We recently connected with Nekeshia Hayes and have shared our conversation below.

Nekeshia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Things tend to unfold according to plan, whether it’s by fate, destiny, or simply just the events we put into play. Many years ago, I won’t say how long, I started down the path of launching my own business. Shortly thereafter, my sister introduced the idea of creating Jamaican greeting cards. It was brilliant! I have always had a passion for telling stories through poetry. So the idea of venturing into greeting cards came naturally. I immediately shifted gears, but there were challenges with balancing a regular job, raising children, and pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors which made getting anything off the ground very slow. The years passed quicker than we realized, but we soon found ourselves in a space where our children were older and their demands were different. With time, and a husband with many years of experience as an entrepreneur, we were in a much better position to put the time and energy into creating something meaningful.

While the COVID pandemic taught us to self-reflect, we are also at a point in this country where people are working hard to erase our histories. Though they may not be erasing Jamaica’s history, Jamaican history has ties to the US and many of our people have migrated here. Now more than ever we must work to preserve what is important, what is necessary and true about our people.

It is important to recognize opportunities as they arise, even in challenging times and to seize them with gratitude. So, for us, it’s not about looking back, but about being thankful now for the opportunity that has allows us to share our culture with the world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My sister, who is my business partner, and I both moved to the United States very young, and regardless of the years away from our homeland, Jamaica holds a special place in our hearts. I say we feel tethered. There is something mysterious about how drawn you are to the food, the people, the music and just the air. Almost 4 million tourists from around the world visited Jamaica in the past year, but how many could truly tell you about the history of this magical place. We both believe Jamaica revitalizes your soul and its history should be shared. Our recently launched culture and lifestyle brand, Just Vybe, is our way of keeping that connection alive in our children and sharing that love with all those it reaches.

Bob Marley, who we pay tribute to with our Three Little Birds Collection, believed in the concept of “one love”. We live in a world that could use a little more love each day. That is the foundation of Just Vybe – the idea that we can vibe together regardless of the distance or differences.

I have over 20 years working in the healthcare industry and now work in leadership for a large managed care organization. My sister has over 15 years in education and raising a family of her own as well. Together, with help from my husband who has a design agency, we’ve been able to bring to life Just Vybe. We are truly grateful to find ourselves at this juncture in our lives. We hope to preserve and celebrate Jamaica’s identify through our brand.

When we are not working or developing Just Vybe, I write poems and short stories and I can often be found reading a book or exploring the outdoors with my children and loved ones.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My sister and I did not have to look very far. She knew the idea of creating creating cards was right up my alley, given my love of poetry and writing. I was pleased that she trusted me with this idea and believed that we could see it to fruition.

It is not everyday that you find family members working well together, and everyday I have been blessed to be able to share this process with her.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Short answer – not yet. That is the goal. We have been able to go beyond the concept of greeting cards to create a broader lifestyle brand. We have been able to go beyond friends and family to reaching a larger audience. While we are in the early stages, our strategy is to continue developing Just Vybe to ensure that as we get older, we can maintain a quality of life that feeds our souls rather than depletes our energy. While this may not be easy, doing work you love makes for a more sustainable lifestyle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://justvybe.shop/
• Instagram: @just1vybe

Image Credits
Anansi Hayes Media