JMMB Supports Employees’ Side Businesses with Online Expo 

During a recent JMMB Goal Getter Live episode, which took the form of a virtual expo for small businesses, ten JMMB team members kicked off the two-part virtual small business expo, held via the company’s social media pages, showcasing a range of products to a diverse audience of Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora.

In sharing about the concept, Kerry-Ann Stimpson, group chief marketing officer and moderator of the session, notes, “Small businesses have a special place in our hearts as an organization born out of similar circumstances; as such, we are happy to support our team members in a holistic way.” Adding, “Although this virtual expo and the involvement of our team members is not novel for us, we decided to build on this model because it speaks to the core of who JMMB is for its clients and team alike. We, therefore, see this initiative as a fulfillment of JMMB’s Vision of Love, whereby we seek to create an organizational environment in which team members can achieve their full potential, and can extend those dreams beyond the organization.” 

Tiffany Blake, teller at JMMB Bank’s Haughton Terrace branch, and the creative genius behind Art by Hephzibah, lauded the virtual expo for the exposure she received noting, “It was a great opportunity that has already begun to payoff; within less than 24 hours, I got two prospective clients, who are interested in purchasing customized art pieces.” Marsha-Gaye Hibbert, senior operations officer at JMMB Group and owner of MGH Creates, echoed similar sentiments, while underscoring the value that the expo can deliver to other small businesses, “an event like this is timely, as it can provide a much needed boost for small businesses, like mine, especially at this time, when many small business operators look forward to the Christmas season to increase their sales.” Of course, Hibbert, like her team member, Tiffany, did not leave the virtual expo empty-handed, as she, within a day of the expo, has begun to facilitate orders for her Christmas ornaments and other customized items. She also commended JMMB’s efforts in hosting the expo, sharing, “I am very happy to be a part of an organization that stands for team members’ greatness, embraces entrepreneurship and encourages us to pursue our passions.”

Among the JMMB team members, who shared their entrepreneurial ventures during the recent virtual small business expo, are: Althea Walters with My Goal Tracker, a self-help planner; Tanniece Coote of The Girl in You, a beauty supplies retailer and manufacturer; Marsha-Gaye Hibbert of MGH Creates, a customized ornaments and specialty items supplier; Allycia Bennett of Leecha Crochet, providing crochet swimsuits and garments; Simone Dunbar of Framed by Simi, affordable eye frames; Tiffany Blake of Art by Hephzibah, customized portrait paintings; Gavin Walters of Sir Walters Photography; Claudine Campbell-Bryan of Scentre Yourself, an all-natural product line including candles and body products; Jason Jackson of Made by Jque, male accessories and styling services; and Kerri-Ann Ferguson of Smarty Pants, a children’s learning tool. 
 
Marketing exec, Stimpson, revealed, “As a result of the positive feedback received since the first staging of the virtual expo, in July, we decided to extend the opportunity to both our clients and team, as a signal of our commitment to fueling the entrepreneurial spirit in Jamaica.” As such, select small business clients, including companies in distribution, communication, information technology, fashion, skincare, health and manufacturing, joined in another virtual small business expo during a recent Goal Getter Live episode. The staging of these virtual business expos are timely, as November is celebrated as Entrepreneurial Month. 

This initiative is in keeping with JMMB Group’s thrust towards building out its focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); whereby, the company seeks to add value to its SME clients, through the provision of financial partnership, resources, innovative financial solutions and a network, throughout these SMEs’ business life cycles; thereby, providing necessary support for growth in the sector and filling the gaps that currently exist in the financial sector.

The JMMB Goal Getter Live series of webinars, is designed to give hope, lend expertise and share solutions that will assist clients and the wider public, to navigate the crisis; and serves as an avenue to address a cross-section of topical issues - thus underscoring JMMB Group’s commitment to being in its clients’ world.