Hand-made, all natural, and made with love; those are the promises by KlutchJa Organics. The company — led by CEO Sheldon Cardoza and COO Shanika Cardoza and producer of natural skin- and haircare products — is also one of the pitch winners of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) MSME Business Roadshows.

With their company founded in 2019, the Cardozas took the opportunity to leverage and scale up their micro, small, and medium enterprise’s (MSME) by entering the Pitch Competition in Mandeville.

That decision was worth its weight in shea butter.

“Since winning the competition, we’ve achieved a significant increase in monthly sales, surpassing our target on multiple occasions. We have also expanded our customer base by onboarding new retailers, including several retail outlets across Manchester, St Elizabeth and Clarendon.

“Additionally, we developed and launched a new product line tailored for men, which we attribute directly to the funding received,” explained CEO Cardoza.

This expansion means KlutchJa Organics’ suite of products can be found at Everybody’s Pharmacy, The New Deanery Road Pharmacy, Fontana Pharmacy, Vin Pharmacy, and Sunset Pharmacy, among others.

MIIC, Jamaica’s business ministry, will again offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to win up to $400,000, to its MSME Business Roadshow series. They are being held in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and designed to equip MSME owners with the opportunity for strategic networking, access to financing and digital technological solutions all tailored to strengthen their businesses and increase productivity.

The Roadshows started on Thursday, January 16, 2025, starting at 9:00 am, at the Twickenham Park Church of the Open Bible in St Catherine. They will also go to JUICI Empowerment Centre in Clarendon on Thursday, February 20; and St Elizabeth Technical High School, Santa Cruz, on Thursday, March 6.

Entrepreneurs can register for the roadshow at roadshow.miic.gov.jm.

The Cardozas said the winning Pitch Competition, along with the grant funding of $300,000, allowed for exponential growth.

“Over the past year, KlutchJa Organics has experienced a 30 per cent growth in sales and expanded its customer-base. We also launched a new product line focused on “His & Her Care”, which has been well-received by our customers. Our e-commerce platform now accounts for 40 per cent of sales, reflecting the growing demand for online shopping,” CEO Cardoza shared.

He encouraged entrepreneurs to enter and learn from the pitch process.

“Prepare to clearly articulate your vision, demonstrate the viability of your business model, and showcase your passion. Leverage the feedback you receive during the competition; It is invaluable,” he continued. “One key lesson we learned is the importance of having a detailed plan for utilising funds, as this ensures that every dollar works toward measurable growth.”

And the MSME partnerships create fantastic opportunities.

Cardoza said: “The competition has also led to the initiation of collaborations with other MSMEs to co-promote organic products. We were approached by an international seller who is interested in us manufacturing their products for the North American market. Additionally, local retailers and spas have reached out for bulk purchases, aligning with our goal of diversifying our customer-base.”

The results of the inaugural Roadshows brought MIIC, its partners and sponsors to four locations — Mandeville, Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. There were over 1,200 MSMEs engaged and 155 MSME exhibitors. KlutchJa Organics was among the 12 MSMEs that excelled in the business pitch competition and benefitted from grant funding totalling J$3.6 million, courtesy of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). Ten other micro-entrepreneurs benefitted from tailored business development support from the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) to enhance and grow their business operations, including preparing for entry into export markets.

For this phase of the Roadshow, entrepreneurs can also access support from other government agencies, financial institutions and private sector sponsors, including the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) through its Community Renewal Programme (CRP); Heart/ NSTA Trust; Development Bank of Jamaica Limited; Jamaica Broilers Group; Jamalco; Pepsi; and Appliance Traders Limited (ATL). The event will feature MIIC’s departments and agencies with dedicated booths offering valuable insights, services, and guidance. The JBDC will provide comprehensive assistance and end-to-end support from concept to implementation. Participants will also gain insights on preparing for international export markets from the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and Trade Board Limited, while the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) will provide expertise on safeguarding intellectual property rights.