With no allowance to buy presents for loved ones when their birthdays came around, Hema Persaud began making her own cards and eventually established Handmade by Hema last July.
Originally, the business sold mainly cards, but quickly added bookmarks and paper flowers. Recently, in celebration of its first anniversary, Handmade by Hema began offering polymer clay earrings.
Persaud, 20, said she had bought the polymer clay last year, which was imported, but without the necessary materials she had hoped to add. The clay was put aside for whenever the materials became available. July was when she decided to use it and made her first polymer clay earrings, using their oven at home. She baked the clay as instructed online and while the result was not perfect, she was pleased.
The entrepreneur, who is currently a second-year student at the University of Guyana (UG) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, said the idea for the business was always there and had been encouraged by her parents a while back. Her older sister, she noted, also has her own card business but is in her final year at UG, so her business is currently on a hiatus.
Persaud said her cards are the biggest sellers sometimes for special occasions like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but are mainly purchased for birthdays. The wide variety includes pop-up and slider cards.
Persaud pointed out that personalizing a card is a wonderful way to tell someone he or she is special. Many of her cards are based on the personality of the person who receives them and the things they like. “I always ask my clients what type of cards they want and to tell me something specific about the person; their favourite thing or an inside joke they share with the person that could be added to the card. It’s more than just a card you can go and pick up from anywhere. I try to make this card sentimental for that person so that in receiving it, it is memorable for them,” she said.
She can spend four or five hours creating a card as she pays attention to such details as how the card would showcase the receiver’s personality, the right colour to use and the actual work of making her design come alive. Some cards take less time and these she explained are usually those that clients see on the internet and ask her to replicate. She has no machine or printer, and uses a pair of scissors, exacto knife or a razor blade for cutting. Persaud shared that sometimes a customer asks for a card with scenes or images from a particular movie and if she has not seen it she has to research the details, watch the trailer or the entire movie. Persaud confessed that she gets a lot of her inspiration from the internet then adds her style. Sometimes there are not enough ideas, especially when there are only so many images that can be used. Referencing Christmas, she noted that ideas are usually limited to trees, snowmen, reindeer, Santa Claus, and mistletoe. When she has artist’s block, it lends to how long it takes to complete one of her cards.Most of her materials, she said, are sourced locally but that is about to change soon as her supplier is not stocking them anymore. While she has a good amount on hand, she does not know of anyone else local who is likely to have them. Once she runs out, she will have to begin importing materials which will be costly.
At present, Persaud lives in Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. This can at times be a challenge as many of her clients live in or around the city. The entrepreneur shared that there are times when she travels to Georgetown to deliver for a single client, which can be a loss financially with transportation costs. She plans to set aside one day a week for delivery in order to offset expenses.
Persaud hopes to soon begin providing digital prints and has purchased a computer to ensure this. She does not know exactly how to create the prints but said they will be an option for customers in the future.
In a decade, the entrepreneur said, she hopes her business can be Guyana’s answer to Hallmark. With Hallmark cards being an inspiration, she hopes to leave just as much of an impression on her customers. Someday she intends to have a shop front for her business also.
By then she might also have her collection of handcrafted ceramics as she is contemplating taking a course at the E R Burrowes School of Art. She hinted that she could decide to take more courses as she wants to better her painting, drawing and embroidery skills.
It is not easy studying and running her business but she said being organized allows her to remain efficient. The entrepreneur shared that she always checks in with her customers to see what the person they bought the card for thought about it and the feedback has been great. She recalled that at one point she worried about what people would think of the cards she made. Today she is happy that she gets to make special days even more special.
“I would [encourage] persons who are interested in starting their business to go ahead and do that. If it’s something that you are passionate about, pursue it,” said the entrepreneur.
To place orders Persaud can be reached on Instagram @handmade_byhema.
