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A Microcosm of Potential… It is hard to believe that more than a year has passed since the 2011 launch of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean. In a recent chat with our founder, Richard Branson, to discuss some of the highlights of the past year, it became abundantly clear that our mission to use entrepreneurship as an engine for growth in the Caribbean has only just begun. Our Branson Centre entrepreneurs are a microcosm of what exists on a much bigger scale worldwide. They are survivors who are fiercely independent and resourceful, as well as driven, socially-minded believers who are passionate and lionhearted. This you will see clearly in the profiles and stories told throughout this issue of our quarterly publication. In our ‘Three to Watch’ feature, the ingenuity and steadfast approach used by these start-ups to expand their businesses can be a source of inspiration for other new entrepreneurs, as well as established business leaders. Take for example SKORA, the fledgling start-up poised to meet a crucial need in our sports industry, yet struggling to make itself relevant to the right investors who understand and believe in its vision. These and other stories, I hope, will expose some hard truths about entrepreneurship in the Caribbean, and help to illuminate the possibilities that exist for economic growth and job creation. Many of the same words used to describe our entrepreneurs can also be said about the members of out newly expanded Branson Centre team, whose collective vision to ignite business as a force for good keeps us motivated to deliver a bigger picture for doing business – one that is focused on the triple bottom line (profit + people + planet). Coming off the heels of the Branson Centre’s recent selection of our fourth cohort of entrepreneurs, I am eager to see what 2013 will bring. We thank all of our partners and sponsors who have helped us to drive real impact, and look forward to many more catalytic partnerships. But, most of all, I thank the entrepreneurs, the real risk-takers, who continue to engage the Branson Centre daily and open their minds and businesses to the ideas and opportunities we have to offer. We continue to be inspired by the passion, dedication and creativity possessed by those who walk through our doors.
Lisa Lake Chief Entrepreneurship Officer
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Meet the Team
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3 to Watch
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Funding Tech Start-Ups: The SKORA Story
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Richard Branson’s Five
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Create Real Value: The Triple Bottom Line
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The Thrill of Becoming a Branson Entrepreneur
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Meet Cohort 4
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Motivation Behind...Creation
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What’s In a Label?
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Branson Centre: Behind the Scenes
Meet the Team at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean Before the start of 2013, the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean ground team was a four-person show. By the end of January, the team had doubled. We share a collective vision that keeps us mobilised and motivated each day – to ignite businesses to operate in a sustainable and socially responsible way to improve livelihoods and transform the world. Meet the new recruits and founding team members!
Lisa Lake Chief Entrepreneurship Officer I often describe my role as ‘Chief Crazy Person.’ In a nutshell, my role is to steer and support the fantastic Branson Centre team to reach our goal – supporting Caribbean entrepreneurs to drive change in themselves, their businesses, their communities, and the world. That’s not that crazy, is it?
Sharon Jarrett Centre Manager I keep my eye on all the moving parts and ensure that the machine stays running. I love that no two days are the same, and I am inspired by the entrepreneurs – their courage, their dreams and their goals being achieved.
Melissa von Frankenberg Partnerships and Communications Manager The Branson Centre gives me the opportunity to work for something other than just money. In my role, I act as the storyteller for the Centre and its entrepreneurs. I am thrilled to be a part of a globally-minded organisation that engages and represents thought leaders, change-makers and innovators.
Lisandra Rickards Entrepreneur Development Trainer (Part time) I run the training program along with Kerrie, and together we have put together a very interactive programme that integrates the unique backgrounds of each entrepreneur. It fits naturally with my love for talking through ideas with other people to achieve results. I am inspired by the entrepreneurs and our Branson Centre team, and don’t feel I ‘work’ that much at all.
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Meet the Team at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship -Caribbean CONT’D
Kerrie-Ann Richards (Part time) Entrepreneur Development Trainer At the Branson Centre, I have fun and work in a vibrant, creative space. I have always supported entrepreneurship and saw this as a way of making a meaningful contribution to nation building. My personal goal is to create, directly or indirectly, 1000 local jobs by 2014, and this is the perfect place to make that happen.
Alison Tanker Project Manager – Regional Expansion I am helping to scale the Branson Centre model to other islands in the Caribbean. I love working in a non-traditional, creative and people-centric environment, where I can pursue my passion for empowering entrepreneurs to act as change-makers that positively impact their local communities.
