By Alex Soloducha

First Nations woman cutting it as an entrepreneur

Jun 11, 2014 | 7:16 AM

paNOW Staff

One First Nations woman from Prince Albert is trying her hand at entrepreneurship.

Devin Thomas just opened a business called Shear Beauty, located at 1-1020 First Avenue West.

After getting her journeypersons in hairstyling and working at other salons for five years, she decided to take an entrepreneurship and small business program.

“(I wanted) to be my own boss, make my own money instead of making it for someone else,” she said.

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

17h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

17h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

22h ago

She finished her business course in March, and went on to open her own business in May.

Thomas said she chose the location downtown because that’s where she practised hairdressing the years before. She said it’s a good way for her to keep her prices low, because rent is cheaper than other places would be.

Being First Nations, she said she also welcomes many as her customers.

“I like to see First Nations [people] come in here, where they feel comfortable, and make the prices affordable,” She said. “Everyone’s welcome here … I hope to capture that target market.”

Thomas said she’d also like to see more First Nations entrepreneurs in the city, especially women.

“Accomplishing opening up, is just, I feel good about that. I think it’s important to set goals and follow them, you know, instead of just getting into trouble,” she said.

Opening her own business made Thomas nervous, she said, but in the end, she’s really happy she did it.

“I’m enjoying it,” she said. “It’s scary. I didn’t want to do it at first. Lucky I had my family, my husband, to support me and encourage me.”

As far as being a woman in the business world, she said the main difference is that she is a mom and is also six months pregnant.

“It can be challenging that way I guess. I have to juggle this life and my kids,” said Thomas.

But, owning her own business has made her hours more flexible.

“I’m my own boss now so I can give myself that time for my kids,” she said.

Her business hours are Thursdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., she is closed on Sundays and Mondays and runs by appointment only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

She said she doesn’t plan to hire anyone else right away, but may look to it in the future depending on how everything goes.

asoloducha@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha