17 small businesses at TIE, thanks to NCF

Seventeen creative businesses are set to benefit from the experience gained in the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) business development programmes when they debut at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association’s Trade & Innovation EXPO (TIE) 2023. The 17 creatives will occupy a space themed: The NCF Pavilion.

TIE, formerly known as BMEX, takes place at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium this weekend from Friday, October 27^th to Sunday, October 29^th. The groups that received support from the NCF are: Hamilton’s Pottery Barbados, House of Ashanti-Remnant, Beyond Jewellery, Ayissa Textile Designs, Humming Bird Soap Studio, Mahogany & Sand, Sweet Island Scentsations, Handmade by Kae, Native Caribbean, Catherine Rocheford Designs, Sulit Collections, PM Xpressionz, Kimari Ranae Designs, Yendor LLC, Angelique Jewelry, Be Bold By Cee and Rachel Clement Sea Glass Jewelry.

Senior Business Development Officer, Andre Hoyte calls the occasion essential to the development of the businesses.

“It is essential for us to see the growth of our Barbadian businesses and the different stages they’re at. It’s also important for them to have these activities that will contribute to marketing and exposure which is necessary for them to build audiences. Once you build audiences, you can then build things like brand loyalty, and grow your customer base from that perspective. So, for all of those taking part we are hoping it serves them all very well,” he said.

For the past four years, the NCF’s Business Development Department, headed by Hoyte, has been engaged in a concerted effort to help participating businesses as they go to market.

The programmes of the department are focused on platforming businesses in local and global markets.

For example, last year the Accelerate to Export programme positioned artisans to go to global markets such as New York where they were able to attract much interest and orders for their products from retailers. Hence, the NCF intends to use TIE in much the same way; as an opportunity for the creative businesses with products to initiate potential business-to-business and/or business-to-customer relationships.

Overall, Hoyte is pleased with the work of the department and reiterated the Foundation’s intention to intensify its support of these and other creative businesses through the creation of additional opportunities through the Orange Economy hub.

In fact, as a part of the Accelerate to Market programme, a number of international buyers are expected to be present at a showcase to be held at the Barbados Hilton Hotel, Nedham’s Point, St. Michael on November 4^th and 5^th.

“[The international buyers] They will be checking out the products on display with the objective of possibly placing orders. In addition, two product consultants will be on the island to help the artisan businesses understand where they can place their products in the global market.

The senior business development department noted that more than 40 businesses have so far registered with the NCF to be part of that programme. (PR)