VICTORIA, Seychelles — Lutra, the young Seychellois entrepreneur behind the House of Crafts brand, has spoken publicly about the journey that took her from a 14-year-old with no business background to the owner of a small but growing enterprise. Speaking in an interview, she said orders began to pour in once word spread about the quality of her handmade products.
Despite having no prior business experience, Lutra was determined to turn her creative interest into a viable venture. “She explained that as a 14-year-old, who had no background in business, she knew that it was not going to be an easy ride.” Her approach, she said, was to start small, listen closely to customers, and refine the product line in response to demand.
When asked about the challenges of running a small business in Seychelles, Lutra pointed to the high cost of raw materials, the difficulty of accessing finance, and the need to compete with imported goods. She credited social media and word of mouth with helping the brand reach a wider audience, and said she continues to invest in product development.
Lutra’s story has been held up by supporters of small enterprise as evidence of the potential of the creative industries in Seychelles. She joins a growing list of young Seychellois who have turned personal passion into formal businesses, often with the support of entrepreneurship programmes run by the government and non-governmental organisations.
