UBCNews - Business - Building the Business of Nails in the Caribbean

Episode Date: March 9, 2026

HOST Interviewer Lexann, thank you for being here. NSI Caricom has just relaunched its distribution and wholesale program. What changed, and why now? LEXANN We got serious about structure. Before, people could buy from us without a clear framework. That works for small transactions, but it does not build real partners. So we created a two-tier program. Everyone starts as a Wholesaler, with a recommended minimum opening order of more than $500 USD. When you reach certain amounts in purchases within a calendar year, you qualify as a Local Distributor. That brings territory rights, enhanced pricing, and we start sharing the Miami-to-island freight cost. It gives partners something concrete to grow toward. HOST Interviewer Why does the freight cost sharing matter so much? LEXANN Because freight is a real expense in this region and it eats into margin. Products ship via UPS to a US freight forwarder, then onward to your island. Many partners use Tropical Shipping, and we have a relationship with them. The warehouse will not release an order until payment clears, so planning matters. Once you are in a rhythm, the whole process from confirmed payment to delivery runs about seven business days. When we share that freight cost at the Local Distributor level, it changes the economics of the business. HOST Interviewer Let us talk about the products. Someone new to NSI might ask: why carry this brand specifically? LEXANN That is the right question to ask. NSI comes down to chemistry and safety. All NSI acrylic systems are MMA-free. We have HEMA-free gel options and TPO-free gels. Those are not just labels. MMA has been restricted or banned in professional nail products in several countries because of what it does to the nail and to the body. HEMA can cause a permanent allergy with repeated exposure. A technician who develops that allergy cannot work anymore. That is their livelihood gone. NSI also has low-odor systems, which matter in Caribbean salons where ventilation is not always ideal, and UV-stable formulations that do not yellow in the heat. These are real problems NSI addresses. HOST Interviewer The program also includes training and a referral structure. Tell me how those work. LEXANN Distribution without education is just logistics. Partners can organize training events in their markets. NSI Caricom handles all instruction and issues internationally recognized NSI certificates. The partner sets their own registration fee. Their earning is the margin between what they charge and our facilitation fee. Separately, NSI Caricom offers consulting to people launching or relaunching nail salons. When a partner refers someone who signs an agreement with us, they receive a referral bonus. No cap. So there are three ways to earn: product sales, training events, and referrals. HOST Interviewer Last question. What does the Caribbean nail industry actually need right now? LEXANN It needs to be taken seriously. We have incredibly talented nail technicians across this region working with products that are not always safe, without training recognized anywhere, and without any real commercial infrastructure behind them. That is what this program is trying to change. Not with grand statements, but island by island, partner by partner, training by training. The Green Nail Salon Conference in Guyana in 2024 was one step. The one we are planning for St. Lucia in May is another. This program is another. HOST Interviewer Lexann, thank you. This has been a genuinely useful conversation. LEXANN Thank you for asking the right questions. That is half of any good conversation. NSI Caricom City: Sheridan Address: 30 N Gould St., Website: https://nsicaricom.com Phone: [phone]

Host interviewer Lexan, thank you for being here. NSI Caracom has just relaunched its distribution and wholesale program. What changed and why now? Lexan, we got serious about structure. Before, people could buy from us without a clear framework. That works for small transactions, but it does not build real partners. So we created a two-tier program. Everyone starts as a wholesaler with a recommended minimum opening order

of more than $500 USD. When you reach certain amounts and purchases within a calendar year, you qualify as a local distributor. That brings territory rights, enhanced pricing, and we start sharing the Miami-to-Iland freight cost. It gives partners something concrete to grow toward. Host interviewer, why does the freight cost sharing matter so much? Lexan, because freight is a real expense in this region,

and it eats into margin, products ship via UPS, to a U.S. freight forwarder, then onward to your island. Many partners use tropical shipping, and we have a relationship with them. The warehouse will not release an order until payment clears, so planning matters. Once you are in a rhythm, the whole process from confirmed payment to delivery runs about seven business days. When we share that freight cost at the local distributor level, it changes the economics of the business. Host interviewer let us talk about the products, Someone new to NSAI might ask, why carry this brand specifically? Lexan.

That is the right question to ask. NSI comes down to chemistry and safety. All NSA acrylic systems are MMA-free. We have hemifree gel options and TPO-free gels. Those are not just labels. MMA has been restricted or banned in professional nail products in several countries because of what it does to the nail and to the body. HEMA can cause a permanent allergy with repeated exposure.

A technician who develops that allergy cannot work anymore. That is their livelihood gone. NSA also has low odor systems, which matter in Caribbean salons, where ventilation is not always ideal, and UV-stable formulations that do not yellow in the heat. These are real problems NSA addresses. Host interviewer, the program also includes training and a referral structural structure. Tell me how those work. Lexan, distribution without education, is just logistics. Partners can organize training events in their markets. NSI Caracom handles all instruction and issues

internationally recognized NSA certificates. The partner sets their own registration fee. Their earning is the margin between what they charge and our facilitation fee. Separately, NSI Caracom offers consulting to people launching or relaunching. launching nail salons. When a partner refers someone who signs an agreement with us, they receive a referral bonus. No cap. So there are three ways to earn, product sales, training events, and referrals. Host interviewer last question. What does the Caribbean nail industry actually need right now? Lexan. It needs to be taken seriously. We have incredibly talented nail technicians across this region working with products that are not always safe, without training

recognized anywhere, and without any real commercial infrastructure behind them. That is what this program is trying to change. Not with grand statements, but island by island, partner by partner, training by training. The Green Nail Salon Conference in Guyana in 2024 was one step. The one we planning for St. Lucia in May is another. This program is another. Host interviewer Lexan, thank you. This has been a genuinely useful conversation. Lexan, thank you for asking the right questions. That is half of any good conversation.