I’ve had the pleasure of working with my guest on this episode so I have firsthand experience with how thorough, thoughtful and professional she is. She’s another terrific under-30 entrepreneur that I’m proud to be featuring. Christina Hunte is the owner and lead marketing strategist of Kreativ Edge, a business she founded after an unfortunate expe…

On this episode, I’m talking to the owner of Artist Made, a fine arts-based business. Shanika Grimes is a young woman who is full of life and personality but she’s also full of practical know-how and drive to create business success. After operating from a rental property Shanika bit the bullet and got the financing to build her own studio, complet…

So just like that, the world has changed. The new coronavirus, COVID-19, caught us all off-guard didn’t it? Many brands and businesses all over the planet including Barbados are in a lurch right now. So this episode is a little different. First I’ll share some perspectives from a few of my previous interviewees to hear what COVID-19 means or has me…

Jasmine Evelyn, the Founder of Mindful Movement Physiotherapy and Yoga Practice is my guest on this episode of Backstage with Bajan Brands. I've been following this young physiotherapist on Instagram for about a year now. A few things appeal to me. She has a background in dance, which I have, she practises yoga, which I do, she specialises in physi…

They make cheese in Barbados?! That’s the response my next guest on the podcast gets when she shows up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at international cheese events. That’s the response she got from me when I first sampled her products at a very popular all-inclusive event during Barbados’ Crop-Over festival 4 years ago. Andrea Power isn’t shy about …

In November 2019 I saw an ad on Instagram that I’ll admit got me pretty excited. Part of the caption read - “Living Bliss Barbados is the first and only furniture retail company in Barbados to offer you a full 3D image of your furniture online. We also offer customization options online and a price is generated right at your fingertips.” So, of cou…

It was 2017 and I was preparing for a big company opening event. I wanted each guest to leave with something special, something local, something beautiful and something almost everyone could enjoy. In my search for that special thing, I came across Jem’s gourmet chocolates. I made the call to Melissia Batson the founder of Jem’s and with her guidan…

My guests on this week’s episode have created a Street Food brand using a new take on an old sidewalk favourite in Barbados - corn on the cob. Traditionally it’s heavily roasted or steamed and bathed in butter. But Halley Franklyn and Rachael Kennedy the co-owners and life partners behind Cobz Street Corn are doing something a lot different with co…

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Nichole Murray had a health scare some years ago that sent her digging back into our Bajan bush tea roots. She’s better now and her resulting Naturinda’s brand of teas is quickly evolving into diverse lines of health-focused beverages. You’ll want to listen to Nichole, she’s engaging, emphatic about her mission, and completely open about the challe…

Melinda Belle is an intriguing lady and entrepreneur of 7 years. Starting out with her company Astrape Finance offering accounting and financial management for small businesses she's now also known for the Money Matters with Melinda community and the ImageUp Summit. When it comes to building a personal brand in her niche, she's killin' it! Well kno…

Locally, there are several emerging handmade soap producers operating mainly from home. One of these has named her young brand “Dawn by Nature” and it has become a personal favourite of mine. Two of the products quieted the terrible itching caused by an allergic reaction I had earlier this year that resulted in a breakout on my arms, chest and legs…

A round up of highlights from the first 6 episodes of the podcast.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dianne-squires/message

Real Estate development company Apex Construction Inc. started operations in 1988 in the midst of a middle-class home building explosion in Barbados. Today 30 years on the company is still intensely focused on the market it wanted to serve back then -. the typical middle-class Barbadian family with dreams of owning an affordable and finished home. …

If you’ve ever shopped in the commercial centre of Barbados’ capital Bridgetown, you may be familiar with the two often contrasted and most popular streets. Broad Street, considered more ‘high brow’ and Swan Street, known for one-door bargain shops. Well, Harmony a small ladies clothing retail store was an anomaly on Swan Street when I discovered i…

Multi-media consultant Rachelle Mayers founded Mayers Media Inc. 7 years ago in Barbados after a whirlwind run in the entertainment industry in Jamaica. Rachelle is a tech head, a creative and a solopreneur extraordinaire. She’s expanded her personal skill set in videography, film-making, editing and directing and has established strong professiona…

In Barbados the name Nicholls is synonymous with bread and more specifically salt bread, a Bajan (Barbadian) favourite for tummy-filling sandwiches we call cutters. Harold Nicholls founded Nicholls Baking Co. in Antigua in 1958, but then relocated to Barbados where the business has been operating since 1967. There’s no question of its longevity, bu…

In this second episode of Backstage with Bajan Brands I chat with husband and wife team Empress Zingha and DJ Simmons. They founded Gine On?! the online magazine, 2 years ago to feature upcoming arts events in Barbados, along with the artists involved in them. Pretty much a round-up of what's going on in Barbados, or as we locals say "Wuh Gine on".…

Brand and Design Consultant Ann-Marie King was the lady behind the incredible development of Barbadian agribusiness brand, Carmeta's. I recently wrote a Linkedin article on why Carmeta's with its range of gluten-free flours, flour mixes, cookies, cakes and desserts, all processed from local produce, and its seasoned meats, is one of my favourite Ba…