Mother, daughter mould their way to metallic success

YORK TOWN, Clarendon:

What started out as a 'on-the-side' hobby for Pansie Sinclair's husband, Bunny, is now the mainstay of the family, through their business, Metallic Minds.

Today, Pansie is thanking God that she showed an interest in learning the craft her husband was only slightly interested in.

In an interview with Rural Xpress, she said her husband learnt the moulding trade from a friend while living in Waterhouse, St Andrew, 20 years ago.

"He was more into his tugboat and his job as a chef. So it was only in his spare time he would help out his friend," explained Sinclair.

The couple eventually moved to York Town, Clarendon, and it was then that Sinclair, who had time on her hands, decided to take the craft seriously, which saw her making aluminium pots, forks and spoons.

"I decided to take it up and it became a hustling for me. After my husband saw that I was really serious about it and making a living from it, he assisted in setting up a workstation and recruiting workers who knew the trade," said Sinclair.

Among the products they make from aluminium are pots, spoons, forks, pit covers, coal stoves and baluster.

The wife, mother and ardent Christian started teaching others in the community who were interested in the trade, and soon they, too, started working with her in the business.

The business is not yet established to the level she wants it, but Sinclair is giving God thanks it was able to school her daughter Santana through Clarendon College and Northern Caribbean University loan free.

BUBBLING WITH IDEAS

Santana, who is now the holder of a degree in mass communications with an emphasis on public relations, said her career choice was influenced by her need to help her mother take the business to another level.

"I realised that my mother was passionate about the business as she has dedicated so much time to it. So I decided to use the marketing knowledge to further it," she said.

Santana said she is bubbling with ideas, and already her efforts have started to bear fruit.

"My ultimate goal is to get her products all over Jamaica and eventually into the export market," she said.

Running Metallic Minds, however, does not come without its challenges, as according to Santana, the location of the business, which is in their hometown York Town, forces them to have early working shifts.

"We do our moulding at a deserted spot in the bush area because of the smoke, and most times we have to hurry up because of the safety issues involved," she said.

Staying on the optimistic side, Santana said she is not going to allow that to stop her, as she puts it, "you have to find a way to breathe life in the community and to create a positive impact when you live in a volatile area."

Last year, the mother-daughter team exhibited their wares at the Denbigh Agricultural Show and they said the experience and spin-offs were good. They are looking forward to going back this year.

rural@gleanerjm.com