DESTINATION
LOCAL FACES
Meet three innovative BVI entrepreneurs
Alexa Shirley
FOUNDER, FRUITS & FLOWERS BVI
Alexa Shirley runs two very different businesses. In 2016, after the non-profit she worked for lost funding, she moved back to the BVI. The former social worker started managing her father’s zipline company, Original Virgin Canopy (OVC) Tours. Although she had a taste of the entrepreneur life through running OVC, her entrepreneurial gifts were further sharpened last year when she followed her dream to create Fruits & Flowers (F&F) BVI.
F&F specialises in natural, handmade products for yoni, or feminine, care. The collection offers soaps, oils, sprays and steami ng herb blends – all specifically designed for the yoni; some made using herbs, fruits and vegetables from Shirley’s own garden. The products help to cleanse, restore pH balance and create a healthy menstrual cycle.
“I find women are always looking for products to improve feminine hygiene,” Shirley says. “We want gentle but effective natural products, which were lacking in our local market.”
She adds: “I love interacting with my customers and hearing how my products have helped them.”
While the onlin e boutique caters mainly for females, Shirley points out that self-care is a goal for men as well, which is why she off products, such as lozenges, detox masks and massaging soap bars.