Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Romeich talks business at Flow’s InKnowvation: Small Business Fridays

Published:Wednesday | July 6, 2022 | 12:11 AM
Romeich Major (right), speaks with Yendi Phillipps, during Flow’s InKnowvation: Small Business Fridays virtual event.
Romeich Major (right), speaks with Yendi Phillipps, during Flow’s InKnowvation: Small Business Fridays virtual event.

Artiste manager and producer Romeich Major shared knowledge and strategies with entrepreneurs on how to advance their businesses in the digital age. The businessman was speaking at the final staging of Flow’s InKnowvation: Small Business Fridays, a virtual event held recently. Given his hardcore management style and success in the industry, the talent manager was tagged as a “serial entrepreneur” during his discussion with Yendi Phillipps in the Fireside Chat segment.

Romeich recalled having an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age when he used to “get paid to do math homework” in prep school and “sold CDs and glow sticks”, among other trades while attending Ardenne High School.

The talent manager recommends a strategy which involves networking, good leadership, respect, praying and a diverse team, which contributes significantly to his success.

He stated that “as a leader, you are supposed to know about your brand or whatever work you’re doing” and that “you have to have workers that respect you” to achieve success. He also explained how despite having a hectic schedule, it is still important for him to show up for work to motivate his staff as a leader.

“I am a person where I might be the last person to leave my business place, and I am the first person there. So as a leader mi affi show seh even if I fly to show with Shenseea, leave another show and go to Ding Dong mi still reach a mi office. Everybody has a nine to five. I still read all my emails, send estimates, send invoices, and I still do all the stuff where everyone saying you’re so busy get secretaries and yes we can get that, but no one will ever be who you are as the leader of the team,” he shared.

Romeich also encouraged entrepreneurs to take the risk of starting their businesses and embrace failure.

“The biggest thing is starting your business. Starting anything is the biggest and the hardest thing. If you love something and you want to do it, don’t sit down and say, me a wait till me get this or me ago get this ... . If you have an idea in your mind, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the funds ... you can start from US$100 [and] turn dat in $200, $200 makes $400 ... that’s how you start a business. Another thing, failure should make you stronger and learn from your mistakes fi be better. Because as a business person, we must fail,” said Romeich.

He later shared the challenges he faced in the entertainment sector when the pandemic hit and how he managed to pivot to keep his business afloat.

“I felt it in entertainment ... out of everybody, even in the pandemic, I can tell you that I did not stop. I started an online radio station; I started to keep events within the radius of the rules and regulations ... in business, it’s all about flexibility ... know the market and change your plan,” he explained to business owners.

Romeich also advised business owners on establishing a presence on social media to capitalise on the opportunities in the digital space and how social media has served him in his industry.

“You have to be big on social media, and you have to change with our time now. Digital is very important. We don’t need a website to make money again; you have people that set up their Instagram and have a shop now ... it’s easier, and its quicker. Back then, when a song used to hot in Jamaica, it took like a year to cross over overseas. Now, a song can be released today, and the entire world listens to it,” Romeich revealed, adding that his focus is currently on pushing his personal brand.

“I am a person that keeps on uplifting stuff. At the moment, my clothing line is doing great, my promotion is doing great, and me, as Romeich Entertainment executing events and stuff for corporate companies, is what I’m moving towards. Music is doing good, artistes is doing good, talents are doing good ... . So I think now Romeich, as big as I am, I’m more [promoting] Romeich more than anything else,” he said.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com