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Sep 11, 2022 News
…forging smiles and memories in Berbice
By Malisa Playter-Harry
Kaieteur News – Starting a business is undoubtedly one of the biggest risks anyone can take, especially when you have no idea if it will be a huge success or a massive flop. As such, when Rihanna Ameir-Leitch of Liverpool Village, Corentyne, Berbice played around with the idea of starting her own business in 2021, she had no idea the trail of success that would follow her one year later.
The 32-year-old young woman, who is a wife and mother of two, is currently making her mark with a business venture called ‘The Perfect Parcel’. With each parcel of fresh flowers, edibles, cute gift items and more offered, she brings a modern touch to ‘gift giving’ for any occasion.
When Rihanna, also known as Riri, started her business, it was a passion and dream being brought to life. Of course, it all materialised after she prayed and pondered on it for some time. With the help of her husband Randy Leitch, financing to get the business up and running was not an issue.
“I started it on January 8, 2021 and I always had a passion for having a gift shop where people can always come and pick up a ready-made gift because at one point, I wished that I could just pass and pick up something or call somebody and say you know drop this here or there…”
She stated that her grandmother, who enjoyed knitting passed away in 2020, was among her few creative relatives that she was able to emulate.
“Floral arrangement, art and craft were always my things growing up. It started in school actually; I did home management…I grew up seeing my aunt and grandma doing knitting, making wall arrangements, floral arrangements at Christmas time and I think it kinda run in our blood and it’s something I always wanted to do.”
She added that when she was growing up, she loved fresh flowers, roses to be exact, but it was always so difficult to source these fresh flowers in Berbice since it was not popular or readily available for sale anywhere.
However, when 2021 came, despite the pandemic, she felt it was the right time.
She takes pride in putting together each parcel and depending on the customer’s taste and budget, these can be personalised to include balloons, fresh flowers, edibles, wine, cheese, perfumes or any other item requested.
“From time to time, customers would ask what I have so then I would show them but they would choose what they want…” she explained.
Her fresh flowers are imported and the price for a ‘Perfect Parcel’ can start from $5000. Fresh roses start from $2000 while a bouquet of beautiful daisies is $1500.
What is even more interesting is the fact that Rihanna says she supports other small businesses by buying items from them to create her parcels.
“My parcel is about customising and personalising and I work with a budget. I love to work with a budget so I would know what to do,” she shared.
For the mother of two, starting the business was somewhat challenging since it did not guarantee that she would get a sale daily.
“Sometimes you tell yourself, it doesn’t make sense because you are not making much,” said Rihanna, who went on to note however, that the advantage was that she got to work from home with more time dedicated to herself, family and of course the business. With it solely based online, she opted to offer deliveries, at a small fee and this she found was quite effective; in essence e-commerce appears to be the way to go.
Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day and the Christmas season, she found to be the most fruitful as, according to her, “orders come in a lot” for her unique parcels. She also has regular customers from overseas who would order items to have it delivered to their significant other living here. The business, she said, has become popular with orders coming in from Rosignol, Region Five all the way to Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne, Berbice.
Rihanna said that having her own business grow and become successful in just over a year has empowered her so much so that she feels “so darn independent.”
She intimated that it is “truly a dream come through” to have a thriving business that helps to bring smiles to those she caters to.
Just recently, a parcel of fresh flowers was ordered from her and she had it delivered to a teacher while she was at work and, according to Rihanna, “she was in awe” because it made her feel extremely special. It is moments like these, she noted that inspire her to improve and expand her business to something even greater. “People like the idea of the whole surprise delivery,” she observed.
Rihanna says she has plans to open a physical gift shop in the future with the intention of always having fresh flowers and even more personalised parcels available. Later, she also hopes to include her own branded scented candles.
She advises those who are venturing into business or those who hope to do so in the future to first take their plans to God in prayer before working towards it implementation.
“Never give up,” is the advice she offers too since it was just this she had to embrace in order to see her business become a success story.
For persons looking for that amazing and unique gift, you can visit Rihanna’s business page on Instagram @ The Perfect Parcel 2021 and on Facebook: The Perfect Parcel https://www.facebook.com/theperfectparcel1.
You can also contact her via WhatsApp 625-9256 to place your order.
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