The Jamaican Market for the Jamaican Consumer

  


The Consumer Affairs Commission hosted the “Jamaican Market for the Jamaican Consumer” Exposition over a two day period(Friday, March 19, and Saturday March 20, 2004) at the Emancipation Park. Over twenty-nine (29) exhibitors across several sectors in the economy participated in what was a first for the CAC as well as a first for the Emancipation Park in terms of hosting an event such as this.
Over 3000 persons visited the exhibits over the two days interacting directly with producers/manufacturers of local goods and services as well as other commodities. The feedback from the persons who viewed the exhibits was very positive. Many Jamaican consumers were able to point out to exhibitors that they were seeing these products for the first time. In one very memorable scene a consumer called the general manager at the supermarket where she has shopped for the last twelve years to enquire why a product she was introduced to at the Exposition was not carried at that Supermarket. Other persons registered their surprise as to the quality of the products that were displayed and especially the wide array of items that were on display. It also provided an opportunity for exhibitors to correct the myths that many consumers have about Jamaican products. These myths include:

      i. Jamaican products are not attractively packaged

      ii. Jamaican products are not of good quality

      iii. Jamaican products are not competitively priced

Others used the opportunity to debut new products that will soon be available in local as well as overseas supermarkets.

The decision to host the exposition came out of the realization that many Jamaican Consumers are still unaware of the wide variety of locally manufactured goods and services as well as other commodities that are manufactured or produced locally.
There were products on show that ranged from very small jewelry to motor cars. In this regard one of the preeminent displays was that put on by Excel Motors which put on show two of the cars produced in Jamaica, the bright gold Island Wasp® and the sky blue convertible lured hundreds of persons to the Park's Northern Entrance and ultimately into the park to participate in the activities.
The feedback from the exhibitors has also been very good, many, especially smaller manufacturers were pleased for an opportunity to showcase their products directly to such a wide cross section of potential customers and to have benefited from the media coverage provided for the event.
The Jamaica Agricultural Society, JAS one of the major sponsors of the Exposition showcased as is customary the finest of agricultural products from farms throughout the entire island. The JAS booth was appropriately nestled between the Ebony Park HEART Academy and the Tru-Juice booths. This positioning directly highlighted the linkages and dependences between local agriculture and the manufacturing sector, in terms of the processing of spices, jellies and preserves that were done by students of the HEART Academy at Ebony Park. On the other hand the Tru-Juice range of products displayed the versatility and creativity that can be applied to agricultural products such as Mango, Carrot and of course Oranges. The additional treat throughout both days was that most products were made available to the public as free samples.

The complete list of exhibitors included:

      1. Jamaica Agricultural Society - Major
      2. D & G – Malta - Major
      3. Excel Motors – Major
      4. Jamaica Public Service Co. Ltd. – Associate
      5. Office of Utilities Regulation (O.U.R.) – Associate
      6. Trade Winds Citrus Ltd. – Tru-Juice – Associate
      7. City of Kingston Credit Union - Associate
      8. Hi-Lo - Associate
      9. Jamaica Blue Mountain Spring Water
      10. Capital & Credit Merchant Bank
      11. The Jamaica Biscuit Company Ltd
      12. Just Black & White Photography – Edna Manley College.
      13. Caribbean Flavours Fragrance Ltd.
      14. International Seasoning & Spice Ltd.
      15. Peak Bottling Co. Ltd.
      16. Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (J.I.P.O.)
      17. Singer
      18. GSB Credit Union Ltd.
      19. Continental Baking Co. (National Bakery)
      20. Grace Food Processor (Canning) Ltd.
      21. Coca-Cola Jamaica
      22. National Consumer League
      23. HEART Trust
      24. National Environment & Planning Agency
      25. Beyond Jewellery
      26. Grace Kennedy & Company Ltd.
      27. WISYNCO
      28. T.P.D.Co.
      29. Devon House

Members of the public may call the Consumer Affairs Commission at 1-888-991-4470 toll free or visit our website for more information and details on how to contact the exhibitors or on the range of products and services they provide.


   
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Updated by: Consumer Affairs Commission - IT Unit (March 2004)