Déco Baz : Discovering the world of papers

With her imagination and creativity, Sarah Coowar, 19 years old, has taken crafting to another level. Passionate, suave and a hard worker, she has innovated when it comes to decorations. Born an entrepreneur, she makes us discover the world of papers and decorations. 

Her artistic adventure started back when she was just 16 years old. Considered as highly talented by her surroundings, Sarah decided to pursue her passion for decorations. Encouraged by her friends, she decided to create a Facebook page to earn a little money for her school days and also to improve on her creations. Deco Baz was created on 25 October 2015 and will soon celebrate its two years.

“Although at first I was very apprehensive because of my young age, it quickly became my strength. Proving that even young people can take initiatives has been my new goal. I made a lot of mistakes in my early days and it still happens now and then. But these mistakes allowed me to progress.”

During her last year of college, she juggled between orders and revisions. In addition, for almost three months, she opened a craft workshop, especially for children every Saturday in Beau Bassin. While Deco Baz comprises all that is deco for events such as birthdays, weddings or even child naming ceremony, Deco Baz-nou ti baz invites the children to talk about their creativity while networking with other people,” she reveals. 

In addition, the entrepreneurial world has always fascinated her. “Knowing how to manage your own company at 16 years old with all the responsibilities that follow, such as doing the accounts, the budget or even the marketing helped me a lot to grow.”

The idea of creating Deco Baz was a personal challenge for her. During her college days, she was lost because she could not find an area which she liked. “When I first started decorating for my own pleasure and family celebrations, my friends convinced me that I could promote my talent. As for the children’s workshop, I always liked to spend time with the children.”

The decoration market

The target market of Deco Baz is mainly for mothers. “Most of the time, my clients are largely women. The particularity of Deco Baz is that it adapts to all types of customers. So, I always try giving a little extra so that they can see for themselves that once the decoration is done, it is beyond their expectations. Each decor is unique. I do everything in my capacity to adapt the decoration to the desires of my clients.”

The specialty of Deco Baz is that she chooses the products according to the desires of her customers but also many based on recycled objects. “With the level of pollution reaching new heights nowadays, it is important that Mauritians become aware that all these objects that they consider futile can improve their daily lives. For example, the shell-based decor picked up on the beach or decorated wine bottles.”

She adds that when a party is themed a movie, it is important for her to see it before starting her research for decorations. “It is difficult to satisfy the customer if we do not understand the universe he is looking for.”

She explains that as a young, start-up entrepreneur, it was difficult for her to provide for quotation. “When you start in the business, especially at a very young age, it is difficult to know what your product is worth. We have not yet established ourselves or a clientele, so we tend to sell the products at the lowest price.

The first year, I incurred losses, but it taught me to better manage my quotations today. I proceed differently, that is to say, I make the models for decoration myself during my free time in order to evaluate my handmade cost and the prices of my materials.”

Future projects

This time for the end of year project, Deco Baz workshop is including both teenagers and adults, where they will learn how to make dream catchers or they can come and buy their "home-made" Christmas decorations by Deco Baz. “In the meantime, Deco Baz nou ti baz will be running Christmas workshops for children throughout the month of November and December. Since it will be vacation time, we will also offer special holiday’s sessions.” The workshops cost Rs 250 and are held on Saturdays as from 13h to 15h.