Maria Lumsden Volunteer Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Analyst (Based in Sweden) I collect and analyse growth and development data points from the entrepreneurs, in order to evaluate the success of the programme and to continuously make improvements. Through my work, I feel strongly that I can make a meaningful contribution towards driving entrepreneurs to reach their full potential.
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Discover what’s possible
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e are not short of talent and ideas here at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean. Each cohort introduces us to a new set of young men and women with great visions for their businesses and for Jamaica. This quarter, in our revamped ‘3 to Watch’ format, we introduce you to three young entrepreneurs who are making their marks in the local business community: Andrew Khan (Cohort 1, In Orbit) Andrew is getting into ‘hot water’ as a tea manufacturer with Jablo, making use of the moringa plant that grows in abundance locally. Gordon Swaby (Cohort 2, Take Off ) Gordon is a true techie and has found an innovative way to utilise gaming technology in his new examination preparation website, EduFocal. Mustafa Collins (Cohort 3, Take Off ) Mustafa waded into the burgeoning local wellness industry two years ago with Bonafide Gentlemen Salon, the only fullservice salon for men in western Jamaica. During the first 12 weeks with the Branson Centre (Launch Pad), the entrepreneurs receive all the technical knowledge needed to run a business, which prepares them for the Take Off stage, where they now have access to local and international mentors, business coaching, networks, professional services and other resources. Next, they go In Orbit, where we continue to work collectively and individually to strengthen their businesses, and have them ‘pay it forward’ by sharing their knowledge and experience with new cohorts.
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Many Jamaicans may not be familiar with the moringa plant even though it grows extensively throughout the country, but entrepreneur Andrew Khan is working to change this. His company, Jablo, manufactures moringa tea, which is known to bestow health benefits. Khan recognised the untapped potential in moringa plants and decided to harness it. Locally, roadside vendors can be found selling the raw leaves, which are rich in vitamins A and C, iron, zinc and potassium, but no one had yet marketed the processed product as a tea. For his first tea blend, Khan has paired the moringa with a herb most Jamaicans know and love – sorrel. In addition to the anti-oxidant properties of sorrel, Khan is promoting the moringa plant as one of the ‘next big things’ in natural health care and is targeting the health-conscious, middleaged market because of their preoccupation with living a healthier lifestyle. Jablo is based in Kingston, but Khan’s one-acre farm is located in St Elizabeth. A quarter of the land is devoted to the cultivation of the moringa plant, which generates 20 cases of tea per month. The sorrel additive is sourced from local farmers and the processing of the tea is outsourced to the Scientific Research Council, which helps to keep production costs low. Khan is currently working to add new teas to the product line, with moringa ginger and moringa fever grass blends on the horizon. “The idea for the blends came firstly because I wanted to be innovative and set myself apart [from other tea producers],” says Khan. “Having the blend would increase production, up to double what I would have had if it was solely moringa tea versus a 50/50 blend.” The drought currently affecting Jamaica has also affected Khan’s operations, but in the interim, he reaps from the plants he has in Kingston to meet the demands of his distributors: Public Supermarket in Manor Park, Fresh Approach and Nubrook supermarkets on Constant Spring Road, as well as Chesterville Pharmacy in the Winchester Business Centre. For more information, visit www.jablo.com or call 876355-4252.
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I wanted to be innovative and set myself apart.”
Being a part of the Branson Centre has helped me to mature, being around other entrepreneurs has helped me to grow not only my business but as a person.”
It’s rare to find a 22-year-old whose focus is running and developing his own business, but this is just one way in which Gordon Swaby differs from the average 22-year-old. Edufocal, launched in March 2011, is changing the way students learn and keeps them keen using a gamebased methodology. Swaby “thought this would have been a great way to keep our users engaged and interested in learning.” EduFocal provides test prep questions and answers for the Grade Six Acheivement Test Level (GSAT) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. These prep exams are ‘gamified’ using the gambit of “levelling up” and gaining ‘experience points.’ Once you begin to answer EduFocal’s questions with correct answers, Swaby says “the user (primarily students) earn points, which allows them to move from level to level in the subject.” Unique to Edufocal, when students achieve level 65, they are able to create questions for others on the site. In a sense, the student now becomes the teacher. When students level up, they are able to win prizes including movie tickets and cell phone credit. The big reward comes at the end of the school year, when the top student on EduFocal at both the CSEC and GSAT level receives a $30,000 scholarship. EduFocal has quite a few expansion plans in store, including providing general purpose content for the students on Edufocal. A recent partnership with the Jamaica Observer will bring EduFocal to even more students as they access the site’s services for free with the purchase of a Sunday Observer. Swaby’s tenacity has not gone unnoticed and aside from being selected to be a part of the Branson Centre entrepreneurship programme, he was honoured as one of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Jamaica Gleaner’s 50 Under 50 Business Leaders; is one of the top 16 finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work and is also shortlisted for this year’s Prime Minister Youth Award in Entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.edufocal.com.
