Businesses hopeful after successful ‘Everything Vincy Expo’

by Katherine Renton

The first ever “Everything Vincy Exposition” launched explosively on Independence Day, with the hopes of many local businesses riding on its success.

Forty businesses lined the halls of the former ET Joshua Airport and the outside of the building, to display their products to the Vincentian public and stand ready to answer questions on their businesses and provide samples of new products. All were eager to use the chance at awareness that they had been waiting for and which Invest SVG had finally provided for them.

SEARCHLIGHT, in speaking with the businesses at the exposition, heard from them what their thoughts on the exposition were and what they wished to achieve from the opportunity.

Many businesses, even though they were well established, had only one goal in mind – awareness. Bartholomew Quammie, the proprietor of Tubbs Art’s and Crafts, who uses banana waste to make art and has been running his business since 1985, stated that he wished for “Basically promotion. Getting my production in people ears, mouth, eyes and they be able to advertise me and to know what is happening.”

Others wished to educate the public about the products that St Vincent produces. Augustine ‘Sardo’ Sutherland, leader of the business Kalinago’s Essential Oils, stated that he wanted more people to know that St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) does produce essential oils.

He said he felt good that there was an expo which “helps people like me to bring out my product, so that local people will get to know or get to see what we produce here in St Vincent. Because a lot of people think…well essential oil don’t produce in St Vincent and this is top of the line essential oil.”

Nester Billingy, who sells plants as part of her ‘Mudula Propagation’ business, stated, “Well, I hoping from the expo that more people get to know the different herbs and they can use them, because some of them help with diseases and different medicinal herbs…even the youngest babe could drink a cat mint.”

Other businesses just wanted to sensitize a section of the public that they may not have reached before. Marketing manager of the East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) Rachel Haslam said, “for us it’s really just sensitizing the younger public, because we assume the older public know ECGC and its portfolio of products, but it’s really to sensitize the youth, for them to be aware and proud of all things Vincy.” She said recently, someone told her they were buying CariGold, their specialty flour made locally, without knowing that it was local.

“People don’t look at the fine print on packets.”

The businesses taking part were collectively encouraged by the patronage they received from the Vincentian public. Erica McIntosh of “Erica’s Country Style” products, most well known for their pepper sauce, stated, “I’m nicely surprised. I really am surprised. I’ve been here from 10 o’clock this morning and there have been a steady flow of people and questions.”

Quammie candidly expressed his feelings about the exposition, saying “I feel good because opportunity like these don’t come easy, so when it come I like to brutalize it.”