Shrimp vendor shares her secret to success

For many Jamaicans, joining a 'partner', which refers to an informal savings plan among a group of persons, is an excellent way to put aside money for a rainy day or save towards specific goals.

Middle Quarters shrimp vendor and farmer Sharon Ball is a true believer, who says partners have played an important role in helping to grow her business and achieve life goals for more than 30 years.

"I'm always in a partner. I'm in one right now. I can tell you that it works. That's how I move from one freezer to three, so that I can make sure I always have stock for my customers. That's how I pay my children's school fees. At one point I had two children at teachers' college at the same time, so it was rough on me, but I figured out a strategy," said Ball.

The 57-year-old mother of seven explained that she used loans to inject capital into the business, and used savings from her partner to buy stock or much-needed equipment.

"In the early days I would run out of shrimp, and customers would have to go elsewhere. And I decided that I have to fix that. A friend of mine introduced me to Access Financial and I went there and got a loan. I used that money to buy stock, but I couldn't buy enough because I didn't have enough freezer space. That is how I decide to use my partner draw to buy another freezer, and so on. From there, I keep paying the loan, and as soon as I pay it off, I go back to Access for a new one and buy more stock. I realise the business is growing," Ball shared.

A third-generation shrimp vendor, Ball says she started selling the peppered delicacy at the age of 20 and has never looked back. As her family and responsibilities grew, she diversified the business and added poultry and pig farming to increase revenue. With five children in high school and two in primary school at one stage, Ball said she had to find solutions that worked and ensured the sustainability of the business.

"One of the biggest lessons I learnt is the importance of quality. I had a customer once who told me that they bought shrimp from someone else and it wasn't prepared properly, and I said to myself, that will never happen to me. So that is why I spend time to make sure that the product is good. I also learn that you will lose your customers if you don't have product when they need it. That's why it's so important for you as a businessperson to get funds to keep your inventory up," she said.

She stressed that prompt debt repayment is crucial for maintaining financial credibility and ensuring continued access to funding. Repaying loans on time not only builds trust with lenders but also creates opportunities for business growth by enabling repeated borrowing when needed. This disciplined approach to managing debt has been a cornerstone of her entrepreneurial success, allowing her to expand her operations and sustain her business over the years.

Besides having a solid and very loyal customer base for her peppered shrimp, Ball sells chicken meat and pork to shops, schools and community members. The livestock side of the business is managed with the support of her son and grandchildren who share her home in Middle Quarters.

The business owner, who has mentored many other women in her near 40-year journey as an entrepreneur, says she's grateful for the wins and is happy to enjoy the fruits of her labour in this next phase of her life.

While the journey has been marked by challenges, Ball says she has zero regrets.

"If I had to live my life all over again, I wouldn't change anything. I won't tell anybody that it was easy, but I'm happy where I am now. I started small and learnt many lessons along the way. You can start a business and make it work for you. Treat your business like a proper business. Whatever kind of business you're doing. Don't be afraid to reach out and take advantage of the opportunities out there."