NCF brings buyers in for export push

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) is cementing its commitment to working with entrepreneurs in the creative industries to help them extract the maximum revenue potential in their areas of enterprise through exports.

This has been outlined by Carol Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of the NCF, in her closing address to participants in the NCF’s Accelerate to Export Symposium and Buyers’ Visit.

Roberts’ remarks were delivered by Andre Hoyte, the NCF’s Senior Business Development Officer following two days of practical instruction and guidance from international buyers and other facilitators on how to best get their products and services exported to the region and across the globe.

NCF Senior Business Development Officer Andre Hoyte delivering his remarks.

Targeting entrepreneurs in the orange economy, the symposium focused on artisans in the home and accents, fashion and accessories, as well as the beauty, spa and wellness sector.

Day one of the symposium provided an important platform for the entrepreneurs to showcase their products to a select group of international buyers. They, in turn, helped the local creators to assess their products and how they were displayed, while also providing tips on how to grab buyers’ attention at trade shows and transition those leads into sales.

Buyer Mindy Silberg speaking with Carson Cumberbatch of Catoris Inc.

On day two, participants heard directly from those institutions and professionals involved in the export value chain. They included those involved in shipping, financial services, trade facilitators, business development specialists, as well as officials from New York NOW, one of North America’s largest biannual trade shows.

Helen Joffe of NY NOW sharing advice with Mark Daniel of Avark Inc.

In this connection, the NCF CEO stated: “Many of our programmes are based on providing creative businesses with access to markets with significant revenue generation potential. Therefore, our relationship with the NY NOW Rising Artisans Programme is strategic for positioning these businesses in global spaces.”

Roberts conceded that growing global audiences takes much work and required that local artisans have their products in global spaces.

According to the NCF boss, the cultural development agency was strategic in providing opportunities for these specific groups of cultural industries practitioners to “get a sample of the type of retailers you will want to engage with, for the benefit of your market development, and toward building relationships that can result in leads and orders”.

Among the other entities also providing guidance to the practitioners on how to get their products into the export market were Export Barbados, Sagicor Bank, and PriceWhirl Barbados.

Participants in the Accelerate to Export Symposium and Buyers’ Visit.

In their presentation, Frank Cox and Teddy Leon of shipping and logistics company PriceWhirl, said those operating in the sector should be proud of their contribution to the Barbados economy. Those impacts include increased job creation, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.

George Thomas, the CEO of Sagicor Bank who addressed participants, also confirmed the regional online bank will soon be facilitating ecommerce sales, as well as introducing a credit card.

The symposium was staged last year on November 4 and 5 at Hilton Barbados. (PR)