Aspiring Marine Biologist behind ‘Coriolis’ …aims to create jewellery that inspires keeping our beaches clean

Jun 05, 2022 News

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>>Young Entrepreneur On The Move<<

“I think that young entrepreneurs are stepping out with more creative ideas than ever before, and that they have the drive to help in the development of our different local sectors. Additionally, they serve as inspiration for even younger creatives and can help to boost confidence.”

By Allyiah Allicock

Kaieteur News – Looking to raise awareness about the importance of keeping our beaches clean and the impact of littering on marine life, are just two of the reasons that prompted 22-year-old Zoya Samaroo to open up her own business. Her business, which is called ‘Coriolis’, offers a wide range of unique jewellery made from sea glasses that were extracted from our local beaches. It was launched back in 2020 just before the brunt of the pandemic was unleashed here. Samaroo, during an interview with Kaieteur News, recalled that as a young girl growing up, she was always interested in everything nature and the environment. “As a child, my parents guided my love for nature and the environment by always ensuring that I spent lots of time outdoors and watched as many National Geographic programmes as possible,” she related. This, she mentioned, resulted in her fascination with the ocean and the treasures that would wash ashore. “During my many trips to the beach, I began collecting pieces of sea glass and keeping them in a jar at home. After a lot of collecting, I decided to find something to do with these ‘jewels’, and that is where my journey in jewellery making began,” Samaroo said.

After making pieces as a hobby, she was encouraged by her family and friends to have her own business venture to expose her work to potential customers. “While initially, I viewed it as a fun way to earn passive income, I now focus my efforts on raising awareness about the importance of beach cleanups and the impact of littering on marine life.
I use little to no plastic in my products, packaging or purchases, in an effort to make my business as eco-friendly as possible and, with every piece that I make or sell, I try my best to remind customers that I’m not only up-cycling, but also cleaning up the beach,” she pointed out. Samaroo, who now co-owns the business with her younger sister, Analise Samaroo, is on a mission to make consumers be more conscious of their actions, and the fact that small actions can create large ripples in our environment. When she decided to go into business, Samaroo recalled that her loved ones had always been firm supporters of her work. They, she mentioned, had guided her along the way, from the very beginning. “I started out the business on my own, but eventually my younger sister stepped in to help me manage my finances and technical aspects. We now work hand in hand to ensure everything runs smoothly and everyone is kept happy,” she noted. Besides the support from persons close to her, Samaroo stated that she was overwhelmed by the positive support she received from the artistic community in the country. Through them, she mentioned, she was able to learn “tons of tips and tricks” on how to go about with her operation.

At the initial stage of business though, Samaroo shared that there were quite a few things that affected her, but these she managed to overcome. One was the sourcing of materials in order to make her craft. At the time, she recounted, there were not many local stores that provided raw material for small scale jewellery-making and this made online shopping a necessity for her. “Not being able to see the quality of material before purchasing is one of the issues that I face and often times I pay for one item and receive something substandard such as wire that tarnishes, or chains that are fragile. It is, however, a process of trial and error, and my business is constantly ‘updating’ in order to ensure that my customers can receive quality products,” she said. Another challenge was time management. Not only is she an entrepreneur, but Samaroo is also pursuing studies to become a marine biologist.To keep things balanced, the young woman highlighted that she has settled into a stable routine that allows her to do both without any interference. In moving forward with her business, Samaroo indicated that she is looking to expand her operation, to have a physical location to reach the demands of her clients: “With the main goal being to design pieces that will promote a sustainable earth while leaving customers with a feeling of satisfaction in contributing to a cleaner, greener environment.” Further, when asked what responsibility young entrepreneurs have in our society, she said they have what it takes to take development to the next level in Guyana. “I think that young entrepreneurs are stepping out with more creative ideas than ever before, and that they have the drive to help in the development of our different local sectors. Additionally, they serve as inspiration for even younger creatives and can help to boost confidence,” she disclosed. Our featured entrepreneur suggested that to boost small businesses locally, relevant authorities should continue to host more exhibitions and forums that would expose businesses to larger markets. This, Samaroo noted, can lead to investment opportunities and ultimately, business growth. Persons can reach out to Samaroo on Facebook at coriolisdesigns or on Instagram @_coriolis_.

 

 

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