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The hectic daily schedule of the busy professional man rarely leaves time for pampering. Nevertheless, for those gentlemen determined to always look and feel their best, Bonafide Gentlemen Salon offers a respite from the daily grind. Located in Ironshore, Montego Bay, some of Bonafide’s clients even come from as far away as Ocho Rios because of the one-of-a-kind service they have come to expect. The first of its kind in Western Jamaica, Bonafide caters primarily to working class, professional men, offering a level of service not commonly found at barbershops. Services are akin to that of a spa, offering manicures, pedicures, facials, massages and waxing services. Currently operating from one location, expansion is in the works. Mustafa Collins, owner of the salon declares, “in five years, we want to have two more branches in Kingston and Ocho Rios.” In addition to increasing outlets, there are short-term plans for growth within the current location. Most notably, the retail section offering a variety of skin care products will be expanded to include more from the men’s Bath and Body Works line. Having been introduced to the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean via a television feature, Collins recognised the great opportunity for his business. The Branson Centre provides small businesses with a hub of support, something that Collins believes is lacking in Jamaica. “One of the things they offer is the practicality of having expertise at your fingertips, not just in the speakers they invite but also in the other entrepreneurs sitting next to you,” says Collins.
...in five years, we want to have two more branches in Kingston and Ocho Rios.”
Outside of the support from the Branson Centre, Bonafide has taken advantage of social media as a marketing tactic. The salon also benefits from a steady stream of tourist clients. Coupled with referrals and advertisements on television and in the cinemas, the salon has been doing well since it opened its doors in 2010. Since then, the business has grown from a staff complement of two to six. Collins has also now significantly scaled back on his own barbering duties to make the necessary time for enterprise management as he prepares to make the salon an established name in the Jamaican wellness industry. For more information, visit www.bonafideja.com.
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Funding Tech Startups: The Skora Story
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By Lisandra Rickards
s a young footballer, Wayne Jones Jr. hoped to impress his coach and earn a place on the Kingston College football team. To his disappointment, he soon realised that the coach’s decision was not based on a player’s performance metrics, but on preference and a gut feeling.
A few years after completing his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Information Technology at the University of Technology, Jamaica in Kingston, Jones decided to address the lack of performance statistics in Caribbean sports by founding SKORA Sports. Skora distributes credible sports data to fans and professionals in the sports industry, the media, educational entities, and to the betting and entertainment industries. “Caribbean sports data is poorly recorded, leading to a loss in integrity and accessibility. The increased attention and performance of Caribbean countries, combined with current manual, archaic systems, make this an interesting space with lots of potential,” says Jones, who was admitted into Cohort 3 of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship last September. “When we beat teams from all over the Caribbean in the Sports Hackathon in June 2012, SKORA was still just an idea and barely an app. The Branson Centre has helped us think about SKORA as a business that encompasses apps and many other revenue and employmentgenerating opportunities,” he adds. However, after the competition, Jones hit a wall in his search for funding. Small business loan providers required him to put up collateral twice the amount of the loan requested and would only accept a house title, a car title or land. He had none of these. Jones needs an additional US$25,000 to cover development and customer acquisition costs while taking his product from the prototype stage to the first year of full operation. “We’re looking for more than just funding. We would love to have someone who can also offer guidance, help secure key partnerships, and help to acquire customers.”
