THE return of tourism-driven events in Jamaica is being endorsed by two local artisans who showcased their brands at the recent staging of the Jamaica Rum Festival.
Paige Garnett, the owner of candle and ceramics company Zanesia, is most grateful for the opportunity to interact with patrons face to face.
“This is a great opportunity because we get to interact with different people from all over the globe who are here to have fun,” Garnett said when the Jamaica Observer’s LetsTravelCaribbean.com caught up with her during the rum festival in Jamaica’s tourist capital of Montego Bay recently.
The businesswoman is also commending the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies — the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Jamaica Tourist Board — for their role in keeping local artisans involved.
“It is truly a blessing because had it not been for TEF and Christmas in July, I would not be here. The experience has been great and it is actually my first time being at the Jamaica Rum Festival. The opportunity to add to the experience of patrons is really amazing, and I feel blessed to have my brand getting this exposure,” Garnett said.
“Based on previous experience since I’ve started showcasing my products at Christmas in July it has been nothing but greatness — and I am expecting greater things to come,” she added
For Garnett, tourism-driven festivals have positively impacted her small business.
“We were at the Blue Mountain Coffee festival and a lot of the customers that we got today were also our customers at that festival. They were very excited to see us and we also gained new customers, which is a good thing for us,” she said.
Teasea Bennett, co-founder and acting CEO of Reve Jewellery and Accessories, was also excited about the return of tourism events. She, too, believes that the Tourism Ministry along with TEF are assisting local artisans to reap major benefits through their invitation to these festivals.
“It has been great! I have been seeing some of my customers here in Montego Bay. I think people are excited to be out. This is a great melting of creatives because, of course, you have the performance going on but you also have a lot of artisanal work here. It is really lovely to see everybody coming together in this space,” Bennett said.She told LetsTravel Caribbean.com that while Reve Jewellery and Accessories was placed under major strain due to the shutdown of Jamaica’s entertainment and tourism industries, she is looking forward to better days with the full return of both sectors.
“The pandemic tested our resilience and placed the business under stress, so it has made us look at our structure and systems. Even though we have been doing this for some time now, it really showed us what we need to work on,” said Barnett.
Her company was established in 2006.
“We are here at the rum festival under the TEF programme showing off the best of Jamaican-made products. We are very passionate about what we do and we have really established a community of our own. We represent over 30 different artisans in our store,” she said.
