The Full Story
The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is encouraging corporate entities to purchase locally made products as Christmas gifts, in a bid to support business recovery and create sales opportunities for micro and small enterprises.
Through its Things Jamaican retail network, the Corporation has launched the ‘Buy to Build (B2B) – A Made in Jamaica Christmas’ campaign, connecting corporate buyers with local producers, including businesses recovering from the impact of Hurricane Melissa.
Chief Executive Officer, Daenia Ashpole, said the campaign provides companies with a convenient and trusted avenue to source high-quality Jamaican-made products for their annual corporate gifting needs.
“It’s simple: choose Jamaican-made products for your corporate gifts. Corporate Jamaica invests in gifting every year… so this is an opportunity to make that spending count locally,” she said.
The campaign comes as local producers work to restore operations and rebuild sales in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
While some businesses have resumed production, Ms. Ashpole noted that generating demand and securing orders remain critical components of their recovery efforts.
She pointed out that many Jamaican businesses, particularly micro and small enterprises, are closely tied to the livelihoods of their owners and families.
In the wake of the hurricane, some entrepreneurs were forced to divert resources from their businesses to repair their homes and support affected family members.
Ms. Ashpole said initiatives such as the campaign play an important role in the recovery process, helping businesses to restock, regain market access, and generate much-needed revenue.
The campaign complements broader business recovery efforts being spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce through the $500-million MSME Restoration Grant Programme, which is providing support to micro, small and self-employed entrepreneurs affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Manager of the JBDC’s Marketing Services Unit, Janine Fletcher-Taylor, said the hurricane’s impact has extended beyond businesses that sustained physical damage, noting that some producers have also lost customers whose operations, particularly within the tourism sector, were disrupted.
She noted that while financial assistance can help businesses restore infrastructure and resume production, sustained sales are essential for generating revenue, maintaining operations, and ensuring long-term viability.
“While grants can help to restore infrastructure and production, those efforts will be for naught without orders and sales. The most important thing is to get people trading, buying and selling again so they can earn, because that is the lifeblood of any business,” Mrs. Fletcher-Taylor emphasised.
The campaign features 25 Jamaican artisans operating in areas such as craft and woodwork, fine art and small crafts, ceramics and pottery, aromatherapy, and food and beverage production.
Products on offer include curated Jamaican gift collections, corporate tokens, engraved items, and personalised gifts tailored to corporate needs.
Companies interested in making purchases can visit the Things Jamaican website at www.thingsjamaicanshopping.com or stop by the Things Jamaican Corporate Store at 14 Camp Road, Kingston.
For additional information, they may call 876-928-5161.
Source: JIS
