Merge these 2 stories to make a new one about family legacy being passed on: PASSING THE BATON: HOW TREACHA REID IS BUILDING A LEGACY AT SHADES OF ELEGANCE  

"I knew I didn’t just want a salon and a spa. I wanted an empire”. – Treacha Reid, Founder, CEO of Shade of Elegance Salon & Spa
For 25 years, Treacha Reid has built a legacy, Shades of Elegance Salon & Spa. What began just as a hustle on her mother’s veranda with $32,500 worth of credit, has blossomed into a full-service beauty empire in Old Harbour, Jamaica. Now, Treacha is preparing to pass the torch to her daughter, Imauni Huie, ensuring that her legacy lives on.  
With pure confidence, Treacha stands behind her business, “At Shades of Elegance, we offer a full range of salon and spa services designed to help you look and feel your best”, she explained. As a Trichologist, she knows beauty is more than skin deep, “We offer inside-out transformation of service for parents seeking self-care.  Here it’s not one shoe fit all. It’s not any size fit all.  We customise our services to the need of the client.”
Treacha and her team of skilled professionals go above and beyond to create personalised beauty solutions that cater to the unique needs and preferences of each client.

Treacha’s entrepreneurial journey was far from easy. Starting in a small, leaky space with rent at just $1,000 per month, she faced challenges—lack of clients, financial strain, and societal doubts. But her vision was bigger than her circumstances.  
With unwavering faith and relentless hustle, she took bold risks—moving to a prime location with rent at $15,000 per month, investing in her own property, and expanding services despite setbacks like COVID-19. Today, Shades of Elegance is a thriving hub for hair care, skincare, nail care, and wellness, powered by solar energy and staffed by a team that Treacha treats as family.  
The Next Generation: Steps Into Leadership  
Treacha always envisioned generational wealth, not just a business. When her daughter, Imauni, graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing, the transition began. Though Imauni initially dreamed of a corporate career, destiny had other plans.  
"God had other plans for me." Imauni Huie  
Now, as Head of Marketing and a budding beauty professional, Imauni is blending modern strategies with her mother’s foundation. She has revitalized the salon’s social media presence, attracted new clients, and infused fresh energy into the brand.  
A Mother’s Tough Love: Preparing the Next CEO  
Treacha doesn’t treat Imauni as just an employee—she’s grooming her to be a leader.  
"She needs to think like a CEO, not just a staff member."  
Their relationship isn’t always easy—Imauni admits her mother’s high standards were tough—but now, she appreciates the discipline. Treacha ensures her daughter understands the sacrifices, risks, and responsibilities of running a business.  
Treacha’s ultimate goal? For Shades of Elegance to become a household name across the Caribbean, like Scotiabank or JPS. With Imauni’s marketing expertise and Treacha’s seasoned guidance, the business is poised for even greater heights.  
"If my eyes close tomorrow, the business won’t die. It will live on." 
As the Things Jamaican™ pushes its ‘Fambili’ Legacy campaign, the Entrepreneur Weekly, zooms in on families championing business together.  

In the heart of St. Catherine, amidst the hustle and bustle, lies a sanctuary of beauty and a symbol of empowerment: Shades of Elegance, owned and curated by a visionary, Treacha Reid. This March as Women’s History Month unfolds and International Women’s Day celebrated just last week, the Entrepreneur Weekly, is celebrating women in business who inspire with their strength and dedication. Treacha Reid is a perfect example. Her journey from hairdressing on her mother’s verandah to a luxurious beauty suite poised to be the pearl of the Caribbean is a tale of dedication and hard work.

Empowering Through Beauty

With pure confidence, Treacha stands behind her business, “At Shades of Elegance, we offer a full range of salon and spa services designed to help you look and feel your best”, she explained. As a Trichologist, she knows beauty is more than skin deep, “We offer inside-out transformation of service for parents seeking self-care.  Here it’s not one shoe fit all. It’s not any size fit all.  We customise our services to the need of the client.”

Treacha and her team of skilled professionals go above and beyond to create personalised beauty solutions that cater to the unique needs and preferences of each client. Whether it’s a glamorous makeover for a special occasion or a rejuvenating spa treatment for self-care, every service is delivered with precision, passion, and a touch of elegance. 


A Journey of Passion and Purpose

But the story of Shades of Elegance dates back to 2000. Armed with ambition, Treacha embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, with zero dollars to her name on her mother’s verandah. “My mother inspired me to become a Trichologist. She was the one who encouraged me to do the hairdressing business. And when she was encouraging me, I honestly didn’t want to do it.  When I was through with school, I decided that I wanted to do something on my own, but didn’t have the money to start.”

With a goal in mind, she put her pride aside, “I went to a store to find out if the gentleman would credit me this stuff to start-up. I started off with one relaxer, combs, brushes, a standing chair, a blow dryer, everything that I needed to start on my mother’s verandah.  The total amount was $32,500”.

Crossing one hurdle, she stumbled on another – “The persons in my community wouldn’t support me because they thought that I wasn’t good enough to touch them or to offer hair care services to them. I took a leap of faith and researched another space in Old Harbour.”

Founding Shades of Elegance, Treacha set out with the mission to redefine beauty standards and provide a space where every woman feels seen, heard, and valued, but the trials that this presented seem to never end.

“I was paying a thousand dollars per month. It wasn’t pretty. It was horrible. It was awful. So, I spent maybe six to eight months at that location. During that time, I went through some major embarrassment because I mean the floor had on linoleum and it was just tacky. A lot of flies would swarm the area. It was just horrible. I decided that I’m not going to stay there. That wasn’t my ambition, that wasn’t my dream, that wasn’t my vision and I didn’t settle.”

She set out to find another home for her business. Her goal was not merely to offer beauty services but to cultivate a sense of confidence and self-assurance in every client who walked through her doors. Now, Shades of Elegance stands at 36A South Street, Old Harbour, its permanent home.