In a bid to stock its resort shops with more authentic Jamaican items, Sandals Resorts International has since last year invested over $15m in purchasing unique Jamaican crafts and products from local artisans and manufacturers.

Chief Executive Officer at Sandals, Adam Stewart, said the company was driven to support local businesses and to ensure that guests at its resorts are able to purchase authentic Jamaican items.

“Jamaica is a place unlike any other. Therefore when our guests stay at our resorts and go shopping for the perfect souvenir to take back home, we want to ensure that they are genuinely taking back a piece of Jamaica with them,” Stewart said.

He also added that the company was delighted to partner with local cottage industries, supporting homegrown talent and helping to provide employment for many Jamaicans.

Since June last year, the company has spent some $50 million in purchasing traditional Jamaican items including staples like coffee and rum. Of this amount, approximately 30 per cent was spent with small manufacturers and artisans purchasing items such as hand-made clothing and footwear, local honey and honey wines, traditional Jamaican wooden and stone crafts as well as jewellery.

Additionally, in partnership with the Sandals Foundation, the company has also committed to assisting local artisans and producers through the establishment of a fund using proceeds from the sale of items at resort gift shops as well as through other fundraising activities.

Director of Programmes at the Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke said the Foundation was aware of challenges facing the artisans such as lack of work space, inadequate machinery and the need for additional training in marketing and business management.

“The Sandals Foundation believes that by assisting to fill these gaps, we give these artisans the opportunity to thrive in the tourism market,” she said. “This programme will aim to support these up-and-coming entrepreneurs, who in turn we hope will provide additional opportunities for training and employment in local communities.”

Grace Foster-Reid, owner of EcoFarms Jamaica, producer of the Buzz Wines line of honey wines and flavoured honey, is grateful for the opportunity to sell her products at Sandals. After the closure of the bauxite company where she worked as an engineer, Foster-Reid was forced to seek another means of income. Turning her attention to her father’s farm in S. Elizabeth, the bees caught her interest and she decided to fully investigate the potential of bee-keeping.

Today, her business is her passion and she welcomes the opportunity to partner with Sandals.

“When you’re in Sandals you get attention,” she said. “People see that you have a valuable product, an attractive product and a tasty product. So when Sandals came to us this year I said ‘yes!’ because that will authenticate the quality of my product. I couldn’t do without it [the Sandals opportunity].”

Others like Lacey-Ann Bartley, from Bartley’s All in Wood are thankful for the opportunity to provide employment for those living in their communities. She said, “If I get 50 orders, for example, I’m going to have to employ more people to get that job done. So in that sense there is great trickle-down potential and benefit to the community.”