Following her family’s entrepreneurial footsteps
Kim Niles recognized a need and launched her own beauty product line to fill it
If you’ve ever wondered how to make your dreams come true, why not take a page out of Kimberly Niles’ book — her dream book that is. Because that’s what Niles, who came to this country with $80 and a baby daughter, calls the key to success.
“Write down your dream and stay focused on it,” she says. That’s what she did. Today, she runs her own beauty supplies company.
Niles emigrated from St. Lucia five years ago at the age of 28. She’d been raised, along with her two brothers and sister, by her grandparents on the Caribbean island and enjoyed a happy life until a romantic relationship turned sour.
“My life was good back home. I had a very good job (as a customs officer), I was moving up the ranks, but I couldn’t stay in the relationship.”
After arriving in Canada, Niles landed at a women’s shelter in Toronto, which helped her find an apartment, also arranging for an internship with Imagine Canada, an organization that supports Canadian charities and non-profits. Already armed with a degree in information technology and an associate degree in business, Niles earned a diploma in network administration from Toronto’s Everest College. Still, she struggled to get full-time employment, finding contract work instead.
Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, a seamstress, and her mother, who started two small retail businesses, Niles decided to pursue her dream.
Niles launched Kym Nylz (kymnylz.com) in March, selling her first two products — a virgin coconut oil and a castor oil designed for hair skin, hair and scalp. They each sell for $12.99.
“They’re all natural, no chemicals,” she says. Niles tests her products on her friends and has been selling them out of her home, online and in local beauty supply stores. “I approached various beauty supplies and pitched my business to them; a few decided to give me a chance,” she explains. “I also sell to my family, friends and the church community.”
A driving force behind the business was Niles recognizing a need among her diverse clientele. “Canada is multicultural so my clients are from different backgrounds — Asian, Caribbean, European.”
Her products are ideal for thicker hair, although those with thinner hair can use them. Nile consults with customers on how they should use her products.
Customer Sherry Noel, uses the products on her daughters. “My eldest, 6, has thick hair so I use more castor oil on her hair and less coconut oil. My younger, 2, has hair that is not as thick so I use more coconut oil and less castor. The products help to moisturize and seal the hair.”
Employed as a teaching assistant in Scarborough, Niles’ free time is spent developing new products — when she’s not caring for her 5-yearold daughter, that is.
Niles plans to have a total of 10 products ready to sell by the end of this year and add to her roster of retail distributors, which include seven GTA stores — Kyroché Hair Products & Beauty Supplies, Beauty Supply Superstore and Juliana Beauty Supplies, to name a few.
“The product is selling extremely well, customers are loving the oils,” says Liane Mercier of Kyroché Hair Products & Beauty Supplies. “We order weekly and are very happy to support local entrepreneurs.”
Striking out on her own hasn’t come without challenges. “The scariest part for me was when I didn’t think that I could start my own business in Canada,” Niles admits. “I didn’t have a social network.”
Working with Toronto-based career coach Sue Austen, whom she was set up with through the shelter and support group Up With Women, gave Niles the support and confidence she needed to move forward. “Getting a career coach was a miracle. She understood what I really wanted to do,” Niles says.
“Kim has a gift of creativity and an inner drive that has been more than tested over her lifetime,” says Austen. “She’s such a wonderful role model for all women.”
Niles advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs would be to stay focused and plan, plan, plan.
“Details may change and send you back to the drawing boards, but that’s the business world,” she says.
“Have confidence in yourself and your business.”