PRESIDENT of the Barbados Manufacturing Association, James Husbands (left), aide-de-camp to the Governor General, Lieutenant Carson Hackett, and Governor-General Sir Clifford Husbands getting an insight into an Earth Mother Botanicals product from Amy Lemay (right). (Picture by Charles Grant)

THE BUY BAJAN campaign is still in full swing, despite the influx of cheaper imports and the rising cost of living.

Speaking to the SUNDAY SUN on the second day of BMEX yesterday at Sherbourne, special projects co-ordinator for the Barbados Manufacturers Association (BMA) Shelly Austin-Taylor said some agencies were stepping up their campaigns in view of the aforementioned challenges.

"The thing is the more we [as Barbadians] buy, the more demand there will be for the product and they should be able to turn over and do things quicker, which should make things cheaper," she argued.

Using furniture as an example, Austin-Taylor said locally made pieces last a lot longer than the imported ready-to-assemble pieces which are cheaper.

"In a case like this,
it would be if you were gonna balance quality versus something that will last long. When you work it out in the long run having to buy the cheaper item every two years and then you have one
item that can last
ten years.

But what if you don't have money to buy the more durable item now?

"That's something
that the manufacturers in all sectors will have
to grapple with at this point in time... There are meetings and there are also different organisations trying
to work together to see how they can make things more affordable for Barbadians," she said.

One of the features of BMEX is the Bajan Brandsmart in the food pavillion where a number of locally-made food products are being highlighted, some of which, she said customers were not aware of.

Recognising that there were a number of locally made products that consumers were not aware of, Austin-Taylor said Brands of Barbados was set up last year.

She said this Government division sets up at various supermarkets about three times a week, to promote the local products, through sampling.

Additional "shelf samplers" are placed
on select shelves
to alert customers
to the local product.

A total 156 booths, including 45 new exhibitors, have mounted displays this year from as far as Guyana and Jamaica. This is an increase of 36 over the 120 booths mounted last year.

Austin-Taylor said
the BMA will go on
a campaign as soon
as this year's exhibition is over to get companies in gear for next year.

BMEX continues today and tomorrow. (YB)