At just 24 years old, Gavon Brooks has already spent nearly a decade mastering the craft of upholstery, turning what began as a teenage job into a growing business of his own.
Brooks, who hails from Rose Gardens in Kingston, first entered the trade at 16 when a friend invited him to try his hand at the work. Though his mother worried at first about the tough, unfamiliar job, he quickly fell in love with the craft.
Over the years, Brooks faced challenges that many small business owners know too well. Without the right tools and materials, he often struggled to meet demand and expand his services. “First off, you have to be your own boss. You want tools; you need the right tools to really do good work,” he explained.
That changed when he received support from Project STAR’s nano grant programme, which he credits with helping him stay afloat and invest in essential materials. “It helped me a lot, really helped me,” Brooks said. “When I’m out of stuff, I use it to buy materials. I sell what I make and then buy more.”