Let's Talk Etiquette is training Bahamian youth to have stature and social grace

By: Jhanae Winter

CEO Thea Moss, owner of Let’s Talk Etiquette Spa and Beauty Boutique (LTE), is transforming the lives of young children through etiquette and money management principles, based in Grand Bahama.

All between the ages of two - 18 they can experience uniquely designed pampering services and learn a range of lessons such as character and confidence building, life and social skills as well as entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

“The goal is to work with young children to ensure they are well kept, pampered and well-spoken with presence, social grace and stature. In a nutshell, to develop the whole child and positively impact their lives at a very young age in ways education and talent alone simply cannot,” she said.

LTE’s mission is to provide an elite service that helps to build confidence, class, character and social grace, while offering quality products.

Thea originally established her business in April 2017 as a hair boutique in New Providence. However, she developed a passion for working with children and shifted her services accordingly.

More than a year later, in December 2018, LTE was birthed after countless efforts to walk in the purpose of her calling.

The scripture Proverbs 22:6 is used as a foundation for her business as LTE aims to train all children in their care, for the world ahead of them and place them on a path to success.

Thea is not only a business owner but an author, certified children’s etiquette instructor and has experience with training young girls along with a background in marketing, public relations and risk management. Using all of her talents and brilliance, she has carefully crafted a business with fundamentals that focuses on building up the next generation.

A major milestone of hers is a newly released book, ‘My Money Diary: A fun ledger for kids’, the first of her Practical Financial Literacy Activity Book Series for children, available now on Amazon.

In it, she introduces children to the world of money that goes beyond, “how to make money” but includes, savings, financial responsibility, delayed gratification, self expression, charitable giving and so much more in a creative manner, she said.

“Coming from a home where I definitely repeated the financial cycle I witnessed as a child, it was after I was drowning in debt that I realized that something had to change if I was to break the cycle or in Bahamian terms ‘break the generational curse’: of getting a government job and obtaining consumer loans for everything possible, without thinking about how this can affect my children, their way of thinking and ultimate success in life,” Thea said.

That's not all for LTE’s CEO. Thea was accepted into the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs cohort, being one of 140 women out of 700 applicants. She also was accepted into a Master program without a Bachelor's degree and passed the Certified International Risk Managers Program, she told Bahamaslocal.com.

As great as all these achievements are, the moment that resounds in her heart the most, as a mother, was when her five year old daughter, the inspiration of this business, told her, “mommy I want to be just like you one day and own many shops while taking care of animals,” Thea said.

The five year old is already exhibiting signs of success by wanting to start her own lip line, Candy Puckers, because of her exemplary mother and the training she received.

Through the testament of her daughter, Thea’s LTE is creating a resilience in children to walk with stature, grace and set no limits on their purpose.

But Thea has more in store for LTE.

“Thinking globally, the brand plans to market curriculum to private educational institutions locally, and after obtaining more internationally recognized training and certifications, market our very own curriculum globally via the world wide web. Expanding our brand, the company also offers confidential etiquette services to new professionals seeking to climb the corporate ladder,” she said.

While this journey has been filled with success, it was not easy. It took many trials and errors, re-shifting, rebranding, losses and most importantly faith in God.

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