By: Jhanae Winter

Lavell Smith's mission is to increase generational wealth and he's on his way to becoming a serial entrepreneur by owning three businesses in different industries.

The names of his business are: L&M Window Repair & Installation, specialising in full window repair and carpentry. The second is L’s Restores, customizing and restoring shoes and customizing clothing. Finally, Lavell's Import & Export where they import cars based on a client's request. 

“The honest vision I aspire to achieve from all of my businesses would honestly be to break the curse & create generational wealth for my family and I,” Lavell said.

After graduating high school in 2017 Lavell’s entry into the working world was at a gas station for two years. While working his day job, he started his first business L’s Restores and found passion in that. 

As his skills and passion grew, shortly after that he started L&M Window Repair & Installation which is now his main business. Later in August 2019 Lavell's Import & Export was established. 

The idea of only receiving minimum wage as a young man did not sit well with Lavell, therefore he decided to take a chance on himself. While working at the gas station, he began saving to fund all of his business ventures. 

“I honestly wanted to start my own business because, I personally didn't want to work for another person again after my first job experience. I always wanted to be in charge of my own life, I wanted to decide when I can take vacation and when I could wake up.  I also had a lot of big dreams and working for what felt like minimum wage at such a young age couldn't help me get further,” he said.

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He recalled one of his most memorable moments to date that occurred in Abaco. Being able to travel to the island and experience the immense beauty of the island was something he was grateful to experience. Likewise, through his repair business he was able to restore several Abaconian family homes after the monstrous Dorian hit in 2019.

This 21 year old is ‘gunning’ for generational wealth and he is not allowing any obstacle hinder this upward mobility towards success. His future goals are working on his craft, improving in different areas and moving forward no matter what comes his way.

His main goal on the other hand is early retirement. Lavell told Bahamaslocal.com he wants to retire early and allow his businesses or as he calls them “gifts”, to open doors for him and to afford the luxury of early retirement.

Throughout his journey as a young entrepreneur, Lavell has learnt many lessons about the businesses he is in. However it is a life changing experience he “wouldn't trade in for the world”.

Through his first two businesses, Lavell learned the truth about genuine support from others and the consequences of not properly pricing his work.  

“When I first started my shoe business this was the biggest lesson I could have learned. There are a lot of people who will say they're going to support you but when the product hits the market there's a possibility that it's going to stay on the shelf for a while. Also when I started my window business I was horrible at pricing so I ended up doing a lot of jobs for free with no form of income and often having to dig into my own accounts to complete a project,” he said.

As a young male business owner, Lavell expressed he experienced  scrutiny from older Bahamians who didn't take his craft seriously. 

“Being as young as I am with my own business, it's honestly stereotyped by older folks that the work I'm doing won't be up to par or done correctly. Even in terms of charging an assessment fee, a lot of people feel that because we’re younger we will steal the money and never come back; when that would never happen on behalf of my brands,” he exclaimed.

Nevertheless, Lavell takes all of his lessons with grace not allowing any sort ofnegativity or setback get to him. 

The business owner remains motivated by staying connected to his spiritual side by referring to Psalms 1 and with daily affirmations. He recites to himself,  “you can't fail, keep moving forward, keep pushing,” he said. 

He believes in this climate it is good to have something to fall back on, in the event another pandemic affects the world, one would not lose their job and simply have nothing to sustain them. 

Lavell encourages millennials to “simply do it”, when wanting to start a business. 

“Look into yourself and find something you'd love doing or something that you're good at. Also save your money if you're working a regular job because the idea may not come today or tomorrow. However when the idea comes you'll know and it's best you have the funds to invest to better yourself,” he said.

Lavell Smith can be found on his business Facebook pages L&M Window Repair & Instillation and also L’s Restores. On instagram you can find him @ls.windowrepair and @lavellsimport.export242

L&M Window Repair & Instillation, Sometimes you have to close a door, to open up a window