Marcelle opens airport duty-free shop at Cheddi Jagan International Airport
Guyana Chronicle
March 22, 2004
MARCELLE'S Lapidary and Jewelry yesterday officially opened a new duty-free shop at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, offering a wide array of precious stones blended with gold jewelry.
The duty-free shop was declared open by former President Mrs. Janet Jagan during a brief ceremony.
The proprietor of the shop is Ms Marcelle Yhip, a gem cutter by profession who mines, cuts and polishes Guyana's precious stones. All the products sold there are locally made.
Ms. Yhip said the designing of the products is done by her mother, who is "more verse in the craft."
She has chosen the airport for the business not only for security reasons but also because it is one of the last places visitors to Guyana will see on their departure; and she is taking advantage that.
With the hope of more tourists coming to Guyana this could mean more business for this enterprise, she said. Ms. Yhip's target market is tourists, but she is also encouraging more local people to produce these jewelry and souvenir items.
The enterprise had been opened to customers two months prior to yesterday's opening and sales have been very good.
Ms. Yhip is hoping to open another shop later this year and also another branch somewhere in the Caribbean.
Ms. Yhip said the products are in demand.
More of these products will be launched later this year at GuyExpo 2004, at the Sophia Exhibition complex, Georgetown.
Precious stones with gold and diamond combined are among the new product lines that will be introduced there.
There would be many other variations, including the use of wood products and other natural mineral resources, she said.