Jamaica’s beauty and wellness industry is being positioned as one of the country’s next major engines of enterprise, export and industrial development, as stakeholders move to strengthen support for entrepreneurs operating in the sector.
That was the keynote message delivered by Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Harold Davis, at the Jamaica International Beauty Expo’s Beauty and Wellness Luncheon, held on Thursday, June 25, at the JBDC Incubator and Resource Centre in Kingston.
Addressing entrepreneurs, beauty professionals, business leaders and industry stakeholders, Davis said the sector must be viewed as more than products, salons and spa treatments. Instead, he said Jamaica has an opportunity to build a full industrial ecosystem around beauty and wellness, one that connects agriculture, manufacturing, packaging, branding, services, logistics, retail and export.
“When I hear the word beauty and wellness industry in Jamaica, I think of something much bigger. I think of entrepreneurs, I think about manufacturing, I think about farmers, I think about chemists and product development, I think about graphic designers and marketers, I think about logistics providers, I think about exporters, I think about digital entrepreneurs, and I think about jobs,” Davis said.
He pointed out that global demand for natural ingredients, authentic brands, wellness experiences and sustainable products has created a major opening for Jamaica, given the country’s access to ingredients such as castor oil, coconut, coffee, cocoa, pimento, turmeric, essential oils and medicinal plants.
“The world is searching for exactly what Jamaica already possesses,” he said, adding that the country’s greatest competitive advantage is found not only in its raw materials, but in “our entrepreneurs, our creativity and their resilience and their determination to build something meaningful.”
The JBDC is already investing in infrastructure to help entrepreneurs move from small-scale production to commercially viable businesses. The agency currently operates several incubators at its Incubator and Resource Centre, including the Essential Oils Incubator, Agro-Processing Incubator, Fashion Incubator and Artisans Hub. Davis also announced that the agency is in the final stages of construction of a Cosmeceuticals Incubator.
The planned facility is expected to support entrepreneurs producing items such as soaps, lotions, shampoos and other personal care products. A recent JBDC report noted that the agency is repurposing a 540-square-foot section of the IRC to house the cosmetic manufacturing incubator, with equipment to include mixing and blending systems, filling and bottling units, soap-processing tools, laboratory instruments and packaging equipment.
The incubator will build on the work of JBDC’s Essential Oils Incubator, strengthening the link between agriculture and manufacturing by encouraging the use of locally sourced ingredients in beauty and wellness products.
Davis said this kind of support is important because many entrepreneurs have strong technical ability but lack the structure needed to grow. He identified informality as one of the major barriers holding back the sector, noting that many business owners continue to operate without proper financial records, documented processes, strong brands, business systems or growth strategies.
“Too many talented entrepreneurs continue to operate business without operating them as business,” he said. “They possess exceptional technical skills. They formulate sometimes outstanding products. Even some provide world-class beauty products and services and build loyal clientele. Yet, many remain trapped in informality.”
According to Davis, this limits their ability to access financing, secure major retail contracts, attract investment and enter export markets. He stressed, however, that there is nothing wrong with starting small.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with starting your business as a side hustle,” he said. “But a side hustle should never become the destination.”
Through its suite of services, the JBDC supports entrepreneurs with business development, product development, formulation, packaging, branding, labelling compliance and market access. Entrepreneurs also benefit from access to Things Jamaican, the agency’s retail store chain, which provides an avenue for locally made products to reach consumers.
Davis said under the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC), the agency’s role is to help entrepreneurs move ‘from concept to market’ and ultimately build businesses that are competitive, innovative and globally relevant.
He also encouraged beauty and wellness entrepreneurs to think more boldly about innovation, noting that the future of the industry will depend on those who can identify unmet needs and solve problems differently. He pointed to opportunities in men’s grooming, products for seniors, athletes and children, tropical climate skincare, wellness tourism, personalised skincare and digital beauty services.
“Innovation is not simply about inventing a new product. Innovation is about solving problems differently,” Davis said.
He further urged entrepreneurs to look beyond Jamaica’s borders, noting that export is no longer limited to physical goods leaving a harbour. Beauty and wellness entrepreneurs, he said, can export products, services, expertise, brands and intellectual property.
“A Jamaican spa brand can establish locations throughout the Caribbean and beyond. A Jamaican hairstylist can train professionals across North America. A Jamaican aesthetician can deliver virtual consultations around the world. A Jamaican cosmetics company can become a recognised globally competitive brand,” he said.
Davis said Jamaica has the authenticity, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial talent needed to become a leading beauty and wellness economy.
“The business of beauty is no longer simply about helping people to look better,” he said. “It’s about building businesses that make Jamaica and the economy stronger. It’s about creating industries, creating employment and creating generational wealth.”
