ROSE HALL, St James — The organisers of the Jamaica International Beauty Expo (JIBE) are pulling out all the stops to ensure that stakeholders in the beauty industry can connect and engage with the many facets that are to be represented at the tradeshow, for exploring linkages.

“During the process of curating the expo keen attention has been paid to the linkages with other industries and how beneficial these are. We have confirmations from product suppliers and enthusiasts within the Caribbean, Canada and the United States, and this has led to greater utilisation of hotels, airbnbs and logistics and shipping companies. The theme of the expo is the ‘Business of Beauty’ and greater focus has always been placed on crafting the discussions around how to expand the beauty industry,” explained Suzette Brown, expo coordinator.

“Already we are seeing the impact that the expo is having, as we have confirmed suppliers of beauty products and workers and operators in the business at various levels from the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana who will be involved through exhibitions as well as conducting development seminars. As a result, we have included the Jamaica Tourist Board as one of the agencies that we have engaged. We have exhibitors from the Caribbean and the United States, and their products now become a shipping and logistics matter. We are happy that SSMC Xpress International has partnered with us and is taking on the mantle of leading the logistics discussion, Brown added.

In creating growth within the industry, logistics solutions are a key element, through this process local manufacturers can access and service international markets.

Felix Evans, managing director, SSMC Xpress International, explained that the company has been providing logistics solutions for local beauty suppliers to clients worldwide.

“Currently we are able to ship small and bulk packages from Jamaican manufacturers and then sort and deliver individually to clients worldwide. As part of our developmental plans we are moving to cover the domestic market as well, but our services will be more on logistics solutions enabling storage, holding and delivering based on request,” said Evans.

“We have assembled as many stakeholders as is possible at this time, not only manufacturers, distributors, financial institutions, but we are engaging packaging companies and agencies with oversight powers that can channel resources to emerging markets,” Brown noted.

The 2019 edition of the Jamaica International Beauty Expo is set for the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St James, from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30.

Last year the expo saw over 60 exhibitors and 4,000 attendees, with access to panel discussions and seminars targeting capacity building for the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry.