Women owned businesses were recently on show when the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security held its third annual (Women Empowering, Leading, Innovative, and Flourishing Together) WE LIFT: Women Empowerment expo at Movietowne on April 15 and 16. Guyana Media and Communication Academy interns Shaniya Harding, Tanacia Karim and Mia Anthony caught up with some of the exhibitors.
Twenty-eight-year-old Naressa Abrams, a medical technologist and owner of Abrams Authentic Products, said her business focuses on indigenous products. She shared that she was inspired to start her business as she recognised the need for quality authentic products by indigenous women. With a knack for presentation, the young entrepreneur said she had the advantage of having access to the needed resources and this fuelled her passion to fulfil the goal of preserving, showcasing and promoting the skills and talents of the indigenous people. It is her presentation and the taste of her products, Abrams believes, that set her apart from other businesses. Abrams noted that the need for expansion in her company is one of her main challenges but she has hope that soon she will be able to get her own agro processing facility to expand the brand and start producing more products.
It was Abrams’ first time at the expo and for her the interaction with other women owned businesses was the highlight of her experience. She believes such interactions can create the foundation for women to support each other and as a spin-off their businesses can flourish. Being part of the expo has seen her clientele grow and she now has the opportunity to export, which is a big deal for her. and while she was not able to take new products to the expo she shared that she intends to bring items such as pure honey and virgin coconut oil to her item line soon. She got the opportunity to showcase her most sought after product which is the cassava cassareep. Abrams Authentic products can be contacted on 592-678-9755.
Candacy Gravesande (left) and Rasheeda Yansen (right)
Candles made by the founders of Home and Body Essentials
Duo Candacy Gravesande and Rasaheeda Yensen teamed up to create Home and Body Essentials. Gravesande, who is employed with Grace Kennedy Remittance and Yansen, an employee of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), say they offer a wide range of candles and have recently added shampoos and conditioners to their line of products. The ‘candle girls’, as they are known, shared that the idea of the business came from their love of candles, since they enjoy the scents and the relaxation they felt after working all day in high intensity environments. They wanted their products to give their customers a sense of relief and calm soothing of the soul after long days of work. For the ‘candle girls’ their main goal in attending the event was to celebrate with other women in business and to holistically establish their brand. They said that instead of just sticking to candles they take great pride in being all-rounders by constantly evolving as a small business. They said this was crucial to them hence they were motivated to join the hundreds of women at the expo. They recalled seeing many familiar faces and she also increased their clientele with their social media presence growing substantially in the process. Their products have also been bought in bulk and resold and they also cater for any event. The duo noted that Minister of Education Priya Manickchand even purchased a batch of candles from them two weeks after they had displayed at a previous expo and they were very happy and excited about that. Staying ahead of trends in both of these industries is not easy but the women all agreed that with extensive research and consistent innovation and creativity they have managed to stay on top of their game. Without challenges, success is futile. When asked about some of those, Abrams and the ‘candle’ girls’ stated that the lack of capital was their main challenge and accessing that was hard but not impossible. They mentioned the option of the Small Business Bureau from which funds can be accessed. The ‘candle girls’ also mentioned the challenge of getting their products exported or placed on shelves in supermarkets. However, they are in the process of overcoming that hurdle. The women all agreed that the expo was a learning experience for them as they got to observe different marketing aesthetics used by other businesses and they learned about other avenues for revenue access to allow for business expansion. Essentials Home and Body can be contacted on 592-627-6339.
Seleina Fung showcasing her items at the expo
Seleina Fung is the owner of Selina’s Craft and Things and she said that her business primarily consists of handmade copper jewelry and headpieces. This businesswoman is quite familiar with the expo as she has attended all three. For her the experience of participating in the expo is amazing and it has had a very positive impact on her business. It has helped her to gain more followers and customers. She noted that it was great that the government was taking the initiative to empower women in business saying, “We need to be out there” and “Guyanese need to know what Guyanese have to offer.”
Kim Manbodh poses with others at the expo
Businesswoman Kim Manbodh, owner of Kim’s Cosmed Spa, had similar sentiments. Her business, which provides beauty services and organic products, is also no stranger to the expo with this being her second year. She said the expo experience was great. It was very interactive and helped her learn more about developing herself and her business. The exposure she gained from participating in the expo also helped her secure more customers and gain more popularity online. She, too, was happy with the government’s initiative and was glad she could be part of it. Both Manbodh and Fung said that they did not feel the underrepresentation in their field posed any issues for them personally. They both feel optimistic about the future of Guyanese women in business with Manbodh stating, “women, when given the opportunity, we can have a lot done.” Kim’s Cosmed Spa can be found at Kim’s Cosmed Spa on Facebook or and she can be contacted on 592-674-6841 while Seleina’s Craft and Things can be reached at Seleina’s Craft and Things on Facebook or on 592-609-1241.
Elon Alonzo with US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch at the expo
Elon Alonzo is the founder, owner and programmer of an online platform that creates learning courses called Sunbeam Career Development. Like other participants, she described her experience in a good light. She said, “It was good interacting with other persons and to bring visibility to women in business. It gave me an opportunity to talk to other people about the skills they have and wish to upgrade.” Further, she said, it was a very interesting experience, and she will certainly be participating next year. On the topic of impact, Alonzo believes the expo along with her marketing plan, gave her a lot of follow ups, queries and exposure and overall had an impact on Sunbeam Career Development. Her business can be reached at www.iamsunbeam.org.
Leisa Gibson displaying her products with the help of US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch
Another businesswoman at the expo was Leisa Gibson who is the owner of Leisa Salon and Beauty Supplies. She shared similar sentiments as Alonzo. Her business focuses on the manufacturing of hair and skin products and saw a positive impact after being in the expo. It was her second year at the event and she described her experience as “excellent’. She also stated she would definitely be going again. “[I] definitely benefited, and I started getting calls yesterday,” she shared, adding that she used the expo as a major marketing opportunity. She went on to say that people should capitalise on the hype of the expo to help improve their businesses. “I saw a number of women and it makes me feel good,” she said. Gibson can be contacted on 592-643-4363 or email address leisagibson@yahoo.com.
