Trade Dept pushing “shop local” initiative for VI businesses
The Small Business Trade Show is designed to encourage the expansion of trade within the community, and reduce the level of imported products while highlighting the unique business opportunities that the local economy brings.
Director for the Department of Trade, Investment Promotions and Consumer Affairs, Mrs Karia J. Christopher, said that her department is seeing a substantial increase in the business and entrepreneurial sector.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
“Part of our job in encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit amongst our residents, is offering opportunities and introducing initiatives that assist these business owners with the right tools, skills and knowledge to be both locally and internationally competitive in this growing economy,” she said in a press release from the Department of Trade.
Speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), Mrs Christopher said, “In order to be eligible, you just have to have a dream and want to learn some more about a business, the first segment will be driven towards customer service, marketing and business data,” she said.
“We wanted to take it back a little because we recognise that persons have the glamour of wanting to have a business, but most of them are not fully able at the backend of what it takes to start a business.”
Mrs Christopher noted, that as part of helping business owners fully understand the ‘hows’ of runing an entire business, the department will be inviting industry experts to speak to participants about the basics of start-up.
Small-Business in Focus
The all-day event is free of charge will be held at the Moorings Marina Inn from 9:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. beginning with the Business Essentials Workshop.
“We want small businesses to have a venue and a space to be able to sell their products/services free of charge and we want the patrons of the BVI to understand that there is not a lot of need to go out abroad… there are lots of varieties here in the BVI, lots of people with wonderful great quality products,” she said.
The workshop will focus on topics including: Getting Started as an Entrepreneur - Start-Up Basics, Selling Your Dreams (Marketing), and Customer Service Do’s and Don’ts; while the Small Business Trade Show will showcase an array of products and services that are available locally to the community.
“We want to ensure that they, [Small businesses] start 2019 off with the best knowledge for them to carry forward their business,” Mrs Christopher said.
Registration can be done by contacting the Department of Trade, Investment Promotion and Consumer Affairs via telephone at 468-4280 or 468-2008 or by visiting the office on the 2nd Floor of Sebastian’s Building.
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7 Responses to “Trade Dept pushing “shop local” initiative for VI businesses ”
No more of these NDP piggybacking off all we. Don’t want to hear all you.
Thats all she good for, planning events, its really her forte. They should make a special position for her....though Idk if Lorna will have any pull once Orlando is out but still, they should create a special non management role for her.