Retired Guyana Defence Force Staff Sergeant Claudette Croft, her daughter Roxanne and son Raymond are working diligently to grow what, though still a fledgling enterprise appears to have all the potential for rapid growth. Located at 243 South Vryheid’s Lust, Prophesy Air Freshener & Cleaning Supplies, could, in due course, make a challenge for a share of a lucrative market which has traditionally been dominated by imports.
It is as much the product’s presentation afforded by the company’s superior bottling and labelling as its attractive colours that catch the eye. In a local small business sector where market access is so often compromised by labelling and packaging limitations Claudette and her children appear to have ‘gotten it together.’
Claudette has been the mastermind behind the operation. After completing her schooling at age 19 she enlisted with the Guyana Defence Force, one of 63 to secure acceptance out of a batch of 300 females. She served in the Officers Mess from 1967-1988, during the tenures of soldiers like current President of Guyana Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger and Retired Chiefs of Staff Colonel Pope, and Major Generals Norman McLean and Joe Singh.
Following her retirement Claudette immersed herself in charitable work that centred around the children and youths in her community.
It was a casual visit from a friend vacationing from a Caribbean island that led her into business.
While, the visitor provided her with only two ingredients, Claudette says that her knowledge of the science came through independent research and trial and error.
The ingredients she noted comprise– essential oils, natural extracts, assorted fragrances, colouring and water But she didn’t stop there.
The family visited various countries in the Caribbean and sampled several brands of Air Fresheners paying attention to the product as well as bottling and quality of labelling. Eventually, Claudette arrived at a point where she was persuaded that her product could stand the test of a competitive market.
Prophesy Air Freshener & Cleaning Supplies was registered as a business in February 2014 and the company’s first batch of product was sold to wash bays and taxi services. Claudette says that within a week her earliest customers were calling for more.
It was while she was retailing her product at a wash bay that she encountered her first major customer, the Manageress of Rubis gas station on Vlissengen road; she saw the product and was impressed with the fact that it was manufactured locally. After her first order of 24 bottles of assorted scents a business relationship developed.
The company’s market has since extended to the Guyana Shop on Robb Street, N. Ali & Sons located at Zeeburg, Jerrick’s Funeral Home on the East Coast, Ezekiel’s Funeral Home on the West Coast and the One Stop Shop, several wash bays and taxi services. Additionally, she supplies a hotel in Lethem with 50 bottles every two months. She believes she is on the verge of supplying all of the Bounty outlets.
Claudette Croft’s modest production area on the premises of her Vryheid’s Lust Home was possible through her $300,000 investment. As she progressed and persisted she expressed gratitude for the $300,000 grant received through the Small Business Bureau’s Small & Medium Enterprise Project, which also allowed her to expand her production. She believes that the grant has served as an important stepping stone towards taking the enterprise where she wants it to go.
The product comes in four cents; Strawberry, Bubble Gum, Baby Talc and Green Ice.
As for ‘what’s next’ for Prophesy Air Freshener sand Cleaning Supplies, Claudette says that the market will hear from her again, this time with locally manufactured liquid soap. Beyond that, she plans to travel to the United States to investigate the industry more thoroughly and to explore fragrances and possible suppliers.
In the period ahead she will also be exploring the possibility of acquiring a delivery van to enable her product to reach the length and breadth of Guyana.
