Business Insight

Link: Twitter’s One Of A Kind Board – Former CEO Dick Costolo May Be Replaced

Twitter’s board makeup is a rarity in the corporate world. According to a recent study by Equilar, which tracks executive compensation, there are no companies in the S&P 500 index with three of their former CEOs on the board. Thirteen … Continue reading →

May 22, 2014 Business Insight 3 Comments

3 Reasons Why A Liberalized Telecommunications Sector Was The Best Thing For Jamaica

Growing up in Jamaica, one can never forget the day in the late 1990s that the government decided to open our telecommunications industry to competition, ending years of monopoly service. To many, those were the days of neglect, limited innovation … Continue reading →

Payphones were once a hit in Jamaica Chelsea Gomez

Business Insight
May 18, 2014 Business Insight Leave a comment

Remembering Mother’s Day At Devon House: Why Some Businesses Are Slow To Or Never Respond

There are NOT many products, businesses, or places that people will line up for hoooours to buy or use. Not many in Jamaica and not many in the world. However there are some that are different. No matter which day … Continue reading →

Enticing waffle cone by megan

Business Insight
May 5, 2014 Business Insight, e-Update, Products Leave a comment

Send A Text And Find A Phone Number… In Seconds! Text ‘4-Yellow’ Makes It Amazingly Easy.

Recently, I wanted to find the phone number of a company to get some plumbing supplies. Since I was at work and I had a physical directory, I knew it would be best to find the number before I went … Continue reading →

Text 4-Yellow Promotion By The Jamaica Yellow Pages

Business Insight, e-Update, Products
October 22, 2013 Business Insight Leave a comment

SSL In Trouble? The Silence Is Definitely Not Good!

So far, this seems to be the only information out there (press release below)… well online at least. But in the minds, hearts and private conversations of a whole lot of hopeful, doubtful, pessimistic and skeptical investors, a lot of … Continue reading →

Stocks and Securities Promo Video

Stocks and Securities Promo Video

Business Insight

Yes To Venture Capital, But Count The Costs

With the recent DBJ Venture capital conference, there has been renewed interest in the venture capital market in Jamaica, and a lot of effort is behind the establishment of same. In her weekly Sunday Gleaner column, Yaneek Page considers the Good, Bad And Ugly Sides of Venture Capital, a must read for those who want to quickly get up to speed with what’s at stake. Continue Reading →

News Ticker, Startups & Venture Capital
September 11, 2013 Business Insight, e-Update, Startups & Venture Capital Leave a comment

Chocolate Dreams Launches Ambitious Kickstarter Campaign To Raise US$50,000 (J$5m) Online!

Already 10 days into their 30 day campaign, Chocolate Dreams has managed to raise US$645 of their ambitious US$50,000 goal – that’s a little over 1%. We don’t think it’s impossible though, and so we’re very hopeful for the success … Continue reading →

Chocolate Dreams Kickstarter Campaign

Business Insight, e-Update, Startups & Venture Capital
September 9, 2013 e-Update, Startups & Venture Capital Leave a comment

Big Venture Capital Conference Today! What Do You Know About VCs?

The day that we have been waiting for has finally come. Today will be the continuation of Jamaica’s efforts to establish its venture capital market, and it promises to be an exciting day as the Development Bank of Jamaica’s Venture Capital … Continue reading →

DBJ Venture Capital Conference - September 9, 2013

e-Update, Startups & Venture Capital

Over 11,000 Pawn Shops In The US, With Average Loan Size Of US$150

Continued Growth in the Pawn Industry. Loan Size Up 88% To US$150 Since 2008

In Michigan and many other states, pawn customers pay a maximum interest rate of 3 percent per month. Of course, a 3 percent interest rate works out to a 36 percent annual rate. A typical rate can be much higher in unregulated states — about 10 percent for a 30-day loan, according to National Pawnbrokers Association spokesman Emmett Murphy.

Continue Reading →

Business Insight
August 21, 2013 Startups & Venture Capital Leave a comment

QUESTION: Who and Where Are The Business Incubators or Venture Capitalists In The Caribbean?

