15/03/2024
You can't do it all alone. Admit it... Stop trying...
12 years ago interacting with Jamaican Manufacturers, one thing was certain to me. Jamaicans knew how to make exceptional products, but, as sad as it sounds, they had no idea how to market them. I saw a 25 year old kid fresh out of school make a face cream to clear up acne prone skin within 2 weeks. I saw persons making natural oils helping people regrow their hair. Also note: Persons getting results from these products had already tried big brands.. the well known ones. With no results.
I remember going inside a supermarket and scanning the shelf while speaking to myself. "'ll try this pepper sauce with the bad label". Taste on point. Flavour like i'd never tasted before. But did anyone know about it? No they didn't. Did they even have an Instagram Page? Did they do Ads? No they didn't. Do you know which product was flying off the shelf? The one that looked pretty. The one all over social edia. The one every "heard" about because their heads were in their phones.
My word to all Manufacturers... all Jamaican SMEs out their struggling with Marketing their products.. stop trying to do it all by yourself. Just stop. For the same reason I would have no idea how to make a bar of soap is the same reason you shouldn't try to market your products all on your own. In the world of business, just as you are a master at crafting life-changing products and services, there's a place for every professional.
Continuing my story, I left Jamaica because I HAD TO experience.. to feel.. to see how bigger brands marketed their products. Did my Marketing Degree in Belgium (Europe), came away with a distinction and went straight into an internship at one of the leading marketing Agencies there. After a couple of months, I switched to a manufacturer to help them with marketing and get an on-the-ground feel for how they market their products. let me tell you!
Absolutely awesome experience. One of my favourite campaigns I did a research on was where a company (can't tell the name for privacy reasons) was launching a new scented candle. A cinnamon spice one. They organized an event, and the hallway leading to the event was spread with the exact scent used in the candle. People experienced the smell of their new product before entering the event. Mond blowing campaigns like these can literally take your product from 0 to 100 so fast! Thei is only the tip of the iceberg.
For us Jamaicans, imagine a passionate local artisan, Lila, crafting exquisite handmade jewelry, each piece telling a story of Jamaican heritage. Her work is impeccable, her dedication unmatched. Yet, as her creations pile up, ready to dazzle the world, her Facebook and Instagram pages remain quiet, lost in the sea of digital noise. Her talent is undeniable, but her online voice is a whisper in a crowd, drowned out by less remarkable brands that shout from every digital rooftop. Lila is not alone; this is the untold struggle behind many SMEs' closed doors
Putting it as simply as possible, my name is Raymond Chambers and I started Coodeh Media to help every single Jamaican SME to market like giants.
Call me. And until we speak, keep making awesome products!
https://koalendar.com/e/meet-coodeh-media
