Despite welcoming the opportunity to showcase their products, entrepreneurs who participated in the Market Day hosted by the Small Business Bureau (SBB) yesterday said that the event would have been more successful if it had been advertised.
The Market Day, which was held on Regent Street between the Avenue of the Republic and King Street, offered several entrepreneurs the chance to showcase and sell their products, most of which were made from local materials.
It officially began at 9 am and was expected to conclude at 5 pm.
For many, the event served as a rare opportunity to make their presence and businesses but several of them said that after interacting with a few customers, they were surprised to learn that those persons had no idea what was going on.
One of the exhibitors, Desmond Hollingsworth, who sells earrings made from tibisiri and wood shavings, told Stabroek News that he learned that nobody he had spoken to had known about the Market Day and people kept asking him what kind of event they were hosting. He said that revelation made him a bit disappointed as he believes that if they SBB had advertised the event, more people would’ve turned out to see what kind of products they were selling. “It’s a very good initiative but they should’ve advertised it and let people know that something like this is being held because everybody coming here and saying that they never hear about it and don’t know about it,” he said.
Hollingsworth then suggested that the SBB host a similar event soon. “If they could hold it over, it would be good,” he said before adding that if the SBB holds such an event once a month, it would be helpful to entrepreneurs such as him in growing their business.
R. Adams agreed with Hollingsworth, while saying that she was thankful for the curiosity of the persons who visited her tent even if it was just to ask what was going on. She said after observing the interest of the consumers who were there, she has no doubt that the initiative was a good one and if the SBB intends to host a similar event, which she thinks it should, advertising the event would definitely help them. She said people who visited her tent told her that they would spread the word and return to buy a few bottles of her Mauby drink. “It must be advertised. People are saying that they ain’t know this is going on and they are doing their regular shopping when they notice the tents, so we need persons to do proper advertising so it can be more successful,” she added.
Adams then disclosed that the music was also too loud and it was making it hard for her to interact with her customers as her tent was situated opposite the music boxes. “You have keep repeating questions,” the former teacher said.
Meanwhile, others commended the SBB for the initiative, while explaining that outside of events such as the Market Day, they are rarely on the radar of most consumers. They said such events help them get a little extra into their pockets.
Jason Brandon, a craftsman who can be found along Water Street, said that he was surprised to see a lot of people taking interest and buying his pieces, which he makes from bamboo. He said despite the rainy weather, a lot of persons had supported him by buying a few of his works. “A lot of people coming out to support. We need more events like these. A bit more advertising would be good—that’s according to what them people say—but for me it’s okay because we been getting few sales, more than usual,” Brandon said.
Brandon added that his sales would not have been possible if it were not for the SBB and he hoped that another event can be held next month.
Another, Noha Khan, echoed similar statements, while noting that the SBB has done a good deed by helping them promote their small businesses. “It is a good thing for them to help us with our small business to come out and showcase our work and to sell our products ‘cause a lot of times we don’t get opportunities to come and do this. It has been great that people are coming out and enjoying our work,” Khan said before acknowledging the slight drizzle.
Khan then said that a number of persons had already purchased a number of items from her, which for her was great for a day’s work.
Brandon’s and Khan’s observations about people taking interest in their crafts proved to be true after Stabroek News interviewed a number of customers who were present at the market place at that time.
Sara (only name given) said, “I come and I see things that I never really see before, like the Guyana bamboo boat. I never really see that and it’s handmade. That’s what I like about it and food and stuff, some of what we don’t know about we seeing, and it’s a pretty good thing they do here today,” she said.
Another, Dan Ramcharran, said that after learning about the items that were on sale, he hurried over from across the street so he could purchase something for his girlfriend. “I see a lot of jewellery here that she would like. She loves these kind of things, so I don’t know what to buy because I see a lot of nice and different things,” he stated. Further, he said, he hopes more events like this should be held so people can start buying locally made items instead of items that have to be imported. “And plus a lot of people will benefit from that, these people here don’t own big companies. And they’re using their talents to make a living instead of going and rob others, so whoever holding these things should continue,” he added.
Juliana Hughes, the owner of ‘Jah Works,’ also applauded the initiative by the SBB, saying that putting Guyanese products on sale was “wonderful.” She said it was unfortunate that so many people think that Guyanese crafts are not creative enough to be on constant showcase and the initiative just proves that it is. “We would like to see more things like this. One of the things I’m campaigning for and I hope it don’t fall on deaf ears, is that GuyExpo must come back. Let it be a stage for entrepreneurs like these right here. We have so much talent, other than craft, we got arts, we got drama, we got fashion designers. With the removal of GuyExpo, it mash up creative people. Me for one was a creative person who use to depend a lot on GuyExpo because that was time when you could get a lil sum of money to pay yuh bills,” she said.
