Guyanese Entrepreneur brings thriving business back home

Llewellyn Collymore, better known as Lou, is a Guyanese entrepreneur who has successfully established a shipping company in the United States of America (USA) with a local office in Guyana.

As a real estate agent, Collymore, originally from Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, got the break of his life when he migrated to the US with the help of his mother, a citizen.

Growing up, Collymore lived a comfortable but modest life and yearned for the opportunity to start his own small business.

His dream came true when he became an entrepreneur two years ago. After leaving his land of birth, he worked tirelessly to become independent.

Collymore relocated to the US in 2011 and worked as a real estate agent. However, this was not his true calling, as he had always aspired to start a shipping company.

With the rise of online shopping, Collymore recognised the frustrations many people face with shipping companies that charge exorbitant fees for international shipping. These experiences motivated him to create a better option for his customers.

Thus, Royal Caribbean Logistics was born—a shipping company that is fast, reliable, and affordable. It caters to Caribbean shipping, online shopping with mailbox services, door-to-door/drop-off services, and cargo consolidation.

The company offers express delivery and is headquartered at 11205 103rd Avenue, South Richmond Hill, New York, with a local office at Lot 37 Croal and Camp Streets, Georgetown, Guyana.

Collymore told the Pepperpot Magazine that he plans to launch a storefront shipping office in December to expand his business. He has already secured a building for this purpose.

“This project has been in the works for some time, and executing it is part of my vision to expand the business and have a visible presence in a prime US location,” he said.

Collymore explained that he wanted to do everything the correct and legal way, so he registered his business while juggling his full-time job as a real estate agent.

He added that, with only one source of income, it was not easy to save funds to establish a second business. However, through hard work and dedication—often working long hours—he made it happen.

“Since establishing Royal Caribbean Logistics, I have been blessed with support from both Guyana and the US. Loyal repeat customers have made the business financially viable and kept its doors open,” Collymore said.

He added that being self-employed is the best thing that has ever happened to him. It has allowed him to manage his small business while taking on serious financial responsibilities.

Collymore noted that managing a small business as a sole proprietor is not easy, but it has helped him grow as a person and taught him valuable lessons.

Despite challenges beyond his control, such as airline delays, bad weather, and other unforeseen events, Collymore told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has learned to accept what he cannot change and move forward.

“My shipping company offers a legal, safe, and reliable service. Even though I cannot predict certain challenges related to shipping, I’ve learned to work with the disadvantages,” he said.

“I always envisioned building a successful business in shipping, and my goal is to grow the company to be even bigger than some established shipping firms. I’m working toward that goal.”

Collymore remains focused on his dream and draws constant motivation and inspiration from the moral support of his family.

He also provides shipping services to Guyana, the Caribbean, and within the US, offering express shipping options for fast delivery at pocket-friendly prices.

Collymore said he is proud of his Guyanese roots, traditions, and upbringing, which have shaped him into a well-grounded, ambitious individual. Taking chances and investing in his own small business has taught him resilience and determination.

The 40-year-old entrepreneur believes having a vision is pointless without following through on projects and dreams. He encourages taking leaps of faith into business ventures, trusting that they will succeed and yield profits to sustain personal investment.