THERE was nary a parking spot to spare at the Jamaica Pegasus yesterday as scores of people turned out for day one of the second staging of ‘A Jamaican-made Christmas’ to give support to small and medium-sized businesses, trying to get their share of the goods-producing market.

“I just hope that they really go crazy today,” conceptualiser and chief executive officer of National Baking Company, Gary “Butch” Hendrickson remarked with enthusiasm.

Hendrickson has every reason to be upbeat about the two-day event based on the positive outcome of last year’s staging, which brings manufacturers and buyers together, creating a platform for these businesses to catapult their operations.

“I’ve seen some companies that don’t need to come back. One person has taken a smaller booth because she can’t be here, she’s in Europe. I don’t know if that came out of this, but a lot of people have done quite well out of it. There are some good networking opportunities here. Out of this also came a lot of exposure into the tourism sector [and] out of last year, we are taking products to St Lucia for a first trial run,” he said.

He explained that the event was created to expose small companies and “introduce Jamaicans to Jamaica in the hope that it will lead to their success and growth”.

Hendrickson stressed that it is small enterprises such as the ones showcasing their products who will form the core of Jamaican manufacturing for the future.

“This is where the growth is going to come from. I don’t think growth is going to come from National or Desnoes & Geddes, etcetera, not in the same way that these folks will be able to grow. To grow a big company is a lot harder than to grow a smaller company,” he asserted.

“There are many talented Jamaican manufacturers who have great products and could really benefit when given the platform to showcase themselves,” said Hendrickson. “This event is about the exhibitors. It is about giving them the opportunity to get exposure and giving them the opportunity to make sales. And if we create an event where the public can do their Christmas shopping right here, instead of going abroad, then we have done our job.”

The exhibitors are drawn from a cross section of small manufacturers, including: arts, craft, fine jewellery, candles and essences, swimwear, apparel, pottery, footwear, preserves and condiments, and skin care products.

Entry to the event was free last year, but National has this year asked patrons to purchase two $500 vouchers for entry, which are redeemable at any of the exhibitors’ booths.

— Alphea Saunders