A young woman’s blossoming business

Located on the ground floor of Palace De Leon is the aesthetically captivating boutique named Lavender Creations. This little establishment is interesting with its custom-made cups, crocs, bumper stickers and one-of-a-kind t-shirts.

But the story behind it, and the impressive 18-year-old woman that owns it, is just as interesting. Lavender Creations began sometime during 2020. As the owner states, its first product was made entirely out of boredom. “I didn’t want to open a business at first. I started this business four years ago, when I was fourteen. It wasn’t me wanting to open a business. But I love doing creative stuff,” Sharecia Moore said.

Sharecia expressed how, after her first product, a hand-sewn bonnet, was made. The proprietor says it opened doors for her creativity. Lavender Creations’ biggest supporter base from the get-go was her family. They were the ones who bought her first products encouraged others to and believe in the young entrepreneur.

Sharecia was just a fourteen-year-old stuck at home from school sometime in 2020 due to the pandemic. Sharecia stated that at that age, she didn’t want to create a business, she simply wanted something to do. “I was bored at home during COVID and I just tried sewing something. And that’s how I started. I was going on YouTube and looking at headbands and different stuff like bonnets and scrunchies.”

Like many businesses born during quarantine, Sharecia’s Creation initially gained traction on social media, specifically Instagram. After she was flooded with various customer orders and requests, she turned to the support of her father. As she stated, “My father helped me buy a sewing machine because I hand-stitched the first ones. But for professionalism, I went and got the machine and the cloth.” She went on to talk about the days at school when she would have her mother buy things for the business while she at school and she and her father would venture out to make deliveries at night.

With the expansion in the capacity to create, Sharecia saw her creative abilities blossom. She began making more products and began thinking of new ideas. She stated that “I just love bringing this creativeness to things. When people come in, they would say this is so cute, but I like putting things together and putting it out there.”

The small business field, she says, although hard to break into at times, is still a very interesting experience. The young entrepreneur said, “It’s so amazing meeting other people in the field and going to expos, I just love it.” She emphasised that support for small businesses, by other small businesses, is vital to the development of all entrepreneurs in Guyana.

The name Lavender Creations, Sharecia says, has a very simple but deep meaning for her. As she stated, “My favourite flower and colour is lavender. So that’s where the lavender came from, and the creations, because I like creating.” Her love for making something out of nothing is also what pushed her to craft custom-made items based on what her customers what.

There are challenges in owning a business, but those issues were amplified for Sharecia. Today Sharecia’s is pursing a degree in business management and marketing. But she says in the early years, balancing school and business was not what she’d mastered. Sharecia shared that, “It was hard because I could do much investments. Because I was going to high school trying to focus on CXC, I didn’t have much capital. That was the hardest part, trying to figure what I can do with what I have.”

Sharecia often found herself being spread thin between get entrepreneurial endeavours and school. As she said, “Time management is another thing I struggled with. Although I looked out together in high school, coming to school with my orders in my bag. I really had to figure out time management and how to focus on school and the business. But as the years went by, I got better with my time, I grew the stocks and the capital. The hardest part was just getting started.”

On marketing and customer base, Sharecia says that clothing and custom-made items are what many people look forward to. “There are a lot of customers in the field in terms of clothing, that’s why I am expanding there. The customer base is there.” She went to share that, “There are glasses and tumblers that are plain right now, but you can have your name on it, flowers, anything you want.”

To other small business owners Sharecia emphasises the importance of hard work and being your authentic self. As she stated, “Even if you think it’s not going to kick off, because it is very slow in the beginning. Even if you don’t believe that is where it is going to go, even if you don’t see the vision yet; you just keep putting in the work. And just keep being a hundred percent you in your business and that’s going to take you a far way.”

Lavender Creations offers everything from delivery to custom-made bumper stickers. Sharecia, in describing Lavender Creations, calls it, “A business that brings stylish and unique products.” As for future plans, Sharecia shared, “I hope lavender creations will grow into being a very recognised brand not only in Guyana but in further afield.”