Western Bureau:

Several small business operators in Montego Bay are intent on thriving despite the economic crisis, and have sought to retool themselves with training through the help of Jamaica National (JN) Small Business Loans Limited.

One such business operator is 62-year-old poultry farmer Dartlyn Gooden, who has carved out a niche market where sometimes demand exceeds supply.

"I first started out with 800 chickens (per week), but that was not enough because I began getting a lot of demand for my chicken. One thousand five hundred chickens, still was not enough. Now I'm at 2,500 chickens through the help of Jamaica National Small Business Loans (JNSBL). I was never a chicken farmer but I got into this business through a slowdown in my trade as a dressmaker and doll maker," a vibrant Gooden told The Gleaner.

Gooden, who was at the BizGrow seminar hosted by JNSBL at the Burchell Memorial Baptist Church yesterday, added that her relationship with the financial institution began in 2003 when she initially borrowed money to finish a plaza for rental in her community. However, the need to get involved in poultry was suggested to her and, being the ambitious entrepreneur she is, Gooden went into the business and has not looked back.

The shrewd businesswoman now supplies wholesales, restaurants and meat shops and employs nine workers on her farm. Her advice to persons who are jobless or just looking to start a business of their own is to "know what you are good at and what you would like to do. Always educate yourself on the type of business you are involved in and monitor your business."

Beef up efforts

The JNSBL Limited is the latest among the financial institutions in the country to beef up its efforts in Montego Bay, through engaging the public on wealth creation and surviving these economic times.

The JNSBL is a subsidiary of the Jamaica National Building Society and provides financial assistance to small and micro business sectors through a variety of loans. The seminar targeted the BizGrow category of persons who are in business for at least one year.

Among the issues that were discussed were: managing business growth, marketing, financial management, taxation, strategies for coping with the global economic crises and customer service.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com