#Kingston, February 28, 2019 – Jamaica – It is said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This is true for entrepreneur Melissa Preddie, who has created a successful jewellery business by recycling plastic bottles.
It was
in 2012, after finding herself unemployed, that she thought of utilising the
empty containers, which she had saved over time, to create items that persons
would love and, hopefully, purchase.
“I got
the idea to do some research and see what I could come up with. I started out making hair accessories, and
then the demand for jewellery started, so I diverted to jewellery and now I am
also doing art pieces,” Miss Preddie tells JIS
News. Out of ingenuity and creativity,
her business, Aviola Accessories, was born.
Through
the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Miss Preddie received a
$60,000 grant, which she used to purchase materials, tools and equipment to
start the jewellery line, and assistance to speed up production.
“I
later became an affiliate with the Social Development Commission (SDC), and
they helped with marketing and promotion. Whenever they would have outings in
the Mandeville community where I am from, they would call me and I would go and
set up (displays), so that persons could see what innovative ideas can come
from just about anything,” Miss Preddie tells JIS News.
Through
the SDC’s Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), she also benefited
from a $50,000 grant and was able to grow her business even more. She moved Aviola Accessories from Manchester
to St. Andrew to better serve the growing customer base in the Corporate Area.
SDC
Local Economic Development Coordinator for the parishes of Manchester and St.
Elizabeth, Damian Lowe, says Aviola Accessories was among enterprises that
received business development coaching. He
says that the small business stood out because “here is a young person taking
up the mantle of not only looking about a business but caring for the
environment”.
“Therefore,
we wanted to be a part of this journey, through our Local Economic Development
Support Programme,” he tells JIS News.
Aviola
Accessories is now an LEDSP ambassador, and Miss Preddie will be sharing her
story and experience in a more organsied and meaningful way to other aspiring
business owners or persons, who are just starting a business.
“We
are going to create a platform for a bigger buzz around Aviola Accessories, so
that a greater audience can be reached, but also so that she can give back,”
Mr. Lowe says.
Miss
Preddie says being an LEDSP ambassador “is a wonderful feeling. I was ecstatic
when I was told. It is a feeling of accomplishment at the same time, because
when I started Aviola I didn’t foresee any of this happening, so to be chosen is
really humbling”.
Aviola
Accessories’ intricate jewellery, including earrings, bracelets, necklaces and
rings, which can be customised, and art pieces, can be viewed on the business’
Facebook and Instagram pages under the same name.
Over
the years, the company’s clientele has grown from women, who love jewellery and
art, to now include men and anyone interested in environmentally friendly
items.
“I use
the plastic bottles to make faux stones for the jewelry,” Ms. Preddie explains
to JIS News.
She
notes that “four years ago it was a challenge to convert buyers and sell the
idea to them to buy sustainable and recyclable as opposed to buying precious
stones. Fast forward to now, persons are now gravitating towards eco-friendly products.
They are going green and it’s not just a thing, it’s a lifestyle. That is what
my brand now promotes through its core values of lifestyle, environment and
empowerment”.
Aviola
Accessories also has corporate customers, including the Jamaica Manufacturers
and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) for which it created a line of penholders utilsing
plastic bottles and wood, and Couples Resorts, for which the business will be manufacturing
eco-friendly jewellery in 2019.
With
no formal training in jewellery-making, Miss Preddie attributes her creativity
to her late parents and grandmother. It was after her father’s passing that she
learned of his own creative skills in upcycling glass bottles to create
lanterns. She pays homage to them
through her brand, Aviola, which is an amalgam of all their names.
As Miss
Preddie looks to expand her business, she is hoping to carve out a niche in the
corporate gifts and home décor markets. She
also wants Aviola Accessories to be seen as an environmental advocate.
“We
want to move to the point where we are partnering with local, like-minded
organisations such as the Jamaica Environment Trust to push the awareness of
recycling to another level. We see
ourselves as advocates for recycling, not just locally but overseas. We want to make people aware that even though
there are other options, sustainability is the way to go because we have to
preserve our environment in order for us to enjoy our planet earth that we love
so much,” she tells JIS News.
By Charnele Henry
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Aviola Accessories, Melissa Preddie, at a recent Social Development Commission (SDC) Farmers Fest in Mandeville, Manchester.