Christmas in July warms up summer
Published:Wednesday | July 13, 2022 | 12:11 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
A testimonial from Lashawnda Bailey Miller was strong enough to raise patrons’ hopes for a successful eighth staging of the annual Christmas in July trade show on Tuesday.
Functioning as normal during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic was no easy task for Bailey Miller. She recalled during her presentation how she suffered from many depressive episodes.
But despite the emotional turmoil, her passion to persevere beamed through.
Pairing this determination with her long-time interest in jewellery caused her to establish Inzzpire365, a business that produces handmade, Afrocentric jewellery with the aim of inspiring the world through her art.
In 2020, her pieces were displayed in the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s Style Jamaica fashion show.
But never did she imagine that two years later, her company would attract the attention of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, during a three-day March visit alongside husband Prince William as part of a Caribbean tour to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“When the Duchess of Cambridge stepped off the plane wearing our ‘She’s Royal’ bracelet, she paired it the next day with our ‘Happy Pearls’ bracelet. So, of course, you know say mi elated, mi excited,” she exclaimed, owing the opportunity she received to market the business and expand its wings to an international level to the continuous work that TEF had been doing through putting on events like the Christmas in July trade show.
Indeed, it had been an early Christmas present for Bailey Miller to have been recognised by British royalty.
Her business has since served customers in Canada, the United States, Dubai, Australia, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Bailey Miller, therefore, encouraged this year’s record number of 180 participants to leverage the exposure offered by the trade show.
“So, if you are here today and you are wondering if the trade show makes sense, trust me, it does. You don’t know where your call will come from. It may not be from the British High Commission, it may not be this year, but be prepared,” she said.
The two-day show, celebrated under the theme ‘Tropical Wonderland’, provides participants with the opportunity to woo representatives from the tourism sector, corporate Jamaica, government entities, embassies, and international organisations with authentic, Jamaican-made items shipped just in time for the Yuletide season.
The event, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, featured souvenirs, decor, fashion, accessories, aromatherapy, processed foods, and organic products.
The Tourism Linkages Network partners with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica to provide this opportunity for local producers.
John Mahfood, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and chairman of manufacturing technical working group of the Tourism Linkages Council, said the stage show was timelier than ever as the island recovers from pandemic and supply-chain global shocks.
“The manufacturers you see being displayed here today are testament to the statement that there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that can’t be fixed,” he said.
Clifton Reader, president of the JHTA, said he was pleased that many producers had “survived the ravages of the pandemic”.
Reader also lobbied for more funding to be channelled into research and development to help artisans satisfy market demand.
“We definitely need to have quality at a good price, but so many times I would send my purchasing agents into the field and they would come back to say, ‘Sir, we found quality, we found good price, but they can’t supply the quantities we need.’ And that is very, very important,” the JHTA president said.
He is urging producers to converge in clusters to achieve economies of scale to get their products off the shelves in big quantities.