March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and recognise the contribution of women. The theme for 2025 is ‘Moving Forward Together’. Entrepreneur Weekly joins the celebration by highlighting women-owned Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) who have taken the leap towards digitally transforming their businesses by participating in the Digital Jamaica Project.
Of the targeted 2700 beneficiaries of the Digital Jamaica Project, 40% will be women. Michelle Segree, Founder of Segree Day Spa has wasted no time in being counted among them, having recently completed the course in Digitisation.
Located in the Sunshine City, Portmore, Segree Day Spa is a full-service spa offering a range of beauty and therapeutic treatments, including manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements, body massages, facials, and waxing. Despite officially opening in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Segree Day Spa thrived during this challenging period, proving the resilience and adaptability of its founder.
With nearly 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Michelle Segree has always an interest in beauty and wellness. Initially working as a nail technician, she later pursued further studies in beauty therapy at the HEART NSTA Trust to expand her expertise. Her dedication to continuous learning and customer satisfaction has been a driving force behind her business success. “I have always been passionate about this industry. I wanted to go back to school to know more and learn more,” she shared. “One day, I just said, no, it is time to own a business for myself. So, here I am.”
Although Michelle had a solid foundation in beauty therapy, she was initially hesitant about digital tools. “I used to run from it, being honest,” she admits. However, the Digital Jamaica Project changed her perspective. The training opened her eyes to the importance of integrating technology into her business operations. “I realised that people like to see things before they actually come and visit the spa. They like to see things like a spa catalogue,” she explains, highlighting her newfound focus on creating an online presence.
The training also introduced her to vital digital solutions beyond marketing. “Payroll is very important, and I never really paid much attention to it before,” she noted, emphasising that the sessions covered various aspects of business management. Although some tools, like the Fresha app for booking appointments, were already in place, the training reinforced the need for a comprehensive digital strategy.
However, Digital adoption can be as challenging for the customer as it is for the entrepreneur. “That’s where a person can go on the app and book their appointment,” she said. “At first, my customers were hesitant. They would say, ‘I don’t have time for that,’ but through this training, I learned that I have to be patient enough to introduce it to them.”
With the knowledge gained from the Digital Jamaica Project, Michelle Segree is more confident in integrating technology into her business. Her next steps include launching a fully functional website and expanding the use of digital tools to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. “I know I have a lot of work to do,” she acknowledged. “But I also know that technology is the future, and I have to embrace it.”
Certified Digital!
Michelle exits the training conducted by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), with a certificate of completion in digitisation. By participating in the intense training, she is now able to use digital tools to enhance efficiency, improve customer service, and drive business growth.
In our next issue, we will highlight another Jamaican female entrepreneur who is ‘moving forward’ with digital technologies. Join the movement by applying to participate here: www.jbdc.net/digitaljamaica.
