2023Love Local 2023 2 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST As mentioned last year, local businesses are the heart of the Cayman Islands’ economy. They provide an array of goods and services, employment opportunities for our people, and contribute to a high standard of living for our residents. A robust local business sector also complements and enhances our international reputation as a commercially stable place to do business. The Cayman Islands Government encourages entrepreneurship, with one avenue being the guidance and support services offered by the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development (CICBD). The CICBD has a number of programmes currently taking place to foster the entrepreneurial spirit, that look at areas such as business growth, consulting services and cultivating business interest among the youth. The local entrepreneurship community is set to receive even more support from the CICBD in 2023. For the rest of the year, the CICBD will progress initiatives to help accelerate the start- up process for micro and small businesses, dealing with aspects such as seed funding, raising capital, and marketing. In addition, the CICBD will continue to collaborate with the Caribbean Development Bank to develop a new small business policy. Supporting local entrepreneurship is not only for government to do, as our residents, the consumers, have an important role to play, too. When consumers support and love local businesses, they become loyal customers of local restaurants, shops, farms, and the like – enjoying the talent, expertise and creativity that goes into providing Cayman-based products and services. Ultimately, as articulated last year, we need to pledge to support local businesses because together we’re stronger. Together, we can help promote these islands as a global centre of innovation and excellence for the common good. Hon. André Ebanks Minister for Financial Services and Commerce Minister for Investment, Innovation and Social Development Love local business (especially small & micro) Love Local 2023 3 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUSTLove Local 2023 3 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST Make the most of your everyday purchases with our range of Mastercard credit cards. Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited is licensed to conduct banking and investment business by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Address: 12 Albert Panton Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. APPLY NOWLove Local 2023 5 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST Love Local 2023 4 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST Compass Centre, 319 Shedden Road, George Town, PO Box 1365, Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands. Love Local Editor Laura Munyard Durston Contributing writers Laura Munyard Durston Jenny Gabruch Catherine MacGillivray Graphic Design (editorial) Beth Ormerod - Outside contractor Graphic Design (advertisements) Alex Angel Taneos Ramsay Head of Sales Cheryl Birch-Gillies Sales Representatives Kate Knox Cindy Oostvogels Brenda Rubes Eric Vincent Marketing Whitney Foster P2 P6 P8 P10 P12 P14 P16 P18 P20 P22 Love local businesses A welcome message from Minister André Ebanks. The love list The Cayman Islands Small Business Association explains why we should shop local. Cayman Made A new Chamber of Commerce initiative. Love local food Why eating locally is better for you and the planet. Chamber is champion How the Chamber of Commerce supports local business. Love some island time Cayman experiences and activities to check out. Local beauty Beauty products made by on-island artisans. Love your artisans Deal Ebanks encourages support of local arts and crafts workers. Love a day out Get reacquainted with Cayman’s sites and attractions. Client directory Love Local contentsLove Local 2023 5 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST EXPLORE OUR SELECTION OF LIVINGM DINING, BEDROOM, OUTDOOR, AND HOME OFFICE FURNITURE, TOGETHER WITH A BROAD RANGE OF RUGS, LIGHTING, PILLOWS, WALL DECOR & ACCENTS RUGS & FURNITURE FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME WWW.LIVING.KY • +1 (345) 233-8700 • 48 MACLENDON DRIVE, GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMANLove Local 2023 6 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST The love list The Cayman Islands Small Business Association (CISBA) details reasons why is it is good to shop on-island. Here is its love list for supporting local: YOU INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY Of course, shopping in a local business helps it fi nancially, but it also supports the wider local economy and community. It’s an excellent opportunity to see new businesses continue to open and prosper within our islands. IT HELPS CREATE LOCAL JOBS In addition to investing in our local businesses, we can also help improve employment by shopping locally. On-island businesses often provide a large number of jobs. In some cases, it can even be someone’s fi rst workplace to help kick-start their career. As the business grows, so too will the employment opportunities and the local economy. These jobs also create happy workers who are highly committed to their jobs. When we support small businesses, we could be contributing to our community’s happiness. BENEFITS FOR THE CUSTOMER When we shop locally it makes us more conscious of our purchasing power rather than when we buy online by impulse. It is also a benefi t in case we need to return an item or, if there’s a problem, we can easily have the issues resolved quickly rather than having to return something overseas and then wait weeks for a replacement. It is always good to have a personal contact. 6. 7. 8. LOCAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS When we purchase at locally owned businesses rather than overseas, more money is kept in the community. