New markets being opened up for them

Small businesses in Trinidad & Tobago are now exploiting the benefits of Jamaica-based online marketing company, Caribshopper, expanding their North American reach.

Through Caribshopper, which is a start-up company, small businesses in the twin-island republic are now accessing the North American market.

The less-than-year-old cultural e-commerce site specialises in the distribution of Caribbean-made products, presenting manufacturers and small and micro enterprises with the opportunity to benefit from a robust eco-system that facilitates online payments and international shipping direct to consumers.

There is no cost to listing products on the site, making the platform an affordable business solution that significantly expands the capacity of local producers, while simultaneously satisfying the needs of a vast diaspora eager for a taste of home.

Caribshopper, which opened its virtual doors in Jamaica in October 2020 and recently expanded its operations to Trinidad & Tobago, is seeing a strong take-up in the Trinidad and Tobago market.

The site features more than 1,900 products from approximately 170 vendors in sectors ranging from food and health to beauty and home. Thus far, it has facilitated over 3,000 sales with shipments made to 26 states in the United States and has tested shipments to Quebec and Ontario in Canada.

Adding more products from Trinidad and Tobago

The expectation is that these numbers will continue to rise as more products from Trinidad and Tobago are added to Caribshopper’s catalogue. Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, online operations have become necessary for survival and the aim of Caribshopper is to empower small businesses and entrepreneurs by enabling them to reach customers internationally.

As businesses throughout the Caribbean seek out new opportunities in an uncertain economic climate, Caribshopper’s chief marketing officer, Catherine Goodall, is confident that the young Jamaica-based company is capable of helping businesses not only operate, but thrive remotely.

Positing that, “Caribshopper is the premiere Caribbean marketplace, committed to ensuring our merchants have the best resources and sense of community needed to take their business to the rest of the world,” Goodall is encouraging small businesses interested in listing their products on Caribshopper to visit caribshopper.com to register as a merchant.

Explaining the business model, Goodall remarked that it was “different from everyone else’s”.

Said Goodall: “We looked at the needs of the merchants and view our relationship like a partnership. We help to tell their stories, market their products and enhance and grow their business – all at no cost to them.”

Onboarding vendors to Caribshopper

Goodall acknowledges that not every small business is in a position to instantly migrate online but was quick to point out that Caribshopper is equipped with all the tools and resources required to fully onboard vendors selling quality, locally produced goods.

“We meet the merchants at their point of need. If they aren’t ready for the platform, we help them to become ready,” she said, adding that the company has an entire team dedicated to their onboarding.

“We call it our Merchant Success Team, and they exist for the sole purpose of ensuring our merchants are successful on the platform, from onboarding to execution,” Goodall said.

Once registered, merchants benefit from Caribshopper’s virtual and physical infrastructure. This includes various marketing initiatives to drive sales; as well as logistics management through strategic partnerships with international shipping companies such as DHL and UPS; as well as payment platforms such as MasterCard and WiPay