Some start and never stop. Others start and stop. The greatest courage it will take however, is to start. Entrepreneurship is a journey and pathway that many desire to take, but do not know where or when to start. Doing so in the middle of a global pandemic can be even more jarring….but not for Krystle Alleyne, the owner of KonSeal Sportswear. We took a moment to speak with Ms. Alleyne about her journey to entrepreneurship, the rewards and challenges, what it means to be a small business owner, and where she sees herself and her business going in the years to come. Lean in…
Tell us about yourself personally and professionally.
I first would like to thank you for the honor of allowing me to share something so dear to me, with you. I thank you for thinking of me in this aspect and allowing me to give you firsthand insight into my business. My name is Krystle Alleyne, and I am Barbadian born and raised. I moved to New Jersey mid-year in 1999. I currently live in Lindenwold, NJ, which is where my business was born. I have worked as a Counselor in the Mental Health and Developmental Disability fields for about 19 years now.
What is the name of your entity and does the name have any meaning or significance for you?
KonSeal Sportswear represents my Daughter (Sanaa) and myself (Krystle), which is where the name KonSeal derived from. KonSeal represents the wearing of athletic clothing to conceal the stubborn areas we tend to hide while working out. With KonSeal Sportswear, you can conceal those areas AND feel confident while working out.
What goods and/or services do you provide?
KonSeal carries different products, such as Digital and Non-Digital Infusers (Digital Infusers tell you the temperature of your beverage). Both products keep your cold or hot beverage at the temperature desired, whether cold or hot. KonSeal also carries shorts, designed for both men and women, leggings, and sports bras.
Many people are indecisive or fearful of going into entrepreneurship, what made you decide to take the leap? Why this business?
I chose to start my own brand of workout gear because I started working on maintaining my health a bit more. Instead of constantly spending hundreds of dollars on other companies gear, I chose to invent my own brand where I can feel comfortable and make money while doing so.
Where do you envision your brand a year from now?
In about a year or so from now, I look forward to my brand being big enough that I can fire my jobs and continue to grow my business so it can flourish and be sustained by me on a full time basis.
What has being an entrepreneur taught you about business and about yourself?
I can definitely say it has not been easy and for anyone looking to start a business, you should definitely be dedicated and passionate about it, and be willing to invest your time.
Anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Something about me is that I try to get creative with a brand, in a way that no one has ever seen or heard of before. The letters that are built into this brand are representative of and an homage to my daughter and to myself.
Where can the products/items be found (website, social media handles, contact info., etc.)?
KonSeal can be found on Instagram @konseal_sportswear and we can be contacted at konsealsportswear@gmail.com. Our website is pending and under construction at this time. Thank you again for your time and interest in KonSeal products!
Do you have an established or an up and coming small business that you would like to be featured?
Reach out to us at pulseofbarbados@gmail.com.
Pulse of Barbados is an online platform dedicated to all things Barbados, all things youth, all things positive, and all things education related.