Trailblazers

Travels Lead to Royal Treasure
Carolyn Nemia

Nationality: American

Countries lived in as an adult: Dubai, UAE (1993 to 1997)

Countries visited: Bali, Java, China, India, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Maldives, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, France, Germany, Ireland, England, Netherlands, Austria, Jordan, Belize, Bahrain, Oman, Mexico, numerous Caribbean Islands.

Qualifications: BA Political Science, Rutgers University, New Jersey; MBA, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Tour Manager Certification from the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), San Francisco, California.

Career Path: Began her career as a probation officer, held numerous positions over the course of 25 years. Took early retirement from the New Jersey State Court System to move to Dubai with husband, Jay. While in Dubai, began an import (to US) business, International Treasure Chest (http://www.intltreasurechest.com), selling wholesale to national catalogues and retail stores, and some direct mail. Purchased a cruise-only franchise and sells cruises for all cruise lines to destinations worldwide.

Before embarking on expatriate life in 1993, Carolyn Nemia had a high-powered, high-paying job with the New Jersey State Court System.
'I left with very mixed feelings, but I was looking forward to a new adventure,' she says. 'I also looked forward to visiting Asia from Dubai. Americans rarely take more than a two-week vacation, and I was not an exception.'

When she first moved to Dubai, Carolyn pursued the interests she'd never had time for while working - photography, painting, drawing and calligraphy. She served as Activities Chair for the American Women's Association and taught a first-year business course. The reaction of friends and family to gifts of wooden boxes containing frankincense and myrrh made her realize she had hit upon a 'Royal Treasure' (the copyrighted name of her product) and she set up her own business.

In the beginning, there were some hard-learned lessons, including a manufacturing disaster that resulted in the loss of 80 - 90 per cent of the product, which did not meet Carolyn's strict quality control. 'Trust your instincts,' she counsels other women thinking of setting up in business. 'I was not comfortable with one of the manufacturers we initially paid for the boxes. We would not have lost a lot of money on that first shipment of boxes had I followed my 'gut feelings' and not used him.' She also advises: 'First, find a product that is unusual and not easily copied. Be patient, be very detailed - take one step at a time.'

Carolyn also runs a cruise-only franchise (http://www.cruiseone.com/cnemia). 'The business is home-based, so I take calls from potential customers seven days a week. I take pride in my service. If rates fall after a client books a cruise, I'll pass the savings on to them. I also give them information on ports that they will be visiting and be available to answer any questions they may have.'

Well-travelled, Carolyn has been to many of these ports herself. Even though she moved back to the States in 1997, she keeps leaving. 'I'm not sure where I get my love of travel,' she says. 'My parents didn't travel and neither of my sisters are interested in seeing the world.' Carolyn's travel plans for the near future include a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in April. 'I've never been to Italy!' she exclaims. 'That's high on my list, but we do want to cruise the Yangtze River before the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Dam is finished and the villages and historic relics along the river vanish. Oh, and of course, I also want to visit Antarctica...'

Now looking into working as a Tour Director, Carolyn's goal is to escort groups throughout America and the world.

Rebecca Ponton