Up Close … with businesswoman Samantha Marie |06 May 2014

‘Never forget where you come from’
By B.P Damou

A few weeks back in this column our readers learned about Berguitta Marengo and in her story she mentioned her best friend Samantha Marie. Roaming around town a lot of my friends and even members of the public who know me asked me why not do an ‘Up Close’ with Samantha.

People who know her will say that Samantha is a joker and a loud person. But those who do not might say that she is one of those no-nonsense type of person one would think twice before approaching.
Samantha Marie, born August 14, 1983, is currently living at La Gogue with her boyfriend. Samantha, who is the third child in a family of four girls (unfortunately the eldest has since passed away), grew up with her mum alone without her father to help her through her stages as a child.

She did her primary schooling – crèche to primary 6 -- at the La Rosière school  and then moved to Belonie secondary to continue her studies for a further five years. From Belonie Samantha did not go to any post secondary institution as her family had organised for her to continue her studies overseas.

“At that time thinking of leaving my family to go abroad for my studies really put me off. So I expressed my feelings to my mum and I did not go,” Samantha said.

“Since I did not pursue my studies, I found it difficult for me to get a job. Life was really tough. I started to work in my cousin’s shop. Then I went on the Unemployment Relief Scheme (URS) that the government provided for people finding difficulty to find work. Under that scheme I worked at the Belonie secondary school as a librarian for six months,” she said.

“Being on the URS was a bit difficult as you never stayed in one place for long. I found myself changing work mostly every six months. At one point when I was working in the St Louis community centre as an administrative assistant I was asked to join the cleaning team. My mum did not like it and she asked me to quit and we lived on what she had,” Samantha noted.

Samantha explained that once, she and her friend Berguitta went to sell Creole festival lottery tickets under the Camion Hall.
“Some people passed me by laughing, taking me for a fool. But that did not put me down,” she explained.

It was then that her mum, Isabelle Julius, who was working in a tuck shop decided to open a shop at the Providence and give all of her children a place to work.

“She opened her first shop at Providence where she started to sell hair products. She then left the shop with one of my elder sisters to work in and she opened another one in town. Leaving the second shop with me, she went on to open a third one for herself. Looking back, my mum worked hard to make sure that all her children end up with something,” Samantha said with gratitude.

Being a businesswoman Samantha sees herself travelling every month. “I have to make sure that I get new stock for my clients as they expect new things every month. It is very exhausting as it has an effect on my health,” she explained.

Samantha’s shop, called Samantha’s Boutique, is located in Deevas Arcade where she sells lady’s clothes and accessories. Her shop is targeted towards teenagers mainly. But she does have clothes for older ladies.

“Owning a shop can be very difficult as you face competition from other shop owners, especially taking into account that here in Seychelles there are many shops that sell lady’s clothes and most of us go to the same place to get our stock,” Samantha noted.

“As I am a person who always remember where I come from, I tend to offer my clients very affordable prices. A lot of my clients ask me why my prices are lower than elsewhere that are selling the same thing. I only reply that each shop owner have their way of calculating their prices. But I know that a lot of my competitors  are not happy with the prices I give to my clients. Anyway, as we say in Creole ‘nou bezwen kas dizef pour fer lonmlet’,” Samantha said.

Family means a lot to Samantha. Being in business, her mum, stepfather Ralis Julius and sisters help each other wherever they can.

“Being close together we tend to help each other when one falls. We make sure that we are there for each other. I have fallen many times and my mum was there. I remember the times when I first started in business and every time I had money in my hands I went out to party with my friends and my mum and stepfather were there to reprimand me and put me back on the right track. And for that I am very grateful for if it were not for my mum and stepfather I would not be where I am today,” Samantha said gratefully.

Being very talkative, Samantha could not help but tell me about her days when she was an adventurous teenager. “Being in business, selling lady’s clothes and seeing teenagers coming in and out of my shop brings back memories of when I was a teenager. I remember the days when Lovenut and Flamboyant discotheques organised students’ hop on Sundays. At that time life was a bit difficult and my cousins and I went out mostly every weekend. And the most amazing thing was that we shared clothes. If this weekend I wore jeans next weekend it will be my cousins’ turn. We did not have much but life was fun. I think that it is because of the memories of my teenage days that I offer my clients very affordable prices and as I am someone who never forgets where I come from I know that the cost of living has risen from when I was a kid and I know that many struggle to get a salary.”

Although busy and travelling a lot for her shop, Samantha still finds time for her family and friends and she loves helping her friends out when they are in need. “Being around my family and friends is the way I disconnect myself from my business. I love helping out my friends but sometimes when you think you are helping, some take advantage of it. There are those who I have helped but they tend to turn against you when you have done them good. It is a pity for they close their own doors,” Samantha said with regrets.

Facing a lot of obstacles Samantha feels that at some point she will need to quit. “I feel exhausted as my clients expect new stock every month and I find myself getting sick. I am thinking of starting my own family and in due time I might venture into a different field from what I am doing now. I do not have anything concrete but I might go into renting apartments as I see a big demand for housing here in Seychelles,” Samantha shared her dreams.

Having faced a lot of difficulties before her eventual success she has this advice for the youth: “If you have a plan or a dream for your future do not be scared to face reality; even if you fall try again. It is not a sin to try again. People learn from their mistakes.”

Samantha makes sure that she stocks her shop according to events going on around us, so do not hesitate to give her shop a visit or you can call her on 2540467.