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Advice
a tonne of publicity to direct potential As a seed-stage technology company, contributors to your landing page. The Jones is not yet in a position to take on critical next step is to convert them debt. He has already tapped out his into backers with a strong call to action personal savings and money from his that pulls on their emotions. Backers of parents and relatives to get to this stage. campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo Now he is thinking seriously about angel contribute because they want to be a part of your journey. These sites allow you to investors and crowdfunding. tell your story through video, text, and Problem: Wayne has found that images on your landing page. Jamaican angel investors are risk-averse, particularly with technology companies. The final component of a successful “If you don’t know the right people, you campaign is to offer attractive rewards according to the amount contributed. For are locked out of capital.” example, those contributing $10 may get Solution: Network, network, a t-shirt, while those contributing $100 network. Angels invest in the people they may get a phone call from Usain Bolt. trust to execute on great ideas. They key word here is trust. Building this trust takes The Jobs Act in the United States comes time. Getting in front of the right people into effect this year and allows companies takes time. The more conferences you go to use crowdfunding to raise equity rather to, people you pitch to, and publicity you than just to raise contributions. This generate, the greater the chance that you will be a tremendous opportunity for will meet the right person. It’s a bit like entrepreneurs around the world. dating. Don’t give up. Update: A few weeks ago, Wayne was Problem: “I’ve thought about chosen as a Branson Centre Ambassador crowdfunding a bit, but I’m not sure it’s to Inc. Magazine’s GrowCo conference in New Orleans in April, where Richard right for SKORA.” Branson will be the keynote speaker. Solution: Screw it, just do it. Wayne is now planning an April launch Unlike angel investment, where one for his crowdfunding campaign to coincide person typically takes a larger stake in with his trip to the conference. “I hope to a small business, with crowdfunding an use this campaign to raise the US$25,000 I entrepreneur can attract a ‘crowd’ of need to fund the company. Wish me luck!” people – each of whom takes a small Sign up and follow his journey at stake in a business idea. www.skorasports.com. The key to running a successful Twitter: @waynejonesjnr crowdfunding campaign is to first generate
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The world has certainly changed in the 46 years since I launched Student magazine. The uncertain economic outlook and the relentless pace of technological advances make replicating Virgin’s success much more challenging for today’s young entrepreneur. While the world may be changing quickly, the steps to building a good business have when we started the magazine and then Virgin Music remain as valid and useful as they were in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
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ONE If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it. You must love what you do.
TWO Be innovative: Create something different that will stand out.
THREE Your employees are your best asset. Happy employees make for happy customers.
FOUR
Be visible: Market the company and its offers by putting yourself or a senior person in front of the cameras.
FIVE Lead by listening: Get feedback from your staff and customers on a regular basis.
If you have the right idea and execute properly, your startup’s launch date does not matter. Rather than getting nostalgic about how things used to be, embrace the new opportunities and challenges available to you now. To read the full article by Richard Branson here. Follow Richard’s blog
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Create Real Value: The Triple Bottom Line In Practice t Use local supply chains to reduce the amount of In today’s economies, businesses are deemed carbon emissions expended when sourcing your sustainable when they create value for three purposes: product or service. people, planet and profit. This shift toward operating t Operate in a green office space that commits to beyond the financial bottom line to include social and recycling or uses energy efficient equipment. environmental impact is what we call the ‘Triple Bottom t Implement a waste-management plan when Line.’ producing and packaging a new product that will eventually need to be disposed. PEOPLE – Social Value Proactively influencing the wellbeing of your team PROFIT – Economic Value members, clients and greater community through Generating financial returns that allow the business to socially responsible business practices. grow and sustain operations. By: Alison Tanker
In Practice t Establish employee development programs to keep motivation, productivity and retention high. t Offer your business services through a communitybased workshop to create access to information in areas of need. t Hire new recruits from different demographics to provide opportunities to those that come from areas of high unemployment.
In Practice t Connect with your customers to identify complementary services or products that could create additional revenue streams. t Reduce your fixed and variable costs or increase sales volumes or price point in order to create wider profit margins. t Reinvest money back into the business to foster its growth.
PLANET – Ecological Value Minimising the environmental footprint and efficiently utilising resources through green business practices.
Consider how the three Ps can be implemented in your operations in order for your business to be a sustainable force for good in society.
