After years of quiet planning and overcoming multiple startup barriers, acclaimed Barbadian entrepreneur Tyrique Wilson — founder of the widely successful 2020 Carrington’s Rum Cream brand — has broadened his business holdings with the official launch of Outlet Auto Spas. The new vehicle valeting and professional car detailing facility is located at the Sugar Cane Mall car park in Bridgetown, and opened its doors to customers for the first time this past Saturday, marking the fulfillment of a personal and professional goal Wilson has held since his youth.
Speaking at the facility’s grand opening ceremony, Wilson detailed the long journey that led to the new venture, noting that six weeks of intensive hands-on preparation preceded the opening. “It’s our very first day opening after six weeks of preparation, getting all the equipment, getting all the bookings, getting the marketing out there, and finally we’re here,” he shared.
The idea of launching a car wash and auto care business first took root when Wilson was still a secondary school student, but unforeseen financial and logistical obstacles put his plans on hold for years. “Car wash businesses have always spoken to me. From the time I was in secondary school, I wanted to start a car wash, but the barriers to entry are a bit higher in terms of getting the canopy done, getting cement done and getting all the equipment,” Wilson explained. “I’m so happy that I’m finally able to do it now after years of wanting to do it and weeks of preparing to get it done.”
While Wilson smoothly built Carrington’s Rum Cream into a successful brand, he openly acknowledged that launching the brick-and-mortar auto spa came with far greater challenges. “It was extremely difficult, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “Because it’s a car wash business and has a physical location, there are so many moving parts that you have to pay attention to, whether that be organising bookings, making sure you have the correct equipment or ensuring the water drains out properly.”
The opening ceremony drew a number of prominent local figures, including Barbadian Senators Gregory Nicholls and Shane Archer. Senator Nicholls, who first met Wilson during Wilson’s time as a law student, praised the young founder’s persistence and commitment to entrepreneurship, framing the new business as a powerful example of what young Barbadian creators can achieve with opportunity. “I remember him as a law student in the faculty. He’s actually a brilliant legal mind,” Nicholls said, recalling that Wilson previously supported him with constitutional research work. “To see him here, opening his second business, is really a testament that young people have a lot of talent. Once we give them the opportunities, they will rise to the top and reach for the stars.”
Nicholls also commended Wilson for his choice to pause his legal career to pursue his entrepreneurial goals, noting that stepping away from a established academic path was a risky, high-stakes decision — one that has already paid off with impressive tangible results.