I have a business idea, heck I’ve already started the business, and I’ve done some planing and the ground work. But I’ve come to a place where I’m thinking that if I get some support then I definitely could take … Continue reading →

Startups & Venture Capital
August 20, 2013 Startups & Venture Capital Leave a comment

One Almost Fatal Mistake A Young Business Can Make In The Early Stages…

Not reaching out for help. Not having a sound support system. Not getting enough advice and feedback. Not doing enough research. Having a good team of advisors, even friends or family that can act as a sounding board is always … Continue reading →

Mistakes I've made

Startups & Venture Capital

Reward Card Business Heats Up! Magna Against All Others

With 500,000 active customers and more than 70 partners at more than 250 locations, Magna, which is jointly owned by Prism Services Inc of Barbados and Neal & Massy Holdings of Trinidad comes close to monopolising the market.

Its regional markets also include Antigua, Grenada and St Vincent.

In Jamaica, Magna also has co-branded cards with Scotiabank, JIIC and Guardian Life, deepening its penetration in the market.

Sure Loyalty, the new kid on the block, has been challenging Magna with its own purple card since July 2012. It has grown to 20,000 customers and 11 partners, but has got some way to go before posing any great threat to Magna.

[Source: Gleaner]

Business Insight, News Ticker
August 19, 2013 Business Insight Leave a comment

Common Problems, Uncommon Solutions

With so many Caribbean businesses facing so many different challenges, I figured this would be a fitting story on how Jeff Bezos approached what could be considered a common problem, with a not-so-common solution. Here goes; It was so hot … Continue reading →

Business Insight
August 11, 2013 Business Insight, Stocks / I.P.O.s Leave a comment

Jamaican Teas Dissapointed In Stock’s Performance. Chooses Corporate Bond Instead

Investors can expect the Jamaican Teas Corporate Bond Offering any time now. However when questioned about the main reason for a bond offering instead of more equity CEO John Mahfood couldn’t resist lamenting the poor performance of his stock on … Continue reading →

Jamaican Teas Stock Market Price @ Aug 9, 2013

Business Insight, Stocks / I.P.O.s

And @blastpass is back… with their first deal in almost two months (49 days since the last deal on June 14, 2013)! Not a good sign. It’s good though that they’re still trying and are still able to convince retailers. One … Continue reading →

August 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

On The Ground News Reports Touts US$2 Million Valuation, But Lacks Real Content And Revenue To Back It

It may have missed a lot of us. It certainly missed me, until a friend asked me if I heard the story about On the Ground News Reports touting a J$200 million (US$2 million) valuation, based on future earnings. Continue Reading →

Startups & Venture Capital
July 24, 2013 Business Insight, Stocks / I.P.O.s Leave a comment

3 Lessons From How 40 Yr Old IPO Virgin SSL Did It 5 Times In 3 Years!

By now most investors and avid readers of business news would have seen the popular purple-ish and white colors of Stocks and Securities Ltd either in the papers or somewhere else. And if you’re not careful, you would probably think … Continue reading →

Business Insight, Stocks / I.P.O.s
April 21, 2013 Business Insight, Products Leave a comment

Blast Week 1 Review. Launch, Execution & Customer Response

One of the best times to check how serious a company is, is at its launch. Imagine Digicel at its launch, think back to the launch of the iPhone, or even the launch of a local mom and pop store … Continue reading →

Business Insight, Products

Never Mind The Existing 2500 Hotel Rooms. Tobago Is Seeking New Five Star Investments!

Tobago is trying to get more five-star hotel investments in the country.

Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Secretary of the Division of Tourism and Transportation (DOTT) in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), recently went on a trip to Berlin, Germany as a part of a T&T delegation that included representatives from the Division of Tourism and Transportation, Ministry of Tourism and various stakeholders at the Internationale Tourismusbörse (ITB), an annual tourism and travel trade convention in Germany. Continue Reading →

Business Insight

Government’s Neglect Costing Cane Farmers Over J$4m

There is a J$4.1 million cost which the cane farmers are begging the Jamaican government to help them offset, as they cannot afford it. But the government is saying, no way, Jose!

The Government of Jamaica has insisted that they cannot subsidize transportation costs for sugar this year. Continue Reading →

Business Insight