"I arrived in Hong Kong on the 3 September 2013. Fresh from African soil. I am from Botswana. The difference was stark: open lands compared to a concrete jungle.  I remember the first day on my arrival, making a promise to myself to one day open my hair salon here. No time limit, no pressure just a silent promise. Hong Kong grows on you. Seems like it’s a general thing with most expatriates, you come for 2 years than you end up staying for 30. Well, we had a 6 months plan and going on to 6 years soon.

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I worked in various salons in Sai Kung. I called it my market research and creating a following. The best businesses to start are ones that already exit, copy what they do and do it better by filling a gap in the market. The demand is there and the ground work has been done!

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Working but never forgetting my promise. I fell pregnant with the twins in 2015 and gave birth in May 2016. One year later I started doing freelance work. I had a very specific clientele. Remembering my early days with the babies, exhausted, sleep deprived and looking a mess I created a niche market to do house calls for moms that were breastfeeding and those with small kids. They could get their hair done while being home with the kids.

With today’s social media platform, word of month spread across mom pages. Within 3 months I become so busy that doing house call was too demanding and my back breaking from inappropriate chairs and bending over bathtubs. I needed a space where clients could come to me. I found a space in a local Chinese salon, we had an 50/50% commission agreement.

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My first salary in July 2017, I made a silent promise again to start saving money so I can prepare to open my salon. I took me one year of hard work and determination, saving every month. As the months passed, I become more busy and my salary increased. The more I earned the more I saved. Honestly where there is a will, there is a way!!

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10th September 2018 was such a proud moment, I opened the doors to my little shop Aphrodite Hair and Makeup. A dream 5 years in the making. To eventually achieve a BIG you need to build on small dreams first, make them a reality that build the next stage. Once you are ready for your goal you well be prepared. I have been blessed with a successful business from day one."

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Jacquiline Hamilton

Aphrodite's Salon Owner

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Follow Jacqui's journey at here.