It is not every day that you see a woman operating a tyre shop, but for Natoya Defreitas, a 41-year-old mother and wife, it is more than just a job – it is her passion.
For the past 12 years, she has dedicated herself to her business – Tire King – located at Dennis and Sheriff Streets in Georgetown.
During an interview with the News Room Defreitas said the name was chosen because “we said we are the king of tyres.”
Even with challenges Defreitas remains committed to her work.
Defreitas operates the shop with some support from her husband and even now, as she prepares to welcome her fifth child in just four weeks, she continues to work every day.
“I had a passion for tyres, so for example if I see a vehicle on the road, the first thing I look at is the tyres and if I am walking I would say, your tyre needs air or something is wrong with your tyre,” Defreitas said.
Despite her passion for doing what she loves, balancing work and family life is no easy task.
Defreitas not only operates the tyre shop but also train her workers.
“Sometimes when I get home I am so tired all I want is my bed but my husband helps me out a great deal, I couldn’t ask for a better husband.
“And I have big kids so they would help out with the smaller ones,” the businesswoman explained.
And even while her children are her motivation for her work, they do not share the same passion for the business. With four daughters, she hopes that her unborn son might one day carry on the legacy.
“I guess you have to like what you are doing and I love this, like literally when I don’t come to work I feel sick,” Defreitas expressed.
The tyre shop is opened 24hours except on Sabbath Days since Defreitas and her family are Seventh Day Adventists.
The tyre shop is opened 24hours except on Sabbath Days since Defreitas and her family are Seventh Day Adventists.
“You can come here at 2:00 in the morning and we are open, so you don’t have to worry about where you will go to fix your tires, you wouldn’t be left on the road.
“If you need a plug or patch we can do it, we patch motorcycle tubes, bicycle tubes, there is a lot of electric bikes now and we look after those also. We also sell tires, we have used and new tyres, it is not much but we have things our customers would usually come for,” the businesswoman told the News Room.
Defreitas not only operates the tyre shop but also train her workers.
“Like if you come here and you want to know like how to take off a tyre I can show you. I have a lot of knowledge about it, like if I have a new staff and if they come and they don’t know anything about tyres we will train them,” Defreitas said.
Even with challenges Defreitas remains committed to her work.
“Sometimes I feel like giving up because dealing with the public is not easy.
“Because some people they have bad days and they come out and they would try to take it out on you, even though you try to be nice. I try to be calm with them but sometimes I want to lash out but I remember is the public I am dealing with.”
With plans to open a second location in the future, Defreitas is happy to do what she loves.
“Tyre shop is really good, it’s a good experience, but you gotta like it and I love dealing with tires.”
The post Natoya Defreitas: The ‘Tire King’ of Georgetown appeared first on News Room Guyana.
