Cute Stuff, a small business started by a Corentyne high school teacher, has been taking the decorating industry in Berbice by storm, snagging decorating jobs for a variety of events within the ancient county.
Pamilla Jai Jai Ram, 35, a teacher at the Lower Corentyne Secondary and of Rose Hall Town, explained in an interview that she creates and designs backdrops for events like birthdays, anniversaries, parties, meetings, and a wide range of events. “I specialise in balloon designs and decor. I also do bouncy house and trampoline rental,” she said.
According to her, her mom was a major influence on her love for decorating, as growing up she would always help her mother decorate for birthday parties and religious events. “Being young, sometimes I hesitated to help and she would do it herself and I would then feel guilty and take over… I realised that balloons add colour and life to an event, and it transforms a venue into a place people want to be, especially kids. My love for decorating grew from there,” she said.
About ten years ago, Pamilla saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a one-day class on balloon décor which was being held in Georgetown. “I grabbed the opportunity,” she recalled. “The class was held at the National Library in Georgetown. There I learned to make spiral columns, balloon arches, etc. But since then I learned the other modern balloon designs on my own by watching YouTube videos.”
Initially, after the class, Pamilla started to decorate for events being held by family and friends. It was only during the restrictions forced by the COVID-19 pandemic that she decided to create a business page on social media. When she posted the décor she had done for a personal event, she began getting massive feedback. The decorations were what they would only see in Georgetown, or online.
“I started sharing my balloon decoration work on that page and I received great reviews and compliments which motivated me to push more with this business,” Pamilla said. “So, it’s been almost two years doing this, and I am proud of how it is going. It’s this gratifying feeling of saying I have a business that brings me much joy. I love to work, and I like to keep myself busy. It makes me feel productive. One of the things I love about my business is how I make others feel… And that my work is the centre of attention at important events.”
The woman, who currently does everything herself, has also had the opportunity to decorate for events in the region that have had President Irfaan Ali as a guest speaker.
Pamilla said her husband and daughter have supported her throughout her journey thus far in teaching and in owning and operating a small business.
Cute Stuff has packages available for every income bracket. “Some packages start from $12,000 and the price varies depending on the quality and amount of balloons required, props requested, and design of the backdrop. People sometimes ask me to select the designs and some would send me pictures of what they are looking for. I try my best to make my services as affordable as possible. My business is about dealing with people and I want to make my clients happy. That’s one of the reasons I love this job,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Pamilla sees herself expanding her small business in the future and even being able to hire staff. “My goal for the future is to invest more and provide other party services like throne chairs, a variety of modern backdrop designs and to have my own party supplies business,” she added.
She advised that people wanting to start a small business should always ensure it surrounds something they love and are passionate about. “Find something you like, sharpen your skills, and advertise! Take advantage of all the available opportunities. Social media is one of those advantages. You even have the option to pay for ads on Facebook. You can do it once for people to know your business. You must be prepared to work hard and believe in yourself and your abilities,” she said.
The modern-day do-it woman, also teaches a Classic Balloons Décor class at the Humanitarian Mission in Port Mourant, Corentyne, sharing her skills with her community. “I gladly accepted because I believe in sharing our skills and even helping others to start a business. There is enough room for all of us to grow,” she stressed.
She also volunteers her time to decorate for graduations being held at the mission.
Cute Stuff can be found on Facebook @cutestuffbypamie. It has a pink and green logo with a butterfly.
