After more than a decade building a reputation as a North Hamilton retailer, Demeka Tacklyn is expanding her horizons.

This month she opened a second store at 57 Front Street offering toys, clothes, Christmas pyjamas and natural health supplements such as black seed oil and sour sop leaves.

“I have not got the sign up yet, but I am calling it Tiny Bermuda, because people call me Tinyt [Tiny T],” she explained.

Meanwhile, her sister is now helping her manage Street Vybez at 43 Court Street.

Since launching at the new location on November 1, she has received much support from the community and some surprise that she is operating on Front Street.

“It blows my mind to see people’s reaction,” she laughed. “It is almost unbelievable to them.”

Ms Tacklyn made the move to grow and widen her comfort zone.

“It was overdue,” she said. “I need to find a way to make generational wealth for my family.”

Tiny Bermuda is about 900 sq ft, three times the size of Street Vybez.

Years ago, she started out selling popcorn and gradually expanded to other things.

“Over the years, I have been in at least five different locations on Court Street,” she said.

Her style is to pack many different things into her shops.

“Street Vybez has everything but the kitchen sink and if I had room for appliances, I would bring that in too,” Ms Tacklyn said.

“I love to shop. I also love to bring in things that will help people with their life.”

She is thankful to have the opportunity to operate in a new place.

“Some people don’t have time to shop on Court Street,” she said.

Ms Tacklyn is seeing a lot of foot traffic in the new spot and her Street Vybez regulars are also popping in to see the new space.

“I am definitely seeing a new clientele,” she said. “It is like being in a different part of the world. I see people from so many different cultures go by. It makes me feel like I have travelled somewhere.”

When the tourism season opens next year, she is looking forward to welcoming visitors and has Bermuda-branded products such as slippers, jackets and other items.

Ms Tacklyn believes entrepreneurship is in her blood.

More than 50 years ago, her grandmother, Martha Carter ran Martha’s Dress Shop in the Cedar Parkade in Hamilton and in Sandys.

“She was one of the first female business owners in Hamilton,” Ms Tacklyn said. “I think she would be so proud to see me open a business on Front Street.”

She said sometimes it felt like the challenges never stopped coming but she has had to learn to separate emotion from business.

“I have had times I have literally cried because shipments got held up or someone took advantage of me in business,” she said. “You have to accept that your ideas do not always work out the way you envision.”

The retailer sees her strength as the love and passion she puts into everything she does.

“When I shop for the store it is like I am buying for my family,” she said.