Mr. Mathavious in his studio. Photo: Aneka Edwards/VINO

In a few years the designing aspect of his business will be handled by his nephews. Photo: VINO

The young professional artwork is visible on his family owned business. Photo: VINO.

Thirty year-old Cleteist A. Mathavious help manages his family owned business that has two branches, one on Virgin Gorda and the other on Tortola.  He still takes time out to use his skills of painting to snag work which allows him to emblazon shirts and other pieces of clothing with his unique signature style.

VINO caught up with the Young Professional at his small studio upstairs of Supa Valu, Road Town, where splatters of different paints were evident on his work board.

What started off as a hobby for him is now blossoming into a business that has the potential to ‘balloon’ in a few years.

“I used to design my own tee-shirts and my friends were impressed with the job and then they started asking me to design theirs. From then I ventured into designing shoes, decaling buildings and vehicles,” Mr.  Mathavious reminisced. “To be honest I love doing it, it brings out my creative juices.”

“I like trying new stuff. I started doing this as a business from 2006 and I have no regrets,” he added with a smile.

With him being in a managerial position in the family business Supa Valu, his expertise of course was taken into consideration and the Young Professional’s artwork is on the stores and the company’s vehicles. He also ‘designed signs for Groundworks, a landscaping company.

And while some of his clients request a certain design on their shirts, most trust his judgement to come up with something distinctive.

“My male clientele trust me because I can relate to them,” he stated. “Therefore, it is not hard to come up with a concept. I don’t think, I just do, if I think, it will take too long.”

Depending on what a customer needs the price can range from $25 to $60, he added.

Right now, the young businessman is currently designing shirts for the Poker Run which begins today Friday, May 27, 2011. Apart from that, he has designed shirts for Walkers and Equity Trust for the August Festival over the past two years.

When asked if he finds it a challenge to accomplish both jobs, Mr. Mathavious replied, “No. While they are different I love them both and they push me to excel. I love them both. If that was not the case it would have been a challenge.”

However, in another few years he’s optimistic that his designing business will be managed fully by his nephews, who have been working closely with him, so that he can focus solely on managing the VG branch of the family business.

At the moment, this Young Professional is the Warehouse Manager, a job he disclosed is very “hands on”.

He is responsible for ensuring all provisioning orders are fulfilled and taken to the right places. He also makes deliveries. Supa Valu is a small foodservice provider locally and family owned by his dad and siblings.

“Our mantra is to make sure that our customers are happy. I am also in marketing the flyers and signs,” he added. In addition to that, Mr. Mathavious does not have difficulties with his employees – to him they are part of the Supa Valu family.

The young Virgin Islander is the embodiment of a young man, who after a bit of a hiccup, has made his family proud. A product of Venetta’s Early Learning Centre, Meyers Primary and the now Elmore Stoutt High School, Mr. Mathavious was not afraid to admit he was a ‘slacker’ in High School.

According to him, he was in a crowd that did not take education too seriously.

“We just use to smack all day, and then we realised that day done gone and you did not do any work. But if you check my school reports all my teachers would say I was a bright student I just talk a lot,” he disclosed. “I thought as long as I was able to read and count I thought I was alright.”

To this end, his parents, Venetta and Roger Mathavious Sr, decided to send him overseas and enrolled him in the Mississippi Job Corp where the young man learned carpentry and welding.

When asked why he chose that field instead of studying Business or Management, the young professional divulged, “At that time I really did not know what I wanted to do. But I can safely say I like doing stuff with my hands, I am very crafty. And I am more a hands on person instead of being behind the desk.”

He added, “If I had to do it all over again I would have studied Business. However, I have two young children and I don’t want to leave my family like that. Right now I am pretty satisfied with my life.”

Mr. Mathavious married his long-time partner Keithleen in 2008. His daughters Chéla and Khala are eight and two respectively.

Describing himself as “cool”, Mr. Mathavious’ greatest joy is spending uninterrupted time with his family especially his daughters.

And as a young man with a bright future ahead of him, this week’s Young Professional advises young men to – “Try something constructive, master the art, do it and get paid for it”.