Introducing Lasting Memories Designs by Ava Palacio

Ava Palacio

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on, many families are struggling to make ends meet. Tens of thousands across the country and across several industries have lost their jobs. Thousands of them are relying on the government to help them through the COVID-19 pandemic. One person who is not is Belize City resident Ava Palacio.  Palacio worked in the tourism sector before she was laid off earlier this year.  Since then, Palacio has been working on creating her own business.  She armed herself with a printer, silhouette machine, and heat press machine and began making picture key holders, sanitizer key holders, t-shirts and many other products that can be personalized. Her business venture is called Lasting Memories Designs.

Ava Palacio, Lasting Memories Designs

“I use to work in the tourism industry and as you know the tourism industry is no longer so I was without a job. So instead on depending on the government, I decided to create my own business and do my own thing to have an income because I also go to school so I had to pay for school., I had to come up with something very fast.  First, we have the double sided picture key holders. It is very cheap and durable. That is for five dollars. Then we have the laminated five picture one so you get a cover photo and five picture of your choice and that is for ten dollars. We also have the hand sanitizer key holders. We customize that your liking and whatever color you want and that is for six dollars. We also do the bundle of key holders. SO we have the hand sanitizers, the lip gloss, medal of tour choice and double sided key holders and that is for twenty dollars. We also have the shirts. Our shirts are for twenty five dollars and we have mask for ten dollars.  I learned that you have to use whatever is around you to get ahead and to survive. So you don’t have to have a lot of money to start your small business. You can just come up with an idea and run with it or you will never know what the outcome will be. So I encourage young people even the adults out there who have to provide for their family, don’t be afraid to take that step and go ahead with your idea.”