Lawanda Pillay always had a knack for craft and decorating so the founding of her business Hats Off Décor and Events – Topper Queen was perhaps a natural progression, although it did not quite happen that way.
Pillay was unemployed and stuck at home. While browsing the internet, she discovered Pinterest. She saw many fascinating images and knew with her flair for craft, she could make some of the very items and began doing so. And sure enough, there was interest and a market for it.
Pillay established the business in May 2015 and through it she began crafting gifts for the loved ones of her clients. That same year she participated in the Women in Business Expo as a way of getting exposure. It was at the expo that she met the first client, who contracted her to provide décor services. The job was to decorate the Marriott Hotel boardroom.
Prior to the opening of her business, she had done an interior decorating course through the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education – University of Guyana, following which she worked at Madewini Villas as an interior decorator. That experience helped her undertake the decorating of Marriott Hotel’s boardroom.
All gifts have to be ordered first as there is not a designated space to display readymade items. Once Pillay is finished designing the ordered pieces, customers either have to pick them up or she has them delivered. The entrepreneur noted that she is not yet where she wants to be and is working towards having a shop front, where persons can walk in and do their last-minute shopping.
At present, all of the crafting and most of the décor for events is done by Pillay alone. Sometimes she gets assistance from an older sister. There have been several occasions where she has had to contract others as an event was too big to be handled by herself and her sister. She cited a wedding at the Marriott Hotel as one such event.
Given the quality of work Pillay provides for her customers, she is unable to source all of her materials locally. She tries her best to source them in Guyana, but it can be exhausting driving from store to store through traffic trying to find the right materials. Shopping online, meanwhile, is a matter of clicking a few buttons and then driving to the shipping company to uplift. Pillay said that if she knows she can get items locally, she spends her money right here. But what matters to her more than anything is that she can deliver exactly what her customers have asked for and because she puts her best foot forward in doing so, she has seen returning customers.
Another challenge is customers who believe they should pay the same price of an item that was mass produced as one that she has handcrafted. However, she noted that this is not always an issue as most of her customers value the work and time put into her pieces.
As it relates to the pandemic and her business, the entrepreneur explained that the crisis did not affect her operations, since there is always a fluctuation in business.
During peak seasons, she can sometimes find herself working until 4 am. This can be strenuous since she also has the responsibilities that come with being a wife and mother. These days especially, it is a bit more difficult as she has to also homeschool her son. Nevertheless, she always manages to get it all done.
She recalled that at school, friends went to her with requests for help with assignments. At Easter every year, she and her siblings sat down with their father to make kites. In relation to kite making, the artisan said she did not have an option of whether she wanted to or not. It was expected of her and therefore it was not fun. Today, however, it is a memory she cherishes and she is grateful to have shared the experience with her father and siblings.
Father’s Day is usually a busy time for the business, although Christmas ranks the busiest. Mother’s Day is another occasion for gifts and this year, throw pillows were popular among clients.
Though it is two weeks away from Father’s Day, some items can be ordered up to a week in advance and be ready for delivery in time for that special day.
This Father’s Day, Hats Off Décor Events – Topper Queen has gift ideas, such as customised photo frames, key chains, beer mugs, mouse pads, puzzles that can be made from photos of fathers, and comfy throw pillows for fathers and grandfathers that come with sleek pockets where they can keep the remote control, their phones, their eye glasses and/or a chocolate bar.
Hats Off Décor & Events – Topper Queen can be contacted on Facebook and Pillay can also be reached at 651-4221.
