Desnetha is one of a growing number of young Guyanese women who, while being keen to pursue formal academic qualifications remain anchored, as well, to entrepreneurial ambitions. Her registered business, Home Base Craft and Nutritious Enterprise is one of the hundreds (perhaps many more) of mostly women-run micro and small businesses that have sprung up in small communities and in humble homes. In the instance of the 26 year-old Desnetha, she is seeking to lay the foundation for what she hopes will be a
sustainable commercial enterprise even as she pursues a course of studies that will lead to a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Southern Caribbean, an academic institution that is owned and operated by the Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Two Sundays ago, at a gathering of small business owners convened by the West Bank Demerara-based Professional Training Employment and Consultancy Service, Desnetha was aggressively seizing the opportunity to ‘market’ her enterprise. As the name suggests, Home Based Craft and Nutritious Enterprise is run from the 920 Turkeyen, Section B, Field 10 home of the rising businesswoman.
Her competence of a craftswoman was acquired largely from her mother who had taught Arts and Craft at the Queenstown Secondary School. “She taught me most of the skills that she had acquired and she always encouraged me to aim to have a business of my own,” Desnetha says.
More than a decade ago she began to learn the skills that have now guided her into the world of business, stitching hair bows and other accessories that have steadily made their way onto the women’s accoutrement market. “Once I decided to take business seriously I began having a virtual (marketing) presence by creating an e-mail address through which I could be reached. Arising out of some classes which I had pursued I created a ‘Google My Business’ page and got involved in research into branding and other areas that fitted in with my interests.”
In July last year, around the time of her 25th birthday her business was officially registered.
Beyond that Desnetha has created both a U Tube Channel and a Tik Tok Account in order to meet her marketing needs. She has further pressed her own creative skills into service in the creation of her own logo.
The enterprise began production ‘turning out’ an array of hair decoration and floral arrangements. It also takes annual ‘advantage of the African Emancipation ‘season’ to market Tie –dyed fabric, wrap skirts and shirts. “Over time, I have learnt new tie-dyeing techniques. With the advent of the covid-19 pandemic we added face masks to our range.”
For all the growth that her enterprise has realized Desnetha says that it is yet to arrive at that point where she wants it to be. Going forward some of her key goals include securing independent premises, a pursuit which she says is a work in progress, consolidate the nutrition side of the enterprise and consolidate the company’s networking and partnership-building capabilities. She also sees her business growing to the point where it will generate employment and attract investors. The creation of an independent clothing line is also one of her longer term ambitions.
Having ‘gotten her feet wet’ in the world of business Desnetha has become preoccupied with hoped-for rapid growth which she said would justify the commitment that she has invested in the initiative. If her outlook is anything to go by those goals may, even now, be much closer than she thinks.
