Craft-A-Holic making waves in local, international creative industries

By Shaniya Harding

NATASHA Profeiro is a woman with a flair for creativity. One year ago, she founded “Craft-A-Holic” which she believes stands out among similar businesses as a place to find personalised hand-made products.

“Craft-A-Holic specialises in individually made wood and resin pieces; mostly home decor pieces,” Profeiro outlined.

Her establishment is as unique as her custom made products, but with a different type of business comes a different host of challenges.

Her business depends largely on the preference of customers. She creates everything from keychains to t-shirts with whatever name, word or quote the customer requests. Adamant on facilitating her customers the best way she can, Profeiro offers delivery.

And as much as it aids her business, she says logistics is an issue she is facing. “I have a challenge with delivery. I offer delivery but it’s difficult. Most customers want the product within a day or two, but because they are handmade and then I need to deliver them, it doesn’t always work out,” she explained.

As a “one-womanshow,” Profeiro, like many other small business owners in Guyana, is having issues finding time to adequately market her products.

“It’s difficult for me to advertise and work. And to be on my phone and take pictures to post on social media is time consuming,” she said.

Looking at small businesses as a whole, the entrepreneur shed some light on areas that could be improved.

Profeiro told the Quarterly Magazine that more training for small business owners would be beneficial to everyone.

“I think we need help in marketing and finance and also in the way business owners approach their customers. We need training in customer service. I think we need to learn how to approach our customers because they are the ones we depend on,” she related.

On the topic of reception from the public, she said that