Abianka Alexander Dick, better known as Abby, was born and raised in Golden Lane, Mt Thomas, Tobago, to an awesome and loving extended family. Her mother left her when she was just two-years-old to pursue Nursing in Trinidad. Abby always wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps to become a nurse but felt like she wanted to be more than just that. Twenty-six years later, she is now an Occupational Health Nurse, Supervisor and worship leader who is happily married.
In 2012, for her wedding, she had difficulty acquiring a cupcake tower for the 250 cupcakes, however, she couldn’t source it locally and had to order it online. This meant that there was a need for these types of accessories in the local industry. Today, as the owner of Tours Bénies Rental Services, Abby offers custom-made, one of a kind, handcrafted display towers for desserts, cupcakes, cakes and more. Tours Bénies means ‘Blessed Towers’ in French, hence she aims to have her rentals and services always be a blessing to her clients. We interviewed Abby on her journey and she had a lot to share with us. Check out what she had to say below:
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome and how did you deal with it?
The biggest challenge I had to overcome was my own doubtful mindset when it came to wanting more, dreaming of a different and better life, yet feeling powerless to affect that needed change. Secretly, I always wanted to take a chance and venture into the very scary and unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship. Life took me on a delayed path. After having to deal with three miscarriages, God in his wisdom gave me three precious lives to oversee. A year and seven months after my wedding, without preparation or prediction, I became an instant mother to my three step children ages 10, eight and six. In September 2016, after getting the right push and advice from loved ones who saw the potential of my business idea, I finally took the step of faith and courage and launched. It took working with a business coach and networking with other like-minded entrepreneurs to help me get my foot in and to eventually find my groove. Although I was still petrified, I didn’t allow fear or lack of resources to stop me.
What are you working on at present, what is keeping you excited?
I’m currently working on rebranding my business and re-launching my website www.toursbenies.com in December 2019. The possibility of creating new rentals and meeting new people keeps me excited all the time. My purpose is to spread joy and to positively impact lives. Whether as a nurse, mother, wife, friend, host or to a perfect stranger, when I leave your presence, I will be remembered for putting a smile on your face. The same can be said for our custom rentals. I’m a sucker for games and fun activities that are engaging to my audience; having them eating out of the palm of my hand. With no formal training, it has always been a natural fit for me. It’s one of the traits I inherited from my father (daddy Allan as I grew up calling him). He always knew how to command attention in a room and I observed his hosting style over the years and made it into my own style. I’m currently gearing up to have a sweet contest via social media this Christmas. A contest with a difference, my personal touch.
What is your ultimate goal or biggest dream for your future?
The ultimate goal is to continue to discover untapped resources and gifts within myself and to help bring them out in my children, so that they can make an impact on their generation and the next. I want them to know, by my example, that nothing is impossible and that hard work never feels like work when you’re having fun and accomplishing your purpose. I want to share my story and hope that others will know that fear and the obstacles faced in life shouldn’t stop one from pursuing one’s dreams. Work towards making it a reality. The lessons learned in life help fuel my passion to achieve excellence no matter what. Do it scared if you have to, but just do it! The biggest dream for the future is for complete financial independence via entrepreneurship to aid in building my dream home back in Tobago. My heart never left and that is my retirement plan.
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Tell us something about you that people may not know?
Whenever there is a big change in my life, I always cut off my hair. I think it’s something Coco Chanel once said but it is so true of me. There has been so many incarnations of my hair. Currently, I’m sporting it short and 100% natural. The start of my business inspired it this time and I’m loving every minute of it. While many may think I’m just keeping up with trends, it runs deeper, hence, I am usually bold in my physical expression. I love to support fellow local entrepreneurs with fashion and accessories. I always had an appreciation for all things unique and attempt to present myself and my brand in the best possible light to always keep stuck in your brain.
Do you have any advice for other women who may want to do what you do?
As my pastor Apostle CK Chankersingh always says, “Out of your greatest pain, will come your greatest gain.” When you think that life is happening to you, it’s happening for you. Do it scared. Be an inspiration. Starve your doubts to death. Even if you got off to a rocky start, you have the power to have a strong finish. Create your own lane, walk in it and look good doing it too.