Eco Solutions is one of the hundreds of manifestations of the Guyanese women’s considerable creative imagination, largely reflected in the agro-processing, craft and furniture design sectors in Guyana. Their main significance, up to this time, resonates in the compassion that, over time, women have made a less significant contribution to those sectors than their male counterparts.
The owner and director of Eco Solutions is a prestigious but approachable woman called Ndibi Schwiers-Ceres, who previously worked as the Director of the local Department of the Environment. The company’s promotional catalog marches a number of striking pieces of furniture, tastefully put together, and ‘decorated’ with local natural fibers that give them finishes that are, at the same time, quaint and tastefully.
If their novelty and novelty mean that they have to take turns to be accepted on the local furniture market, in a metropolitan environment that is considered more accepting of novelty, the they are rated as world-class.
The short ‘write up’ on the internet on Eco Solutions describes the venture as “a woman handcrafted furniture production company.” Arguably, it’s more than that. To a large extent, it is the evolving manifestation of a mission that the company owner expresses in a language that seems to have its roots in beliefs that are more than a little mystical.
Realizing the results predicted by the creative imagination of designers depends on the skills of carpenters and weavers. After all, Eco Solutions seeks sponsorship for what can often be a cruel market. Eco Solutions was born in 2015 out of what the owner says was “a desire to respond to the global call for action on climate change through green business innovation.” The company’s focus on innovation, he says, is linked to transforming coastal aquatic plants in Guyana into decorative pieces of stylish pieces that reflect strong environmental sensitivities and are designed to enhance the atmosphere of homes, offices and business places. The essence of the marketability of Eco Solutions, says Ndibi, resonates in its “contemporary designs and local knowledge of our skilled craftsmen.” These, he said, have combined to “create unique pieces of furniture that are eco-friendly and elegant.”
Eco Solutions, says Ndibi, is committed to creating employment for vulnerable members of society, especially women, to drive social change and improve their livelihoods. In pursuing this mission, it seems to have been driven, determined that even if moving forward Eco Solutions is one step at a time, it only goes one direction to him.
He recently split a company with his job in the public sector to throw himself into what seems to be an obsession rather than just chasing a business that runs the mill. “Investment-related enterprises are of course entitled to forecast material returns. At the moment, however, my focus is on the impact our creations are having on growing the organization and generating much greater demand than it currently does, ”he said.
This year, the company’s focus is on raising awareness and demand for Eco Solutions’ work through carefully planned product displays starting in February. Inevitably, its focus conflicts with the ‘chills and changes’ in the behavior of the coronavirus pandemic which has cast a grand shadow over initiatives involving significant public gatherings. That, however, does not stop Ndibi.
Products like those offered by Eco Solutions have yet to capture a market that has always been primarily functional rather than fancy. Here, the challenge for Eco Solutions is to make a continuous pitch on what is still a thin and constantly growing market that is still generally considered a dwelling within a comfort zone financially wealthy locals and some of the handful of personalities that endanger the diplomatic community.
Part of Ndibi’s interview with Stabroek Business addressed a potential change in strategy to address considerations such as consumer affordability and create more modest but no less attractive pieces that could meet market affordability constraints. She is perfectly prepared to listen to what she considers a ‘season’ where she is determined to further popularize her work. “Ultimately, our expectation at Eco Solutions is that we not only make a profit but also that we can share the experience of what we create with the local and overseas markets. We believe that there is demand in the furniture market, both locally and internationally that comes from the natural fiber dimension to our creations and that will be a big part of the focus of our promotion push this year, ”Schwiers declared.
Eco Solutions’ operating base is in Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. The director can be reached at 612-0827 or [email protected].
Pieces of Ndibi’s creations will soon be part of the furnishing at the Pergola Stake House and Courtyard Mall Lounge, Robb Street, Georgetown.