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cohort 4 diary
The Thrill of Becoming a Branson Centre Entrepreneur By: Larren Peart
As if being shortlisted wasn’t thrilling enough, I was invited to attend Assessment Day at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean. I had very high expectations, as the Branson Centre is the brainchild of one of my favorite global success stories, Richard Branson. I was asked to prepare a pitch for this day, but instead decided to make this my first challenge and just ‘wing’ it. A successful entrepreneur must always be ready for impromptu elevator pitches. On the day, I immediately felt welcomed upon arrival and was impressed with the open concept design of the Centre. I reasoned this was to further foster ease of collaboration amongst candidates and mentors alike. Additionally, I was glad to find out that the other candidates were from various backgrounds. It was evident to me at that point that if accepted, this would be a multi-faceted learning experience where I could also benefit from my fellow entrepreneurs own experiences. After introductions, we were put into two groups and given a case study where we were to assess and determine the feasibility of a pending business acquisition. Luckily, I have a personal obsession with the TV shows Shark Tank and Dragons Den and I was able to draw on things I have learnt from them. This greatly assisted with my approach to the case study. Then, it was pitch time. After gathering my nerves, I delivered my best ten minute elevator pitch to two very inquisitive Branson Centre team members who seemed genuinely interested in my business, Focus Research Limited, which is a technology driven market research company delivering real time survey results at a fraction of the traditional costs. An in depth interview followed, where I was grilled for the better part of 25 minutes on every aspect of my business and aspirations. I was forced by the questions posed to consider particular aspects of myself and my business that I may have overlooked prior. I was indeed grateful for this and remember thinking that it was for this reason I had applied in the first place. I am certainly looking forward to being a part of Cohort 4 and have no doubt that I will gain a level of thought and mentorship that will empower me to think critically and make the best decisions for my business going forward. Contact Larren at lpeart@focusresearchja.com
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introducing the
Cohort 4 entrepreneurs 18
Back row: Melissa Powell Conrad Mathison Kacy-Ann Walcott Next row: Larren Peart Henry Craig Damion Miller Next row: Yaniq Walford Tamiann Young Stacia Davidson Michelle Jones Desrene Grant-Anderson
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Next row: Dominic McDowell Natasha Forbes-Austin Isis Harris (Yellow polo) DJ Shaw Front: Royan Campbell Randy McLaren
Motivation Behind... Creation by: Kerrie-Ann Richards 1. Who is Allison Harrison? Allison Harrison is a filmmaker on a journey. She is the first to admit that she has no idea where she will end up, but she is present in each moment and enjoying the ride. 2. What motivated you to become a filmmaker? My exposure to theatre from the days when Pantomime was held at the Ward downtown, working in ‘the box’ and backstage at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the performing Arts. However, I discovered cinema during my tenure at the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC). 3. What sparks your creativity? Sensory engagement. Anything that can hold my attention such as vintage films, music, art and literature. 4.“This or something else,” what would be the something else? I would be somewhere in the world composing music and conducting an orchestra. 5.Your favourite type of projects? Any project that seems far-fetched by any stretch of the imagination, I’m up for a go at it. Elements of the un-known really force you to pool resources to conquer and grow. 6. How did you turn your passion into a pay cheque? By not making it about the pay cheque. The prospect
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of financial gain can cloud our creative reservoirs and distract us from our true expression. You must make your mind up to take that bold step. The rewards may not be instant, but things do fall into place eventually. 7. Word of motivation for up and coming persons in the creative industry: If what you’re pursuing feels like a chore, then that’s probably not your calling. Dig deeper, find your voice, go on your journey. You will amaze yourself at what you discover. Additionally, whatever you do find, understand that there’s far more where that came from. 8. How does creativity drive your business and set you apart from competitors? It’s not only about my own creativity. I also want to make creativity possible for other people. 9. What has been your most creative project to date? A short film I wrote and directed called Tehana’s Circle, which was shot on 16mm film. Mistakes aren’t very forgiving when working with film, so every shot had to be planned down to the letter. By the end of the production, I had learned many lessons, such as how the process of filmmaking teaches you to navigate with and around other creative spirits. Find Allison Harrison at factoryseventyfive@gmail.com and Twitter: @Factory_75 or @Allisn_Harrisn View Tehana’s Circle on Vimeo
What’s in a label?
