From a garage to a thriving beauty parlour
Akawa’s journey to entrepreneurship
At 25, Saima Akawa has turned her side hustle into a thriving business. What started as a small nail station in the corner of her parents' sitting room has grown into an established beauty salon.
Saima Akawa was born and raised in Windhoek and graduated from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) last year with a degree in Business Management. This year, she is set to earn her honours in the same field.
In 2020, Saima took her passion for beauty to the next level, working from her parents' home from where her business, Earthy Parlor was born. Like many young graduates, Saima faced the harsh reality of job hunting. After months of unsuccessful applications, she decided to put her business knowledge to use. Eventually, she needed more space, which led to a bold decision to convert the family garage into a salon.
However, the journey was far from easy. "The process was way more expensive than I expected," she admitted. "But it was totally worth it. I had such a great time at the opening. I finally felt like my hard work was being noticed."
Saima's decision was met with mixed reactions. Her father John admitted he was hesitant about giving up the garage space at first. “It was a bit confusing since I wanted to keep it for the cars,” he said. Despite the initial hesitation, Saima's family rallied behind her, providing both emotional and financial support. Over time, they saw her resilience. “She has gained business resilience and can easily convince you to buy into her plan,” her father said with great pride.
A business with a vision
“My main aim is to offer great service and make Earthy Parlor as comfortable as possible, not just for my clients but also for my team,” she said.
A loyal Earthly Parlor client says, “Saima always gets the assignment. She ensures you receive the service you deserve and more, in a warm-hearted atmosphere.”
Her future plans include expanding to other towns and opening larger branches. However, before that, she wants to refine her management skills and strengthen her marketing strategies to build a solid client base.
Earthy Parlor is also an employment opportunity. “Saima’s great personality and friendliness create a positive work environment for us and keep clients coming back. The salon itself is beautiful and relaxing, offering exceptional services and outstanding customer care,” said one of her employees, Zinnia Orr.
Saima said that the process was scary because there’s no guarantee that it will work out. "But God has a way of making things happen beyond what you imagined. You have to start small, but from there, you can slowly build your way up.”
From a garage to a growing beauty empire, Saima continues to make waves among her peers through hard work and determination.
In 2020, Saima took her passion for beauty to the next level, working from her parents' home from where her business, Earthy Parlor was born. Like many young graduates, Saima faced the harsh reality of job hunting. After months of unsuccessful applications, she decided to put her business knowledge to use. Eventually, she needed more space, which led to a bold decision to convert the family garage into a salon.
However, the journey was far from easy. "The process was way more expensive than I expected," she admitted. "But it was totally worth it. I had such a great time at the opening. I finally felt like my hard work was being noticed."
Saima's decision was met with mixed reactions. Her father John admitted he was hesitant about giving up the garage space at first. “It was a bit confusing since I wanted to keep it for the cars,” he said. Despite the initial hesitation, Saima's family rallied behind her, providing both emotional and financial support. Over time, they saw her resilience. “She has gained business resilience and can easily convince you to buy into her plan,” her father said with great pride.
A business with a vision
“My main aim is to offer great service and make Earthy Parlor as comfortable as possible, not just for my clients but also for my team,” she said.
A loyal Earthly Parlor client says, “Saima always gets the assignment. She ensures you receive the service you deserve and more, in a warm-hearted atmosphere.”
Her future plans include expanding to other towns and opening larger branches. However, before that, she wants to refine her management skills and strengthen her marketing strategies to build a solid client base.
Earthy Parlor is also an employment opportunity. “Saima’s great personality and friendliness create a positive work environment for us and keep clients coming back. The salon itself is beautiful and relaxing, offering exceptional services and outstanding customer care,” said one of her employees, Zinnia Orr.
Saima said that the process was scary because there’s no guarantee that it will work out. "But God has a way of making things happen beyond what you imagined. You have to start small, but from there, you can slowly build your way up.”
From a garage to a growing beauty empire, Saima continues to make waves among her peers through hard work and determination.
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