Vendors want Caribbean Grand Market to reach wider audience

Vendors at the Caribbean Grand Market have welcomed the opportunity to showcase their products but say greater promotion and different timing could help the event attract more shoppers.

The market at CARIFESTA House is an extension of CARIFESTA 2025, bringing together 160 vendors from across the region selling fashion, art, craft, food, wellness products, home décor and more.

Sylvester ‘Adelabu’ Clarke of Adelabu’s Barbados demonstrating weaving. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)

Clothing vendor Victoria Martin said she was satisfied with the space, but noted that some vendors thought the event needed more promotion.

Clothing vendor Victoria Martin. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)

“I think it’s a good outlet for the entrepreneurs to apply their trade,” she said. “I really don’t have a problem with the spacing. I don’t because last time we did not have this amount of space to work with.”

However, she said there appeared to be a lack of public awareness about the event.

“Persons were saying to me that they never knew that something was being held here,” Martin noted. “And they would have liked it to be advertised more or, you know, in a longer time span.”

Martin also suggested reconsidering the timing of the market for future editions.

“Vendors were saying this should have been held before Crop Over,” she said, explaining that consumers spend heavily during the festival before shifting their attention to back-to-school expenses.

She said moving the event closer to Independence could give vendors another opportunity to benefit from shoppers.

“I think it’s good for the Caribbean, maybe a different time, as I said, closer to Independence because you will find more people coming in to buy stuff for Independence and not only for Independence, but they will also pick up stuff like Christmas and so on, like gift items and so.”

Martin suggested that vendors could prepare gift packages ahead of the festive season.

“Then we could prepare, you know, little gift sets, packages, gift packages and so on,” she said. “Then, it would be easier if a person would just come looking for Independence gifts and Christmas gifts.”

For Rhea Cummins-Jordan, owner and lead designer of Blac Flamingo Apparel, the market provides another platform for Barbadian artisans and their work.

Owner and lead designer of Blac Flamingo Apparel Rhea Cummins-Jordan. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)

The Afro-Caribbean resortwear designer, who has operated her brand for at least 12 years, said she was pleased to be participating in the event.

“This is my day one for Grand Market,” she said. “So right now it’s a bit quiet, but it usually picks up in the afternoon. So I’m looking forward to that. I’m excited to be here and very honoured for the opportunity as well.”

Cummins-Jordan said the event matters because it focuses on Caribbean culture and local creative talent.

“I think it’s highlighting a lot more of our culture and a lot more of our artisans and craftsmen, and we really do appreciate the opportunity and we wish we could have more events like this year-round as well.”

While vendors considered ways the market could be improved, National Cultural Foundation Senior Business Development Officer and Caribbean Grand Market producer Andre Hoyte said the initiative was started to build on regional connections established through CARIFESTA.

National Cultural Foundation Senior Business Development Officer and Caribbean Grand Market producer Andre Hoyte. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)

“Caribbean Grand Market is an extension. It’s a legacy component of CARIFESTA, which was held in Barbados last year,” he said.

Hoyte explained that the initiative also forms part of the commitment to supporting regional trade among creatives.

“This is one of the promises made by the Prime Minister that we will continue to support regional trade with our creatives, and this is just one of those ways in which we’re doing so.”

He said the market was held in August because it aligned with the timing of Crop Over and the CARIFESTA anniversary.

“Just happened to be right after Crop Over and, almost a whole year after we had CARIFESTA,” Hoyte said. “It just happened to be, you know, that special time where we’re celebrating the entire season of emancipation and really building on the connections we made in Carifesta with the region last year.”

The 160 vendors participating in the market represent a wide range of creative and commercial interests, including fashion and accessories, food, gourmet products, spa and wellness, home products, literary arts and plants.

Rose Forrester of Rosey’s Art and Craft speaking to customers. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)

The Caribbean Grand Market is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at CARIFESTA House, and admission is free. Children can participate in activities during the day, with live entertainment nightly.

(LE)