One-one-one with a downtown store owner
In 2015, Lafieta Scott travelled to China with the intention of buying household items in bulk, which she would sell upon her return to Jamaica, but as fate would have it, she ended up purchasing mostly female clothes.
“We have been in clothing for as long as I can remember because my mom did it while I was growing up,” she said.
When Scott returned, she started to sell the items from her house and would venture to different locations and business areas for prospective customers. After two years, her business developed into Up Boutique Limited.
“Eventually, I opened the boutique in a section of a hairdressing salon that I am currently located next to and was doing business there almost a year ago,” she said.
“November of 2016 I took a huge leap and extended the business. I had so many customers who did not want to walk through or were afraid to enter a hairdressing salon to come to me. As the business expanded, so did my need for more space.”
As Scott’s business grew, so did her love for downtown as it fell in line with her passion.
“I absolutely love downtown. I love that it is the fashion hub of Jamaica. I love that no matter how people classify the city as being violent, it is still the place that most Jamaicans turn to for shopping,” she said.
“I encounter different types of people daily, which exposes me to the different needs and tastes of a variety of shoppers. My location makes it even better for me, based on the quality and type of goods that I offer.”
She also spoke of how her love for fashion allows Up Boutique to be different from other stores.
“[I have a love] for making women, men and children look good and feel good in the clothes they wear. I don’t just sell dresses, I sell an experience,” she said.
“I help to boost self-esteem and confidence with each piece I sell, from underwear to jeans. From size zero to size 24. I cater to plus-size women [as well] who would see a romper and not be able to find it in their size.”
She described her fashion as uncommon, and that customers visit for pieces to wear to occasions like a movie, church, dinner or a for dance.