Avn Fullwood
“Buck Ups” Makes Good Business
Entrepreneurship is a game of chance. In
trying to solve our own problems, we
sometimes help others solve their own.
This truth forms the premise of 28-year-
old Avn Fullwood’s successful journey as
owner of Cut Right Designs. Avn comes from a family of entrepreneurs. It is,
therefore, no surprise that she entered the world of
entrepreneurship almost 3 years after graduating
from the University of Technology (UTECH). Fully
Covered, her event planning company, was where she
began.
Why Cut Right Designs? What products do you sell?
I often need monograms for the events I
plan. However, I could not find a company
that created monograms and decorative
signs on a small scale. The larger
companies ignored me because my
business was too small.
For every problem, there is a solution. I
dabbled
with
a
few
materials
and
discovered that I could use PVC to make
beautiful decorative signs. This led to me
thinking, “Could there be other event
planners who need these types of signs?”
The only way to find the answer was to
advertise. I posted a few pictures of the
signs I created and simply asked if anyone
would be interested in purchasing similar
signs.
The only way to find the answer was to
advertise. I posted a few pictures of the
signs I created and simply asked if anyone
would be interested in purchasing similar
signs.
Surprisingly, there was a resoundly
positive response; so many people (not
only event planners) were looking for this
product but did not know where to find it
in Jamaica. Filling this need led to the
creation of Cut Right Designs. The
company is almost 2 years old and it
continues to grow each day.
Monograms from PVC
Custom wood signs
Signs for special events (baby showers,
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and so on)
Large foam letters for corporate or personal
events in any desired color
Logo boards
Customized signs that cover any request
If you were to describe your
business in one word, what
would that word be and why?
Innovative. I believe that Cut Right Designs is
presently the only Jamaican company that o�ers
personalized decorative signs using a mixture of PVC
and wood. For instance, customers could not go to a
large signage company and request a personalized 12
by 12 cut out 3 dimensional note for their mothers.
How did you handle the
transition from full-time
employment to
entrepreneurship?
It was rough initially. Having a slow month does not
mean that the bills vanish. My family has been very
supportive with helping me get things done with the
business. The best advice I can give is to ensure that
you can cover your expenses before jumping into
full-time entrepreneurship.
Don’t dive in head-first. A plan is necessary to ensure
that you will be financially secure. It is hard to pick
yourself back up when you hit rock bottom.
Issue �: July ����
I caught up with Avn recently to learn more
about how Cut Right Designs became a part
of her Fully Covered Brand. Her story
underscores the fact that an eye for a market
need, coupled with strong business savvy,
creates a successful entrepreneur.
What has been your biggest
challenge as an
entrepreneur so far?
It is also challenging to find the right
investors and mentors. I know that these
people exist but finding them is challenging.
There are a lot of people who start a small
business but do not know the first step to
take to get things together and grow
successfully in Jamaica.
There is no clear guidance about the steps
that should be taken at each step of the
growth process. The Jamaica Business
Development Corporation (JBDC) is great.
I have attended some of their workshops and
the information they have provided has been
helpful. However, small business owners still
need more.
What tips would you give
to people hoping to become
entrepreneurs?
1. It is easy to become intimidated by other
companies in your niche doing the same
thing as you. Inevitably, this will happen
when there is a market for your product or
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