Debbieann Edwards (left), owner of Debbie’s Closet showing off one of her designs to a customer.
A young customer (left) being fitted in a pair of slippers made by Denise Thomas, co-owner of Caribbean Craft Creations at BMEX.
Budget makes things harder for entrepreneurs
Since the delivery of the Budget last Tuesday, local manufacturers have come to the realisation that the cost to continue manufacturing their products has risen significantly, however, smiles remained on the faces of entrepreneurs and the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre remained a hive of activity on the second day of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition (BMEX).
For persons such as Leandra Wilfred-Boyce, Co-owner of Healthy Kinks, whose products are made and sold in Barbados, the cost to manufacture her products which are formulated on the island, has risen significantly.
“Manufacturing our products here is going to be a little tighter. It’s up to a ten per cent increase that we might have in all and it might not work in our favour, so we have to see how it’ll work out in the future,” she said. However, despite the obvious increase to manufacture products, the majority of the entrepreneurs were confident in their product and in their repeat customers to keep their business’ running. Denise Thomas, Co-owner of Caribbean Craft Creations, told The Barbados Advocate that it would take a little adjusting to the new prices to manufacture their products once the additional costs from the budget are fully implemented. She noted that she was not worried as her plan was to find ways to increase the quality of their product.
“As long as the quality is good, you will always have your customers,” she said.
Many of the exhibitors at BMEX also expressed that the turnout of this year’s event has been significantly lower in comparison to previous BMEX events but were also quick to add that they were still excited to be a part of the exhibition.
Debbieann Edwards, owner of Debbie’s Closet, revealed that she has been a part of the exhibition for eight years and expressed that she was looking forward to seeing many of her customers.
“I usually get a positive response from being a part of the exhibition, so I’m hoping that this year, despite what is going on in the country that I get the same response,” she said.