In Focus

ARE YOU BRAZIL READY?Read more, pg 2

You Are ReadingVol. 01 Issue. 08

May 31, 2013 Edition

SMART Marketing for SMEs

TECH SMART PRESS LAUNCH JULY 1.

BRAZIL TRADE MISSION

SEPTEMBER 14 - 21, 2013.

IMPORTANT DATES ADVERTISING OPTIONS UPCOMINGCALL 228-0162 TO BOOK YOUR ADVERTISEMENT

SPACE IN

1. THE BUSINESS LEAD,

2. ww.sba.org.bb

3. Be SME Smart Discount Booklet.

SPECIAL RATES FOR MEMBERS

REACH THE SBAHEAD OFFICE

1 Pelican Industrial Park,

Bridgetown, Barbados

Phone: (246) 228-0162

Fax: (246) 228-0613

Email: theoffice@sba.org.bbWebsite: www.sba.org.bb

The Small Business Association (SBA) members now have some innovative ways to help push their businesses starting July 2013. The SBA is in the process of producing three products which will be used to assist members in getting their messages out to the public at an affordable price.

The Business Lead, the SBA’s flagship publication will be printed in July and will offer both members and strategic business partners attractive advertising rates in an exciting and professionally designed publication.

It will feature a range of articles that are geared to enhance the business intelligence of members and the general public. These free publications will be distributed in hard copy and will also be available

for download from the SBA’s website.

The SME SMART Discount Booklet, the marketing powerhouse of the SBA

marketing arsenal is being redesigned and repositioned as a consumer discount publication. In the past the booklet was mainly used to offer discounts to members. However in light of the focus of Be SME Smart, the SBA thought now was the best time to widen the field and invite the general public to patronise local SMEs thereby supporting local entrepreneurs,

consume quality local goods and services and above help the local economy.

SBA’s Business Operations Manager, Ms. Andrea Taylor noted that one of the exciting features of the publication will be that all of the ads in the booklet will be available online for one year. “Members will have the opportunity to change the ad free of cost at least once per year” she added. The final gem in the trilogy is the revamping of the Association’s website which will be revealed on July 15, 2013. The site has been redesigned to provide more information to the general public, international donors and of course members.

Participants in the Walk the Talk programme will soon be able to post their Walk the Talk “mileage” online. A website has been set up to promote the Walk the Talk initiative which is a collaboration among the SBA, Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Barbados Employers C o n f e d e r a t i o n . The website will be used to promote walk activities, milestones, various facets of healthy living and above

all keep track of companies and individuals with the largest number of steps. Very soon information on prizes and other useful tips will be posted for participants. If you wish to have your information listed on the site please send an excel spreadsheet file to theoffice@sba.bb. You can also send photos of your various activities for the gallery. Until then, keep walking .

WALK THE TALK MOVING ONLINE

She went on to say that the SBA “recognised an increasing audience of persons seeking information for research purposes as well as tips on starting a business. Naturally as the premier SME advocate, we thought it was time to refresh our web presence and provide the information our audience was demanding”

Ms. Taylor stated also that “with the Tech SMART Website, programme we set about to give a web presence to 50 of our members, and with the proposed SME Smart Market Place we felt it was indeed necessary to convert the SBA’s site into a portal that could effectively highlight the members of the association”.

To date response has been extremely positive and members have been calling to secure their place in the publications and online. “No one wants to be left out”she added. SBA members who advertise across all three platforms will benefit from additional discounts and concessions. Non-members can also secure space in The Business Lead and on the SBA website by calling 228-0162 or emailing theoffice@sba.bb.

SBA Outlook Newsletter May 31, 2013

The SBA is currently examining its options with regard to a proposed trade mission to Brazil in September 2013. This is against the backdrop of a mandate from Cabinet in 2010 that Barbados should “seek to boost the exports in three Latin American countries”, including Costa Rica, Panama and Brazil. The SBA took part in the trade mission to Panama and Costa Rica and now all eyes have turned to Brazil. It is interesting to note that Brazil was the last stop on the six day tour for American Vice President Joe Biden after meeting with CARICOM heads in Trinidad on Tuesday May 28.

In Brazil Joe Biden noted that the country was no longer a developing nation but one that has developed and a powerhouse within Latin America. Brazil is the largest economic power in Lain America and the seventh largest

economy in the world and has a social programme that to date has lifted over 40 million people out of poverty into the middle class. It is the world’s largest producer of juice oranges and has well-developed

agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors. “Brazil’s exports include transportation equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, motor vehicles, concentrated orange juice, beef, and tropical hardwoods. Machinery, electrical and transportation equipment, chemical products, oil, and electronics are major imports”

But what does this translate to for Barbados and the SME sector?

Already Barbados has been making advances in tourism through GOL airlines. There are also possibilities for the trade of goods and services

particularly in the rum industry . Other industries that are being eyed for possible trade possibilities include music and culture, pharmaceuticals, ethanol, sauces and beer. Of course we need to first ascertain what are the standards that will be required by the Brazilian government before we can proceed. The Barbados government is therefore

looking to a possible trade mission between September 14 - 21,2013 to São Paulo . Funding for this mission will be a major issue but hopefully members of the SME community who have the wherewithal can take advantage of this.

Please contact the SBA at 228-0162 if you are interested in going to this trade mission.

All Eyes on Brazil?

