We were lucky to catch up with Peta-Gay Watson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Peta-Gay, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I got the idea of starting Calm Decor Co in June 2021. At that time, I was really interested in home decor in general, however I was intrigued with the process of making unique scented candles, especially the ones that came in the ceramic jars.

Because of my “mini” obsession I went into deep research and letter realized that if I wanted to start a scent-based business in Jamaica I would need to import the jars for the business to be feasible. Here, I found another challenge, the cost of shipping and cost fees far outweighed any benefit of starting my business because the input and material cost were too much.

As such, I went into deep research again and this time it was more fruitful the other times, because I saw persons creating their own jars! Now, I am the type of person who passionately believes that if I learn and continuously practice a skill there is no way I will not be able to do it. From there I researched material, cost of creating an item, ensuring I can source the main raw materials locally and after gathering all that I thought I would need to create the first piece I jumped right into it with my YouTube teacher, of course. And it was a success!

I was beyond ecstatic, I called all my friends and loved ones to show them my new creating and it was well received. From there in my mind, I became invincible, I attempted big and more complex vases. Ones that I found novel to the Jamaican market, and I ran with it. The more I created the more I failed and the more I tried again, changing, measuring, and reattempting until one day I realized that I had gotten to the point where there were more successes than failures.

The Calm Decor Co that I had envisioned changed in the most exciting and artistic way. For me, the world of creating home and office decor pieces had a space in it for me.

From then I applied for the second cohort of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in 2022 with Calm Decor Co as my business idea and I was successful. Over the course of the next six months, I refined my business plan, met other likeminded women, was shortlisted as a finalist in the business pitch, completed the business pitch and won seed funding. I later strategically invested into my business and officially launched the Calm Decor Co in 2023. However, I was making private bulk sales from 2022.

Peta-Gay, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name Peta-Gay Watson and I am an Auditor, Entrepreneur, Podcast Host, and Fitness Enthusiast. I graduated from the University of the West Indies, in 2020 with a BSc. Banking and Finance and Economics (Honours.). However, even though my background is in Finance, my passion lies in Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy. Over the last five (8) years, I’ve engaged in various entrepreneurship training sessions and pitch competitions such as DIA Lab Jamaica, Trust for the Americas where I was a two-time winner of the Entrepreneurship Competition (2018 and 2021), UWI Mona Guild Entrepreneurship Competition – where I was Second Place (2020), and Business Pitch Winner for Academy for Women’s Empowerment (AWE) with USA Embassy (August 2022 to November 2022).

I was the Youth Parliamentarian for Southwest St. Andrew Youth Club and now a Youth Parliamentarian Alumni, Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador, and Past Deputy Vice President of Communications and Internal Relations for UWISTAT, and now a UWISTAT Alumni.

In my leisure time enjoy working out, exploring other cultures, and reading. My aim is to become a serial entrepreneur and an Angel investor. However, for now, I am the Founder and CEO of Calm Décor Co. A luxury home and office décor business that specializes in creating elegant and artistic center pieces.

We currently create unique home and office vases, trinket trays, jewelry jars, ring jars, scented candles, aesthetic candles, plant pots, soap dishes, and trays. Each piece we create is to allow our clients to express their individuality within their most sacred space (their home) and their second most visited space (their office).

The thing that I am most proud of is turning my idea into a profitable business and seeing all my clients excitement for the products that I have created.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was really interested in home decor in general, however I was intrigued with the process of making unique scented candles, especially the ones that came in the ceramic jars.

Due to my interest in this process, I went into deep research and letter realized that if I wanted to start a scent-based business in Jamaica I would need to import the jars for the business to be feasible. Here, I found another challenge, the cost of shipping and cost fees far outweighed any benefit of starting my business because the input and material cost would have made the Calm Decor a passion project instead of a profitable business.

As such, I went into deep research again and this time it was more fruitful the other times, because I saw persons creating their own jars! Now, I am the type of person who passionately believes that if I learn and continuously practice a skill there is no way I will not be able to do it. From there I researched material, cost of creating an item, ensuring I can source the main raw materials locally and after gathering all that I thought I would need to create the first piece I jumped right into it with my YouTube teacher, of course. And it was a success!

Had I not taken the chance to bridge the learning curve gap and become resourceful, Calm would have probably still been an idea. What I’ve learned over the years in business is that not only is it important to have an idea, as an entrepreneur you have to be flexible. The path to success will never be a straight line, however, if you are able to adapt to you current starting point and still forge ahead, maybe you will end up at a place that not even your wildest imagination could have conjured.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I come from a background where most of the persons around me seem to just accept the status quo. Living life can most times be a challenge, and when the stress of life presses you down, you might just fold because giving up is often easier that chancing an elusive dream. However, for me, I have always been a dreamer.

I often ask myself when I was younger, if I am willing to do what others are not, can I change my fate?

I grew up below the poverty line and I am happy I did. When I was younger, I always wished to be saved from the constantly struggle and I embodied the statement “all my life I have had to fight”. However, that fight made me resourceful, if I cannot buy something then I will make it, if I cannot do something then I will learn how to do it. Because of this mindset, not matter the challenge I can overcome it and I embodied the word resilience.

It takes grit to be a dreamer and dreamers with resilience makes the perfect entrepreneur. When I started Calm Decor Co, I did not look at it for what it is, which a small business in Jamaica. I looked at it for what it can become, an international sensation in the next 10 to 20 years and if I am lucky enough it will happen even faster.

Now when I ask myself, if I am willing to do what others are not, can I change my fate? My answer is yes, I can, and I did.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.calmdecorco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calmdecorco/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petawatsom/