The Floor It Guyana Company is banking on its “made in Guyana” brand to put the country on the map, according to CEO, Andre Cummings yesterday during the company’s showroom opening.
The event was held at Lot 249 Forshaw and Oronoque streets, Georgetown, where the company’s newest addition is located. Special invitees and guest speakers from various government agencies were present to lend their support to the initiative.
In his remarks, the CEO declared, “At Floor It, we believe the day will come when people will see the made in Guyana label, it will be a signature of excellence, reliability and value,” He added that in order for this to become a reality, local businesses need to be supported and their brands need to be supported and represented by ambassadors “to create national pride which will provide value for clients both nationally and internationally.”
Cummings disclosed that the company like many others has faced challenges, but he has come to the realisation that businesses must learn, unlearn and re-learn in order to properly serve customers. Particularly so with the ever changing supply demands and competitors. He added that Guyanese deserve properly trained professionals to put out work that can satisfy customers and his team aims to provide that. The team at Floor It was trained in the United States of America in preparation, installing, finishing etc which provides North American standards but at half the price.
He thanked the suppliers who he said are from all parts of Guyana, the team members who are hardworking and dedicated, Action Coach Guyana, GBTI, and A. Ally and Sons, for their constant support of the company. Floor It exports throughout the Caribbean and has a warehouse and showroom in Jamaica.
Shyam Nokta, the President of GMSA, said that the company offers the full package when it comes to purchasing of wood for any job. He said it is 100 per cent local content, 100 per cent Guyanese skills, and 100 per cent Guyanese wood product. He commended Cummings and said that the quality of experience provided at Floor It is world class and could compete nationally, regionally and in any international market. He expressed the hope that Cummings will continue to look beyond the region with his expansions.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues also commended Cummings for his work and initiative and assured him that the government will work with the private sector. She said that the country has endured a tough few years and has seen a decline in the economy due to lack of vision and animosity between the government and the private sector, and that it has tested the endurance and tenacity of the private sector. She said that the country is on a road to recovery and the expansion, like this one, and investments that small businesses are making, show confidence in the government. Rodrigues also assured that the PPP/C administration will be working alongside the private sector.
Her colleague, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, echoed that the government will partner with the private sector as evidenced by the allocation to the Small Businesses in the 2021 budget. Walrond said that every grant is “the government signalling in a tangible way that we are investing in the growth and development of small businesses.”
