Celebrating the spirit of the Jamaican entrepreneur
A common complaint from local entrepreneurs is that it is extremely difficult to operate a business in Jamaica. However, business challenges are not limited to this country, as international statistics indicate that anywhere from one-third to one-half of new enterprises will fold within the first five years of operation. While […]
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Photo courtesy of BransonCentre.co I must confess that I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. I’ve always preferred the tang of tamarind balls to the sugary snacks that so many people seem to love. However, I am enjoying the sweet taste of success that Patria-Kaye Aarons, Sweetie Confectionery CEO has […]
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“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” – Dwight Eisenhower Many small entrepreneurs start their businesses as ‘one-man’ shops, taking on the responsibility for all the tasks required to keep the operation running. They are receptionists, product […]
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We previously introduced business owner David, whose trucking company was facing serious challenges. After losing a major client, David was tempted to give up on his entrepreneurial dream. In his darkest moment, however, he was encouraged by some business advice on the television. “Business success is about the three P’s: […]
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David’s head jerked at the insistent sound of the telephone ringing in his office. He hadn’t realised that he had fallen asleep at his desk until the call interrupted his late afternoon nap. For several months, sleep had eluded him during the night, and his body was trying to regain […]
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The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Tech-I Competition is an annual event for young science and technology innovators and entrepreneurs to compete with their ideas and start-ups in the sectors of Agriculture, Health, Energy, and Information Communication Technology in order to receive cash prizes and mentorship opportunities. Out […]
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Great news for young, innovative entrepreneurs in Jamaica! The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is holding a Global Entrepreneurship competition in conjunction with the US Department of State. This competition is the flagship program of the Global Innovation through Science and Technology Initiative and this year for […]
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One of the questions that potential business owners usually ask is “how can I make money doing what I love to do?” Very often, these optimistic entrepreneurs get discouraged when others declare that the activities they love to do can’t translate into dollars in the real world. Many people have […]
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A local research company, Balcostics Ltd., has recently completed a survey of some Jamaican Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to determine the answers to these questions: Who are Jamaica’s rising SMEs? (age, gender, education level, years in operation) What are the main challenges facing SMEs? What are the main reasons […]
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“I’m desperately seeking a way to turn around my business. I’ve run up a lot of debt in trying to promote a new product, but sales are not coming in fast enough to cover my repayments. I am confident that I’m about to make a breakthrough as more customers are accepting my […]
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Photo credit – Rasbert Turner, The Jamaica Gleaner I recently read a story in the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper about an enterprising man who turned an unused garden equipment into a business opportunity. Kevin Spence, a trained auto mechanic, converted a 15-horsepower riding lawn mower into a amusement ride for kids. […]
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A friend recently lamented to me about the collapse of his first entrepreneurial venture which left him down in debt instead of plush in profit. He was definitely taken aback when I cheerfully responded “Congratulations, welcome to the club!” I explained that having experienced this initial setback, he had successfully […]
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