Today we’d like to introduce you to Nephtalie Pierre-Louis.
Nephtalie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started the company about 2 1/2 years ago when my best friend’s mother was heartbreakingly diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, I had just gotten a job as an Accountant. I didn’t have a car, and was basically living in a one-bedroom studio in Riviera Beach, Florida. Money was devastatingly tight for me, but I promised myself that I would find a way to help.
After hours of research, we noticed t-shirts were a great and fast way to raise funds. So, that is what we did.
The process had a sense of urgency, but I enjoyed it and realized I had a knack for business in general. What next?
“What next?”, I would ask myself because I needed to expand. Still, with the thought of my best friend’s mother in mind, we realized that hair loss severely affected her confidence. So, once again, through hours of research, we found the answer was right under our noses. Castor Oil had been an age old remedy in almost all Haitian households for natural hair growth. In such, that became the second pillar to Château Blaque.
Really, the fundamental essence of Château Blaque has always been how can we help the community, how can we better the community, and how can we add value to the lives of those around us. That’s how we have been able to grow throughout the years, adding services to help small businesses, adding services to help start-ups, linking up with different professionals and creating a hub for the community, especially predominantly minority companies. There’s just so much more we’re capable of, and so much we need to learn. Every aspect of our company is to help people better themselves, to help people feel good about themselves, to help business owners have the confidence they need moving forward by providing a service that is not only affordable, but upscale and of great quality.
Has it been a smooth road?
We faced many challenges, but none that are foreign to any start-up company. Learning about how to maneuver educating yourself while still working full time, issues with inventory and exposure, the long nights to make sure everything is done the right way, to make sure you are meeting deadlines, etc. A lot of the things I learned were self-taught. So many hours went into this business. Some months, sleep became a luxury. But I had to learn certain skills to make this journey, which is not an easy one, more feasible.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Château Blaque. Tell our readers more of, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company, and what sets you apart from others.
Château Blaque is a multi-faceted company. We have two departments that are really the foundation of the company. The best-known department is the Business Management section. In this section, we help small businesses, start ups, with their website needs, logo needs, branding, shirt printing, anything they may need to get them out of the door and ready to take on the world. Our other department is the natural hair care department, where we have natural hair care products, such as Castro oils natural shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners. And, we plan on expanding this part of the company also.
With these two sections of the company, we were able to expand with a sister company called DALA (Dream Art Live Art) apparel, co-owned by my younger brother, Jonathan Pierre-Louis, who is the Graphic Illustrator for Château Blaque.
At DALA, we sell accessories streetwear apparel. My job, as the owner, Financial Analyst, and Project Manager, is to facilitate pretty much every transaction, and delegate to our partners and associates accordingly. I personally manage the websites for clients. I communicate with them frequently to make sure everything is going smooth, and I educate them. We have a really great system, and it works because the essence and foundation of our company is to help and build our community.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city. What do you like the most and least?
After moving here from Haiti, I lived in Palm Beach pretty much my whole life. My favorite part of the city is when the sun starts setting at around 5:30pm, and the skies are these beautiful orange and pink, sometimes purple, mesmerizing colors. I’ve always felt the people in Palm Beach County are super resilient. We are go-getters and we support each other. My least favorite thing about the city would definitely have to be the mosquitoes; I am not a fan!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chateaublaque.com
- Phone: 561-891-3121
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @chateaublaque
- Facebook: @chateaublaque
- Twitter: @chateaublaque
- Other: www.dreamartapparel.com
Image Credit:
The image if me with glasses at a summit photographer: Wilkine Brutus; woman with black hat and dream art live art T-shirt: Model, Amanda Caceres, Photographer Willy Dade
