Leroy Hendricks and Romario Hastings

Sep 11, 2022 News

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…partners on a mission to promote Guyana through ‘Lethem Exclusive Apparel’

“I think young entrepreneurs are the innovators, the creators and people who push for better shopping experience in Guyana. They also introduce products and services that are much needed but unknown to the Guyanese market.”

By Allyiah Allicock

Kaieteur News – Teamed up to help promote Guyana as a tourist destination through everyday apparels, are young entrepreneurs Leroy Hendricks and Romario Hastings, owners of ‘Lethem Exclusive Apparel’.

Lethem Exclusive Apparel, which has been making a name for itself in showcasing our country’s unique culture, was established in July 2021.

Twenty-eight-year-old Hendricks, who hails from Lethem, Region Nine, in a recent interview with this magazine said that prior to the launch, one of his earliest interests of starting the business came from travelling and seeing all kinds of souvenir tees.

“I thought to myself why don’t we have such in Guyana? The ones available at that time were not to my liking so I decided to do my own prints,” he shared.

Hendricks added that for years he contemplated how and when to start a business and, being away at that time, he needed a local business partner to help get things off the ground. Hence, the idea for a partnership.

His business partner, 27-year-old Hastings, who is an environmentalist, hails from the beautiful village of Kato in Region Eight. Hastings, who is a self-proclaimed cultural activist, is the current President of the Entrepreneurs Association for Sustainable Development (EASD) of which the business is a part of.

He told this magazine that he developed an affinity for visual arts from the years he spent at President’s College, which later morphed into graphic art after he acquired skills from Global Technology, a computer training school.

“Although I am mostly a self-taught graphic hobbyist, I am also into photography and it is a combination of these hobbies and cultural consciousness that led to my involvement in streetwear product development from designing, promoting and selling,” he explained.

With the duo’s deep passion and skills, they joined forces and together launched their very own apparel and clothing business.

Hendricks informed this publication, that the two main reasons they started this venture are: “To fill the need of indigenous representation and spread awareness in a contemporary way, and to promote Guyana as an upcoming tourism hub.”

Having been in business for over a year now, he said that the support and feedback they have received regarding their work has been encouraging. He explained that most of their customers are based in the Rupununi and Georgetown and now and then they would have some from other areas.

As it relates to challenges, the young man stated that some of this has to do with high prices, which they are required to pay for imported materials. “Since we started, the cost has been consistently increasing while we try to maintain quality and a price that is affordable to our customers. In addition, the suppliers have not been consistent which has been affecting our supply and volume of finished products,” he briefed.

Another key challenge, he pointed out, is the pandemic which has led to the lack of international ecommerce infrastructure which stymies their potential to access regional and global markets. “Under the pandemic conditions, where online transactions and business became normalized, it was still below optimum,” he added.

What aided in boosting their business, according to Hendricks, was a grant they received from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport under the ‘Creative Grants initiative which afforded them the chance to further build the brand and increase their stocks and presence.

Currently, their operation is doing well despite the prevailing challenges. Hendricks said, “As we continue to build a Guyanese brand, we hope to have locations across the country, expand into the Caribbean and North America.” Presently, he said they have two locations one in Georgetown, at Au Moyeu, located at Lot 16 North Road between Camp and Wellington Streets and the other in the Rupununi at the Visit Rupununi’s Office at the airport.

With plans to establish their own location in Lethem, the young man said their long-term goal is to use the business to bring awareness to the Guyanese indigenous culture and to promote Guyana as a tourist destination through the production of creative apparels.

“We hope to introduce more products such as caps, tote bags, hoodies and more once the business continues to grow and to provide meaningful employment to youths in our communities,” he added.

Hendricks is of the firm belief that entrepreneurial-minded young people in society help to bring new ideas to light. “I think young entrepreneurs are the innovators, the creators and people who push for better shopping experience in Guyana. They also introduce products and services that are much needed but unknown to the Guyanese market,” he asserted.

Further, to help boost young entrepreneurs and small businesses in the country, he recommended, “…some sort of tax exemptions because by the time the materials arrive here, it is almost double the original price, only large companies enjoy those benefits.”

Other suggestions he mentioned that can help boost businesses are for the relevant authorities to create renting spaces that are price friendly, and for the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to institute incentives and packages favourable for the small business sector.

Persons desirous of making a purchase from ‘Lethem Exclusive Apparel’ can reach out to its owners via telephone number (592) 618-2740 or check them out at their two locations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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