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS BETTER With buying local, your customer service experience is usually better, whether in person or on the phone, as this is a small community and you are supporting someone you know or someone that is vested in the island. You can always have direct contact with the vendors/suppliers when and if you want. MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION While every business, from big-box stores to mom-and-pop shops, needs to determine how to provide more value to their customers than anyone else, you’ll likely get more of a personal touch at a small business. Every customer truly matters to a small business. IT’S CONVENIENT Convenience plays a huge part in our lives. It’s easy just to ‘pop to the shop’, it’s close to home. It provides the benefi ts of local shopping without the downsides of shopping online. IT HELPS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES This is one of the most important reasons to shop local. Small businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic and, as a result, many companies have struggled to keep afl oat or fi nd new ways to service customers. Buying from local businesses is a great way to support them both fi nancially and fi guratively by showing you love what they do. This means they’ll be able to continue doing their great work and, by extension, send a child to university and keep people employed. A lot of small businesses offer unique products and services that you wouldn’t normally receive from large businesses. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ABOUT CISBA The organisation provides a platform for micro and small businesses to showcase their products and services through networking opportunities, bartering for services, and mentoring through good old- fashioned ‘stop-in-the-offi ce’ for advice and guidance. CISBA also facilitates meetings with Members of Parliament with whom micro and small businesses wouldn’t normally have face-to-face interaction. Additionally, CISBA leads and supports expos, marketplace get-togethers, and workshops in person or online, both in Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. Dawn McLean-Brady, president of CISBA. Love Local 2023 7 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUSTLove Local 2023 7 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUSTLove Local 2023 8 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST ‘Cayman Made’ is the working title for a new Chamber of Commerce initiative designed to create a distinctive high-quality brand, exclusively for products and services produced on-island. “People already know that Cayman equals quality when it comes to financial services and tourism, but that understanding should be extended to the products that are made here as well,” says Nelson Dilbert, Chamber president, and owner of Cayman Islands Spirits Company, who is one of the driving forces behind the new initiative. “So far, there hasn’t been any way of properly branding all the different goods that are made here, by bringing them all together under one single ‘Cayman Made’ umbrella. ‘Cayman Made’ is all about providing a trustworthy, recognisable, high-end brand.” SMALL BUSINESSES That’s particularly important for the growing number of small businesses making everything from hot sauces and traditional Caymanian heavy cake to those, like Dilbert, who have established factories and are trying to sell their products overseas. Many do not have the resources by themselves to successfully launch their own local brand. “By pooling resources, they can all share the benefits of establishing a strong Cayman brand that locals, visitors, and overseas vendors recognise, love and trust,” says Dilbert. “That’s the first hurdle overcome, and it’s an idea that makes a lot of sense.” The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce can help by consulting with local businesses to decide what criteria would be needed to participate in the programme. “The final details, including the brand name and logo are still being worked out,” says Dilbert. “But so far, a framework for action has been put together that embraces brand identity, as well as the all-important assurance of quality.” ELIGIBILITY Eligible businesses would have to make their product in the Cayman Islands, using, as much as possible, local ingredients. For example, local hot sauces should use locally grown peppers, but bottles and similar items could be brought in from off-island. To gain use of the ‘Cayman Made’ logo, products would also have to have a reasonably long shelf- life. Additionally, producers would agree to an ‘exchange’ or ‘money-back’ guarantee, that would last a year from the date of purchase, with the Chamber acting as mediator as the first step in any dispute. Eligible companies would be asked to provide evidence they had met the criteria to join, and this would be revisited periodically to ensure that each business was keeping to the rules. A small annual fee, payable to the Chamber, would cover the cost of administration. BENEFITS Benefits for eligible businesses would be significant. Each business would be able to use the programme’s logo on its product, or on its online advertising. In addition, the Chamber would actively promote the ‘Made in Cayman’ brand online, through social media and other media channels. Participating companies would also be represented at ‘Made in Cayman’ events or trade shows overseas. “It’s good idea, and it’s just what we need right now,” says Dilbert. “There are many small businesses and entrepreneurs springing up who are making premium and uniquely Caymanian goods here, and want to sell them to visitors, residents, and markets overseas. We need a collective Cayman brand, a collective identity.” ‘Cayman Made’ – the birth of a new Cayman Islands brand “We need a collective Cayman brand, a collective identity.” – Chamber President Nelson Dilbert. Chamber of Commerce President Nelson Dilbert. Love Local 2023 9 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUSTLove Local 2023 9 FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST compassmedia.ky eventspace@compassmedia.ky 936-4918 or 325-6821 Compass Centre: 319 Sheddon Road, GT, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1108 A stylish and intimate 1,500 - square foot space featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the balcony, with tree-top views. 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