Somewhere over the rainbow

BY PAUL ALLEN Business reporter allenp@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

HAVING had some success and seen one venture fail, Rajique Holmes said Ribbons and Bows, his gift basket company, is the start of a grand plan.

A recent graduate of the University of the West Indies, Holmes has always wanted to start a business rather than work a nine to five, said Donna-Mae Jackson, his mother and business partner.

"I started burning and selling movies in second form and then also games after a while," Holmes said. A year later he began importing clothes from China for his friends and other eager, young customers.

Though the idea for a joint venture was Holmes', it was Jackson who came up with the concept of Ribbons and Bows, the fourth nominee in the Observer's Mogul in the Making programme.

"I've always had an interest in gifts as they make such a difference when someone is ill or going through a difficult time," she said. "It has to do with the rainbow and there being a pot of gold at the end and 'somewhere over the rainbow'."

The company was registered in September 2010, a fact Jackson reminded her son of as they sat on their home porch, trying to recall how many Christmases they've been delivering for.

Business is better during periods of celebration such as Christmas and Valentine's Day, as one would expect. "It's not so strong during the year and, in terms of consistency, it's still very small and low-key," Jackson said. She added that they're looking to expand into events planning and venue decoration, which they're also registered for.

Holmes has another registered business, breeding and selling dogs — specifically Rottweilers and poodles — which he plans to expand. However, this will be done with much thought and caution as only last year he provided a branded shuttle service, to one of the island's biggest party weekends, which failed to break even as few of the dozens who expressed interest actually turned up.

"At the end of the day it's a learning experience and I taught him that business is not going to be all smooth sailing," Jackson said.