C
Coco Browns Sauces, manufactured by Ratatouille Ltd, was named in memory of the grandfather of Jennifer Movery, who owns the brand along with her husband Michael, a Branson Centre entrepreneur. Having begun as a restaurant table sauce, positive customer feedback led them to expand production of their gourmet pepper sauce, which is sold through several retail outlets across Jamaica and online. They are now expanding the line to include a Spicy Pineapple sauce, which will be launched within in the next four weeks. After Michael shared his product and its branding with an expert speaker at the Branson Centre, feedback determined that it was time for the Moverys to move in a new direction with their Gourmet Pepper Sauce label. The ‘makeover’ turned out to be a lengthy and costly process, which involved working closely with a series of graphic designers in an effort to come up with a new sketch of Jennifer’s grandfather, the sauce’s namesake. It took several tries before Michael discovered an illustrator, a creative designer whose work is different from but compliments that of a graphic designer. Through a friend he found someone who shared his vision and was able to create the image of Coco Brown that they were looking for. Now, Coco Browns sports a colourful logo with an image of its late namesake coupled with an image of the sauce’s key ingredient – a scotch bonnet pepper. The new logo and brand approach has strengthened Coco Brown’s presentation, which helps to make him more competitive in the global market. Based on feedback from their resellers, the new label has already made a difference in sales. In addition to launching a new Spicy Pineapple sauce in March, Michael will also be representing the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribean in London at the Commonwealth Observance Day, which takes place in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. As an Ambassador for Caribbean SMEs, Michael will have the opportunity to meet with Richard Branson, as well as explore export opportunities for his sauces. Contact Coco Browns at ratatouilleltd.co@gmail.com
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Kremi truck leaving South Road, Kingston, the Company’s head office, to make daily deliveries. Kremi delivers its products to over 100 wholesalers island wide.
SSL Scoops Up Kremi for Investors Stocks & Securities Ltd (SSL) will once again bring another Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market with new client Caribbean Cream Ltd., popularly known as Kremi. Having successfully raised millions of dollars for clients such as AMG Paper and Packaging Company, Caribbean 2 World (C2W) Music and Consolidated Bakeries Ltd. under the brand Purity, Chris Clarke Entrepreneur and C.E.O. of Kremi thought SSL was the ideal broker to take his company public to the capital market. Chris Clarke sat down for an interview to talk about Kremi and what makes it an attractive investment opportunity. Q: For persons who are not familiar with Kremi, tell us about the company? A: Kremi is a brand of ice cream manufactured by Caribbean Cream Limited. Kremi Ice Cream is a standard quality ice cream manufactured in Jamaica and sold to Creamies/ Fudgies (mobile vendors) and Scoop Shops at affordable prices. While you may not know the Kremi brand you have more than likely eaten it.
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Q: Why is Kremi seeking to do an IPO.? A: Due to high demand we need to increase our production capacity. The money will mostly be used to build a new factory, blast freezer, cold room and convert an existing building to a warehouse. Q: Why should people invest in Kremi? A: In one word…growth. Since 2006 Caribbean Cream has grown sales by over 40% each year. In 2006 we had 5 employees and we now have 90. We have grown profits exponentially due to us now being able to take advantage of economies of scale. We have benefitted from economies of scale in that we can order large enough quantities of commodities from the world market to get significant discounts. Also our expenses, for example labour, rent and electricity have not grown at the same rate of our sales.
We are able to give the consumer much better quality than they are used to at the price point that our competitors sell. In essence our competitive advantage is our ability to make a better product. We will use the money from the IPO to upgrade the factory. This will further strengthen our ability to make a great product at a great price. We also have company policies, such as we must introduce a new flavor each quarter, to ensure that we are always innovating.
Q: What’s the main reason for Kremi’s dramatic growth and how will you sustain this success? A: The main reason for Kremi’s dramatic growth is the value for the dollar that we give our customers.
This Q&A session was conducted by Stocks & Securities Limited exclusively for the Branson Centre eZine. For more information, please visit our website: www.sslinvest.com
Q: Where can people get more information on the IPO? A: The lead broker is Stocks & Securities Ltd (SSL). People can contact SSL or their own broker. You can also go to: www.caribcream.com
Branson Centre: Behind the Scenes
A film crew from Virgin Holidays visited Jamaica to capture “life at the centre,” and a day in the life of some of its entrepreneurs. Virgin Holidays is the leading UK tour operator to the Caribbean and the key business sponsor of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Caribbean. As well as being on hand to film the first day of ‘Launch Pad’ for the Centre’s new intake of budding entrepreneurs, the crew were out and about visiting some of the businesses supported.
“Virgin Holidays is incredibly proud to be part of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. Our partnership with Virgin Unite has given us a unique opportunity to involve our teams in an initiative that will have long term, positive impacts on Caribbean communities. It was an inspiration to meet some of the aspiring entrepreneurs and we can’t wait to share their stories with our customers.” Mirieme Hill Responsible Business Manager Virgin Holidays
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published by
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Unit 14, Bogue City Centre Montego Bay,Jamaica 1-876-632-5134 enquiries.caribbean@bransoncentre.org www.bransoncentre.org
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