This Week We Feature Young Professional Noel C. Jardine
He is our chosen Young Professional for this week as he stands out as a young man that has, despite the odds, committed himself to being a positive nation builder through entrepreneurship.
Noel is into the business of trendy fashion.
Our Young Professional said he faced the challenge of having the more seasoned entrepreneurs doubting his business ideas and trying to sway him away from doing what he thought was something he passionately wanted to pursue.
Noel, along with his two brothers, also young men, are the owners of Urban VI. “We opened there on the 16th of February this year, along with the opening of the Tortola Pier Park and that means that we are into seven months there now doing male clothing and accessories. That’s what I do,” said Noel, as he spoke fondly of his dream coming to reality.
This young professional is a product of St George’s Primary School and the Elmore Stoutt High School. “I did the night school too and I got my diploma from there,” Noel recalled.
Urban VI
Urban VI was birthed out of a passion to satisfy the fashion needs and trends of especially males. It’s the trends and fashion that customers could not readily find on island. “So we decided that we were going to try it and give it a shot and that led us to contacting the brand that we wear in the States (USA) and they were interested in getting the brand in the BVI so it just snowballed from there in terms of the store coming into fruition.”
It was not something that came into fruition at the click of a finger and the waving of a magic wand, according to Noel. He and his brothers spent two long years working on the background for the store, attending seminars and conferences that provided the needed guidance for them as aspiring businessmen and also equipping them with the necessary tools that would lead them to a successful venture.
Challenges, decision & vision
And even before that, Noel said he knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and that had led him to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College where he pursued in the first instance, Business Management and then Architectural Engineering.
“I did three semesters up there (college) and I discontinued it. I personally did not like the atmosphere at the college, not saying that it was bad but it just was not taking to my liking I was really distracted and uncomfortable there and it just wasn’t working for me so I discontinued, I wasn’t happy,” he said.
Noel admitted that he was not the guy that had a passion for academics, noting that he did it because he knew it was necessary but still today struggles to find a liking for it. “Let us be real, not everyone was born for that kind of things, and I would not want anyone to just decide that they are going to ignore higher education and go do something else, no, make education a priority. If it’s not for you, you will know and something will fall into place in terms of your dreams and where you are to be.”
Noel said that after quitting college he ventured out into the world of work but that was at a time when the business season was at its slowest and it was during that period that his dream displayed itself in his vision.
“In that time span the Pier Park had just start breaking ground. Everything just spoke to me from there, the brand came to my head, the desire of me wanting to be in the Pier Park all came gushing to me and we went right ahead with it from there. It took on a life of its own, now there it is,” he said gleefully.
The future
Asked where he sees himself in the next five to ten years, Noel said he would like to have URBAN VI H&M outfitters for the Caribbean. “Taking it across the Region and providing those brands. Because we get orders and quote inquiries from St Thomas, from all over the Caribbean and even as far as Canada persons contact us for the brands. So we would like to expand upon this, making it a chain.”
Noel also said there are other business ventures the ‘business brothers’ would most likely be embarking on, including expanding their clothing line to include females.
Our Young Professional underscores the fact that URBAN VI not only thrives on the support of tourists but locals are to be highly applauded for their level of support.
“Locals have been supporting the store really, really, really well and so are the tourists, because they recognise the brand. This business is picking up momentum now that a lot more people are getting to know the store and getting to know the brand.”
Advice to youth
Noel’s advice to young persons is, “Don’t be afraid to be different but most importantly do not compromise your goals because of outside opinions or observations.”
18 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Noel C. Jardine”
I am so proud of you and your brothers. I had the pleasure of teaching all of you and I know the hurdles you over came. What God has for you, it is for you no matter the doubters ..they will be the stairs you'll climb to success.
Best Wishes to you and your entire family.
TEACH