While most others were desperate for security and familiarity during the pandemic, the founder and CEO of cosmetics manufacturing company, Chemqualco, Kimone Knight, took a massive leap of faith by leaving her job to start her own company.

Chemqualco specialises in chemical research and development, white labelling, and contract production of cosmetics and personal care items. The company helps other entrepreneurs by taking their homemade recipes and ideas and turning them into sustainable products.

Speaking on Taking Stock with Kalilah Reynolds, Knight said she saw a gap in the market for this service and decided to launch her own business to help meet the need.

“I was working as a chemist, and people were always coming to me asking me to formulate products for them, so I decided to make this my full-time job,” Knight explained.

Knight started Chemqualco just as Jamaica closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as more Jamaicans ventured into entrepreneurship during the pandemic, the CEO said her company flourished.

“For a first-year company that started in the pandemic, we did really well. It surprised even me,” she said.

“I realised that we have a lot of great-business minded people, who had great ideas but just didn’t have the technical skills to bring them to life,” she said.

“So, we do the heavy lifting so that business owners can focus on other areas, knowing that an experienced chemist is formulating, creating and testing their products,” she added.

According to Knight, the three-year-old company now serves over 800 small businesses through the white labelling and formulation side of the business. The company also does contract manufacturing for three clients.

“So, our lifetime sales so far is over $30 million. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved so far,” she revealed. 

Knight explained that she is currently in the process of increasing her capacity so that she can boost production.

“Right now, we produce up to 2000 gallons per day, I want to increase that to 20,000 so that we can take on bigger clients,” she said.

“Also, I want to open store locations across the island where customers can just go and pick up their products instead of waiting for the 2-3 day shipping that it now takes,” she said.

She also has her sights set on breaking into international markets.

“Exporting is definitely one of Chemqualco’s biggest goals over the next 3-5 years. I really want to get our great products overseas,” she said.

Knight said that despite the challenges associated with being a business owner, it is rewarding to see her clients succeed. 

“It always makes me feel good when I work through pharmacies and I see my clients products on the shelves. It feels good to know Chemqualco was a part of making that happen,” she said.