HoneyVera Expects Big Returns from Expo Jamaica

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HoneyVera Limited, Christal-Ann Thompson, is anticipating big returns from participating in the just-concluded Expo Jamaica 2023.

It was the second time that the eight-year-old organic skin and haircare company was exhibiting at the tradeshow that allows Jamaican businesses to connect with buyers from all over the globe.

This year’s event was held over four days, from April 27 to 30, at the National Indoor Sports Centre and the National Arena in Kingston.

Noting that the company has reaped dividends from its initial participation in the show in 2018, Ms. Thompson tells JIS News that the exposure and contacts made were invaluable in increasing sales, particularly in the international market.

“We have been growing and we are grateful and thankful to God for the growth. This event has helped tremendously, especially with the export market,” she says.

“At our last expo, we got [into] four stores in the United States (US) from a buyer that came, and we still have those stores now and they are doing very well, so… it goes beyond the days that we are here. It is an awesome event, and it is a good investment for entrepreneurs,” she tells JIS News.

She notes that HoneyVera is looking to expand its international reach and so far, there has been interest from buyers in the United Kingdom (UK) and the US.

“The buyers bring your products into a chain of supermarkets, beauty stores, and that is even bigger than making a one-day sale. That has been my experience,” she says.

“We want to quadruple what we did before. We definitely want to expand our market overseas, and so we are looking forward to the buyers,” she says.Set featured image

Ms. Thompson was excited to participate in the 2023 staging of Expo Jamaica, which returned after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She tells JIS News that during the period of the pandemic, the company saw an increase in business, particularly online.

“I thought I was going to have to find something else to do because I was like ‘Lord have mercy, nobody naah go buy nuh hair products now’. But people were buying the products. We did a lot of shipping. People from overseas did a lot of buying. Our website sales went up,” she notes.

She says that at the onset of the pandemic, the company was preparing to launch a hand sanitiser and was able to corner the market at a time when local supplies of the product were short.

“COVID had just hit, and the companies were not ready with their hand sanitisers. However, we were actually going to push out hand sanitisers prior to the pandemic, so we had everything ready. When some of the companies were out of ingredients out here, we had it in stock… . We were already prepared, and that is what gave us a big boost during COVID. We sold to companies that do maintenance for [commercial enterprises], supermarkets, schools, gas stations, hotels. It helped us greatly,” she says.

Ms. Thompson is encouraging other small businesses to participate in Expo Jamaica whenever it is held.

“Sometimes it’s not about making the money. When you look at the booth cost, the value that you get with it far outweighs the cost… . Brand awareness is always very important,” she says, noting that the invaluable exposure and partnerships gained through the Expo have the potential to launch small businesses to the next level.

Even with the risks and uncertainties associated with entrepreneurship, Ms. Thompson says the experience is rewarding.

Since its inception, HoneyVera has expanded its range of skin and haircare products from eight to 42.

The company is committed to producing 100 per cent organic products, which it grows or sources directly from local farmers.

“Owning HoneyVera is exciting, to be honest. I would tell anybody entrepreneurship is the way to go but you have to be determined to stick to it and be willing to fall, but when you rise, you’re like a phoenix,” she says.