Meet Sara Stanford | Entrepreneur | Bridal Stylist | Resume Revamp Guru

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Stanford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised by both my mother and father. At a very young age they both instilled in me a sense of confidence in self regardless of what others would think of me. At the age of 8 I was diagnosed with a skin condition called Vitiligo, a disorder that prevents a person from producing pigment cells and melanin and causes large white patches on the skin. My parents made it a priority to ensure I was confident and self assured regardless of how I looked and what the outside world thought of me. I have felt this throughout my entire life and career and I know that I could not have achieved the business success I have over the last 20 years if I did not develop the strength and self confidence and focus on what inside rather than what my skin looked like.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am currently the owner of two brands. Bliss Bridal Boutique and Sara E. Consulting Services.

Bliss Bridal Boutique is my baby. We opened our doors 10 years ago when I got married and I realized the huge gap in the wedding dress industry here in Jamaica. After searching for my wedding dress I realized that the brides in Jamaica were really being underserved. So one day my mother looked at me and said “Sara, you can do it better” and 10 years, over 6000 brides and 6 trunk shows later here we are. At Bliss we rent and sell designer wedding gowns that transforms every woman into the bride she’s always dreamed she could be.

It was so important for me when embarking on this journey that every bride had a true bridal experience. I say it all the time, shopping for a wedding dress is not like shopping for a pair of jeans; it is a once in a lifetime experience and in my opinion it should be treated as such. And at Bliss that’s what we strive to do everyday, to give each bridal her once in a lifetime fairy tale moment. I am most proud of the impact Bliss has made in the bridal industry in Jamaica. There was never a true bridal trunk show in Jamaica or the Caribbean for that matter before we did it in 2016 and every year since. No other bridal store every had authorized retailer contracts with dress designers such as Maggie Sottero and Justin Alexander.

I have had so many challenges over the years. I think the greatest challenge in business in Jamaica however is building and keeping a team. I have had staff members that have worked with me and started a side hustle and encouraged my clients to work with them instead of me. I have had staff that have literally stolen money and goods. Then there are those staff members that see employment with Bliss as an opportunity to get their foot into the wedding industry which I actually support, as I love to develop talent and see the growth, but this means they usually do not stay long term. I honestly don’t think I’ve quite figured out the formula or if there even is a formula to keeping staff long term anymore it’s still a work in progress for me.

Sara E. Consulting is my newest venture. During the pandemic the wedding industry, like so many others, we were in a complete lockdown. During that time my sister was searching for new employment and asked me to assist her with her resume. I was more than happy to, so I reached way back into the early years of my career as an HR Specialist and loved every single minute of it. After working on her resume I sent out a bunch of messages to friends and family asking them if they needed any assistance revamping their resumes and the response was overwhelming. Everyone was so impressed with their resume makeovers and I was so pleasantly surprised. After a few months I decided to dive right into Human Resources and start utilizing that Bachelors degree in HR Management I got so many many years ago. Since its inception I have assisted many over 100 college students with their job search preparation through group and one and one training sessions. The goal is to become the go to HR professional in the Caribbean helping job seekers land the dream job as well as to assist small and medium size organizations with their HR needs.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Oh my gosh…First stop is going to have to involve food. Hellshire HERE WE COME! If you are a seafood lover then there is no better place in Jamaica to get great fresh seafood than Hellshire. Now Hellshire is a beach, but no one goes to hellshire for the sea and sand (after all , it’sits still located in the city), everyone goes for the fish and festival. If you are a shellfish kind of person, then the lobster and shrimp are in abundance (in season of course). You want pepper shrimp, garlic lobster or some steam fish with a little okra? Any seafood you want, Hellshire is where you go.

Next on the list, if we are looking for a little night life, nothing too hectic, then we are going to head on over to Jangas Soundbar. Jangas has everything you need, great music, great vibe, great people oh and any alcoholic beverage of your liking. Oh and on the way home after midnight you have to stop and get some pan chicken from Wally in Manor Park, don’t ask any questions, just trust me on this one.

Now it’s time to go on a little road trip. So not too far out of the way is a little spot my hubby discovered in Gordon Town called Pretty Close. Pretty Close is a little river and waterfalls located only about 20 minutes up the road from Kingston 6. No hiking required. Just bring your swimsuit and your relaxing vibe and you are guaranteed to have a good time. However, if hiking is your thing then no worries a short 10 minute hike will get you to the ultimate beauty of a waterfall where you can spend the rest of your day enjoying the rigorous massage of the cascading waters or just chill on a river rock and enjoy the breeze.

I think every person that is new to Kingston should also visit the National Gallery in Downtown Kingston and immerse themselves in the rich art and culture of our Jamaican people. From paintings to sculptures to basket weaving the breadth of talent of the Jamaican people is endless and definitely must be seen.

Honorable mention…you have to go to KFC and get a bucket of barbeque chicken #thatisall

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Oh gosh, answering this question may make me cry.

I attribute a great deal of my business acumen to my father. I would not be the entrepreneur I am today if it was not for him. I remember as a child going to his cleaning chemical business after school and watching him deal with his clients and negotiate with his vendors both big and small. I remember watching him in such awe at how he was able to influence people and make them feel good about doing business with him. I take these memories with me everyday. Whenever I am stuck with an issue, I know I can always count on him, he is my ultimate mentor.

My husband Brian is my accountability partner, he is my support, my backbone. He forces me to work to my full potential even when I don’t feel like it and when I’m having a difficult time he is always my soft place to fall.

I couldn’t continue to run business and keep sane if I didn’t have my mom to vent to sometimes. She is always there with a listening ear and knows just how to make me smile and remember that it’s not always about the business, it’s also about my emotional and mental well being. Everyone needs their mommy around.

Website: www.blissja.com

Instagram: blissbridalja and saraeconsultingservices

Linkedin: Saraestanford

Facebook: blissbridalja

Image Credits
F.A.B. Photography Courtney Chen Photography Merrick Cousley Phtography