Atlanta:A Ghanaian nurse and entrepreneur, Nana Akua, has shared her experiences of managing a hair salon while simultaneously caring for her ailing mother and maintaining her career as a health worker in Atlanta, United States.
According to Ghana Web, Nana Akua described the difficulties she faced, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed significant challenges to her entrepreneurial endeavors. The pandemic forced her to close her business for several weeks, resulting in the loss of clients and presenting obstacles in customer retention and staff loyalty.
Despite these setbacks, she continues to juggle her nursing career and salon business with the help of her aunt, who manages the salon in her absence. Nana Akua also highlighted the challenges of managing staff, particularly when some employees attempted to divert her clients to their personal businesses.
She recounted having to dismiss several braiders for acquiring customer contact details under the guise of receiving tips, only to later offer home-based services. However, she praised some loyal workers who encouraged tipping in favor of the salon owner.
Nana Akua emphasized the importance of discipline and building a strong customer base for aspiring entrepreneurs in the United States. She warned against relying solely on encouragement from friends, as they may not transition into actual customers. Additionally, she advised those with vocational skills aiming to start businesses in America to prioritize time management, as punctuality is highly valued in the country.
Her story underscores the various challenges Ghanaian entrepreneurs may face abroad, including customer retention, employee management, and balancing business with other responsibilities.