Paul Clarke Holdings is a privately owned Barbados management investment company with interests in a number of strategic sectors including media, entertainment, tourism, sports, merchandising and distribution. The company’s policy is to be actively involved in the management of the companies in which it develops and invests. We also act as consultants to a number of businesses and organisations Worldwide. Paul Clarke Holdings offers a myriad of business related services with a focus on business management and business optimisation. The company prides itself on providing the missing piece to create the BIG PICTURE. The Company also has a strong presence in the consultancy of trade in services in the Caribbean region. It also offers, marketing and sales, property development, business management, media strategies, entertainment, tourism, publishing and sports management. One of its companies, PK Events & Media is responsible for the very successful and popular Girlfriend’s Expo and the more recently the television series Entrepreneurs Annoymous. They can be contacted by SKYPE: paulpclarke, email:paulclarke@caribsurf .com or at 262-7668 or 255-444 .

SBA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Social Entrepreneur award winner in the recent Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2013, Book Line has been hard at work fine

tuning their presentation for the upcoming Talent & Innovation Challenge Americas which will be held in Guatemala from June 2-3, 2013.

The team has been groomed by Business Operations Manager, Andrea Taylor and Ms. Selma Green, Manager of the Youth

Entrepreneurship Scheme on presentation, business plan, feasibility and viability. The SBA Outlook wishes them much success in the challenge .

BOOK LINE READY FOR GUATEMALA

Hard at work from left Chenika Moore , Book Line, Selma Green, YES, , Ivan Cox, Book Line, Andrea Taylor, SBA, Kevin Bishop and Rochelle Waldron, Book Line

SBA Outlook Newsletter May 31, 2013

The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) is looking to do more projects jointly with the SBA and the Ministry of Tourism. This was the word from Ms Ruth Houliston, Consultant with the IADB.

Speaking at a special showcase of products and companies who benefited from the most recent IADB/Ministry of Tourism project under the Multilateral Investment Fund, Ms. Houliston

noted that discussions had already started on what more could be done to continue the work that was started. The showcase mounted in

Pelican Industrial Park, featured the Intimate Hotels, C & G Star Trading, Choos Enterprises, Bird’s nest Foods who all received technical support under the project as well as showcased the works of noted Barbadian craft from Medford Mahogany and Onkphra and Andrea Wells.

SBA CEO, Lynette Holder in addressing the gathering of IADB consultants and partners said she was eager to continue the work started and to be able to continue to build the capacity of the

SBA members.

The gathering was part of the IADB’s two day Annual Retreat of Caribbean Civil Society Consultative Groups. Other Speakers included Ms. Francia Jordan, Director of Research and Planning with the Ministry of Tourism, Tracy Harris of Intimate Hotels, Glendine Greaves of C&G Star Trading and Dr. Glyne Williams of C&G International Inc.

The Small Business Association (SBA) is the island’s non-governmental, non-profit representative body for micro, small and medium enterprises. The SBA seeks to expand business opportunities for its members, provide educational and developmental services and lobby to ensure an enabling environment

for the growth and sustainability of the SME sector. For more information on the work of the Small Business Association, please visit our website: http://www.sba.org.bb

MORE CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR SMEs

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As the CEO of a representative body, sometimes you have a take a position which is diametrically opposed to the prevailing thoughts of your peers. It is well known that I do not avoid the tough issues so naturally when my last column was reviewed by my counterparts in the business community I was prepared for some critical feed back. And it came. I will say this, as we have said in the past, the SBA will continue to advocate and educate our constituents, in the interest of all and always in a responsible and independent manner. We should never feel threatened by the proffering of independent or diverse views on any subject matter, and we should never seek to dismiss the message simply because of the messenger. I have also noted in the media since my comments were published, a range of views quite similar to mine being put into the public. Our Honourable Minister, Donville Inniss, has previously advised the business community to seek to conquer new markets, his counterpart the Honourable Richard Sealy has so stated that we have to “go where the business is” . The reality is there for all who wish to see, the rules have changed and we need to get our businesses to become more sophisticated and aggressive in pursuing new markets. As I write, plans are afoot to pursue a trade/political mission to Brazil, one of the largest and most sophisticated markets in Latin America. I can bet however that many business persons will not readily see the opportunities

that are possible and will probably show no interest. As I have pointed out just recently, macro businesses in particular, should be encouraged to develop competitive goods and services to trade at international levels, export and earn foreign exchange. The interventionist role of government must be in creating the policy and administrative environment to facilitate growth and not to protect industry from competition.

There is opportunity in agriculture but this requires a technological and scientific approach to development. With people as our only asset the strategy should be on the knowledge economy and cultural industries for exports.

We also have a number of firms who seem contented to stay on shore and simply cry out for protection against competition. Too many firms are not becoming sophisticated enough for the global stage and worst yet, seem not to understand the urgency in getting there. We are signatory to several international conventions governing world trade and cannot have protectionist policies that flout the tenets of such agreements. This is a reality I fear not understood by many.

Government must continue to protect the vulnerable in the society such as women, youth, differently-able and micro businesses to name a few. It must also, through its legislative process and trade vehicles, encourage businesses to look beyond these shores, be internationally viable and export. A greater percentage of industry must expand their operations to become foreign exchange earners. Micro businesses will continue to operate in the ‘life-style’ sector but the greater emphasis has to be on legislation that stimulates growth through exports not reliance on protection. Sadly, this debate will continue until the hand holding ceases and business take that leap of faith.

The debate rages on . . .

LAST WORD FROM THE CEO

IADB Consultant, Ruth Houliston

SBA CEO, Lynette Holder