JBDC Advocates Cluster Methodology to Boost Small Businesses

Executive Director of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Harold Davis, has suggested that one of the key solutions to the current economic downturn is to optimize the development and growth of small businesses.
Addressing a large group of small business operators and business interests from across western Jamaica at a business development seminar at the Wexford Hotel in Montego Bay on February 27, Mr. Davis noted that the occasion was geared at exposing participants to “various means of growing and strengthening their businesses, with special focus on the cluster initiative”.
He said that seminar which was dubbed ‘Small Business, Enlarge Your Vision’ is about sharing with persons in Western Jamaica, some of the services that are available at Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

Audrey Wilson (Right) of the Authentic Jamaica Gift and Craft display booth, shares business information with Devon Grey, a participant in the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s business seminar, which was held at the Wexford Hotel in Montego Bay yesterday (February 27).

“The aim is to help persons to develop their business, to grow their business and to help to sustain their business in this trying and difficult period. One of the ways that we are promoting is by way of clustering as a methodology. Clustering really is utilizing appropriate basic networking, business to organizational network and whatever other network and relationships that you can establish with the support of JBDC, to ensure that it happens,” Mr. Davis outlined.
Observing that the seminar was about a sharing opportunity for business operators and guiding them into ways in which they could all appropriately utilize technology as a critical tool in the business development process, Mr. Davis reiterated the company’s view on the methodology, which seeks to incorporate strength in numbers, as it increases the voice and collective bargaining power of the micro, small and medium enterprise sector.

Managing Director of Lakes Creation, Derrick Campbell (right) speaks with Carone Messado of Jamaica Fashion and Apparel about some of his creations which included handcrafted handbag, hat, and neck- tie, during the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s business seminar held at the Wexford Hotel in Montego Bay yesterday (February 27).

“We have five clusters represented today. These are gift and craft, Fashion and apparel, Jamaica wellness, Egg, and Small ruminants. All these five clusters are under the umbrella of JBDC and have all been successful, doing fantastic things and we are inviting persons to come and be a part of the journey that these clusters have experienced that have influenced each member’s business into better economic positions,” he said.
Mr. Davis also pointed out that clusters were very important as they allowed companies to be more productive and innovative than they could be in isolation.
Speaking to JIS News after the seminar, the Executive Director observed that the event was very successful as the support was overwhelming, as was expected.
“The level of support at the second of this sort of seminar here today was not unexpected because the organization was looking for tremendous support in Montego Bay. People generally want solutions, people want answers and people want to know where there are appropriate resources. JBDC is really about providing serious solutions to businesses and about helping small business operators to remain in business and to grow and operate viable businesses so that they can empower themselves and then employ someone else. That’s what we are about at the JBDC,” Mr. Davis told JIS News.
In her presentation, Financial Consultant and Coach of Financially SMART Services, Cherryl Hanson-Simpson, said business operators need to move beyond just surviving to surviving and succeeding, as the possibilities are endless.
“In order to survive and be successful in business in the midst of the prevailing economic challenges, small business operators must first be customer focused with your products. Be concerned with what the customers’ needs are. You need also to organize your operations that the delivery of the products and services is smooth and ensure that the marketing of the products is effective in getting people to know what you are about,” Mrs. Hanson-Simpson told participants.
She urged all persons to be as flexible and to ensure that those who have not done so as yet, to move now towards becoming computer literate as this was the way to go in business in this global environment. Informative exhibition booths were on display where participants received on the spot guidelines, and registration information assistance.