Young female entrepreneurs take advantage of annual pop-up shop

Scores of women-owned businesses are currently on display at the annual pop-up shop organized by Guyanese entrepreneur and fashion designer Sonia Noel.
The initiative is being held at the Tower Hotel Suites on Main Street, Georgetown from March 9 to 18, and will give the entrepreneurs much-needed exposure to reach and connect with new customers, while at the same time showcasing their unique products.

Apart from the actual exhibition, this year’s event will also feature a number of panel discussions, wellness talks, a fashion show, and a tea party.
Speaking with Guyana Times, some of these women shared how beneficial it has been to be part of the Sonia Noel Foundation. Owner of Magnificent Fragrances Scented Candles & Creative Crafts, Debbie Argyle, shared that her business was birthed through her passion for candle-making.
“I have a passion for candle-making and craft…I ventured [into] this candle-making because I see it’s a proper business now. Before… people never used to gravitate [to] candles, but it is a part of life spiritually, mentally, and physically. When you clean your home and light a candle…it gives you an enticed environment,” Argyle shared.
The owner of Simply Stunning Collection, Cristol Wray, related that her business sells hair accessories, which stemmed from her own love for pretty hair and her studies in clothing and textile during her secondary school life.

“I always had a thing for pretty hair stuff, so I would have started off with just the scrunchies, and after mastering the art of making the scrunchies, I decided why not launch off with some other products, and it (her business) just kept growing from there. Given the fact that my business is online-based, I do look forward to events like this, because it gives me the opportunity to connect with my customers face to face, and it also puts me in a good place to meet with sponsors, and even new customers and clients,” she explained.
Local artist Alyce Cameron, who was represented by her younger sister Joset Cameron, also had her work displayed in the pop-up shop. According to Joset, her talented sister has been doing art for a number of years.

“She can work with any kind of medium, including acrylic paint, pencil drawings… charcoal, she does leather work as well,” Joset shared.

She added that her sister, who graduated from the University of Guyana last year, had completed a series of drawings that she wishes to use to inspire young people to find pride and their identity through African spirituality.
“Each painting represents an orisha, and so her goal is to inspire young people to find pride and their identity through African spirituality,” Joset said on her sister’s behalf.
Fashion Icon Sonia Noel stated that, due to travel commitments, she was unable to have an expo this year. However, due to the many requests from business owners, she decided to do the pop-up shop.

She added that many businesses that were a part of her organization when she started have seen tremendous growth, and have ventured off into doing their own expos and events.
“A lot of those businesses have gone on to employ people. Had just one product, and now have close to 30 products in different supermarkets; so, we would have seen tremendous growth from those exhibitors. And a lot of them came in shy…even introducing themselves was a problem. So now, when I look at those women having interviews and interacting with people, it’s like when you have a child and you look at them and say, ‘Oh my God! My child has grown!’ And I’m so proud of them, that is the way I feel,” Noel expressed.