Investing in her culture
Bringing island artisans together
Maura Curley
She’s traveled around the world and is now back home, promoting Virgin Islands crafts and culture in Frederiksted St. Croix.
Millie Calvin was born in St. Thomas, but moved to New York, where she finished high school, worked as a show room model, earned a degree in business management and accounting from Baruch College and a degree in designing from Parsons School of Design.
Calvin operated a store in Greenwich Village on 18th street and 3rd where she sold her own clothing line. Later she partnered with Black Expo to create promotional shows for Millie Calvin Designs Inc., which took her Dallas, Detroit, Baltimore, London, Amsterdam and Tokyo. Then in 2001 she and Reggie Williams, her partner of 27 years, returned to St. Croix, where he was born.
Williams died from lung cancer a year later. After his death Calvin decided she’d pack up and return to New York, if she couldn’t immediately find a job.
Within two weeks she became the accounting supervisor at Divi Carina Bay Resort.
But entrepreneurial spirit is difficult to suppress.
Calvin soon opened Cultural Creations of the Virgin Islands in Frederiksted.
This spacious, beautifully decorated shop is a testament to the talent in the Virgin_Islands. It showcases arts, crafts, music, books, food and personal care products from more than sixty Virgin Islanders, as well as Calvin’s original clothing designs
VV: Why did you start your business?
MC: I attended a political campaign event at this beautiful space in Frederiksted, at the corner of King and Market Street. I stepped in and knew it was “ my store.”
VV: How long was the business in the making?
MC: I made several calls to find out who owned the building, which had been vacant since Hurricane Hugo. Mr. Brow, owner of Brow Soda, agreed to meet me, though there had been interest from other people who wanted to put a store or nightclub in the location. I wrote a proposal, explaining what I wanted to do. He called a few days later and said ok Let’s keep it cultural.
VV: What did you use for funding?
MC: I applied for a SBA loan, and it got forwarded to EDA, I finally got a check two months after I opened. I used half of my retirement money by then. I know of two other would be business owners who gave up, because they couldn’t wait for the funding.
VV: Your biggest challenge?
MC: I was afraid nobody would bring their products for me to sell.
When I opened I had only 14 vendors, and a lot of space. Then I got 20 more within a week and knew it would be fine.
VV: You’re biggest thrill?
MC: Visitors have been coming from every resort and saying they heard I was the source for cultural stuff. I’m loving it!
VV: What do you think you did right, from the beginning?
MC: I’m a crafter myself, so I’ve related to others. I’ve tried to encourage everyone, and help them price their products.
Sometimes I’ll say you could get this much for your item. But if you added a little or did this it could sell for more.
This has really helped them and my business. I’ve also continued to work as accounting supervisor at Divi, because having been in business before, I know what it takes. I could not make my current salary in the store, so I hire people during the week and work the store myself on weekends - for now.
VV: What do you wish you did differently?
MC: Not worked so many hours by myself at the beginning. Also, I should have set up a better electronic accounting system. I was going home nights with a receipt book. Now I have software connected to the register.
VV: Outlook for the future?
MC: Wow! A lot of big things. A tea bar with teas and a chance for people to check thier e-mail. A website with an on- line store selling Virgin Islands products all over the world. Monthly shows featuring different artisans.
VV: What’s your advice to new entrepreneurs?
MC: Believe in yourself! Don’t give up!
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Maura Curley is publisher of virginvoices.com
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