Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Valerie Veira says the late former Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honourable Edward Seaga will always be remembered as a visionary who founded the Things Jamaican™ brand 56 years ago.
Miss Veira says she is comforted by the fact that the JBDC honoured Mr. Seaga at the 55th-anniversary celebration of Things Jamaican™ held at the Devon House in Kingston on August 22, 2018. “We honoured him with a citation while he was alive and he was happy to deliver the keynote address and cut the ribbon for the new Things Jamaican™ Devon House Specialty Food Store. He was appropriately celebrated and thoroughly entertained. He will be missed but right now we are reminiscing on his immense contribution to Brand Jamaica and how pleased he was to see us carry it forward.
Entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries owe this visionary a huge debt of gratitude,” Miss Veira said. Miss Veira reflected on the history of the retail store chain noting “Mr. Seaga established Things Jamaican™ in 1963 to re-organize craft development in Jamaica, promote the craft sector through research, design and marketing of high quality Jamaican hand-made products for both the local and tourist markets and to operate as a commercially viable entity. Over the years, Things Jamaican™ has continued to revolutionize the retailing of authentic Jamaican made products.”
Entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries owe this visionary a huge debt of gratitude,” Miss Veira said. Miss Veira reflected on the history of the retail store chain noting “Mr. Seaga established Things Jamaican™ in 1963 to re-organize craft development in Jamaica, promote the craft sector through research, design and marketing of high quality Jamaican hand-made products for both the local and tourist markets and to operate as a commercially viable entity. Over the years, Things Jamaican™ has continued to revolutionize the retailing of authentic Jamaican made products.”
The JBDC was given the managerial responsibilities of the Things Jamaican™ brand in April 2001 by cabinet decision. “Today, under the management of the JBDC, the “new” Things Jamaican™ has stayed true to promoting craft development in Jamaica and to showcasing and retailing the best and highest quality gift and craft items. Promoting and building Brand Jamaica is our main aim. In light of the increased competition from foreign-made merchandise branded ‘Jamaica’ or ‘Made in Jamaica’, Things Jamaican™ stores retail exclusive authentic locally made products, primarily handmade by artisans using mainly local material,” she added.
Things Jamaican™ has established itself as one of the largest purchasers, distributors and promoters of authentic Jamaican products of the highest quality. It currently markets products on behalf of over 400 active suppliers islandwide through our chain of three (3) locations: Norman Manley International Airport, Devon House and JBDC Corporate.
