappointment to myself. My mother, father brother and I need to live a better life. I need to help to provide that.
Q: What time do you wake up and do you have a routine?
My wake up schedule varies and no specific routine. I can get up as early as 6:00am and then there are days when I get out of bed at 11:00am. It depends on how late I went to bed and if I have time to get adequate rest in the morning before I attend to my daily tasks.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
I love to make money. Lol! I write poems, listen music, love watching cartoons (my way of escaping reality and being happy).
Q: Seven day, six night, all expense paid, my vacation destination is…
Rome.
Q: My favorite guilty pleasure is…
Eating Cadbury chocolate (I’m lactose intolerant).
Q: My favorite Jamaican food is…
Jerked Pork, Curried mutton, Manish water a.k,a goat soup.
Connect with Khymmy-C’s Collection on: Facebook and Instagram
