Delving into the BOOM, talking entrepreneurship with Javette Nixon

In March of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, with a then over 3 million cases worldwide. Not only has it taken lives, it has changed the way we as humans have lived. As the world hadn’t seen a pandemic of this magnitude, many were left unprepared to handle the direct and indirect impacts of this disease. The ideology of “income security” became far-fetched as many were laid off and became redundant in their workplaces as a result of businesses having to cut back on the number of employees or cease operations entirely.

Despite this, many were able to rise above the situation, and create business ventures that would be able to give hope in providing a secured income. Being unemployed isn’t the end of the road, as it is indeed possible to not be reliant on the paycheck from a basic 9-5 and generate a guaranteed source of income. However, it is important to note that when deciding to start a business, measures should be taken in order for the business to withstand any form of economic crisis.

As a result, this campaign, led by Abigail Simpson, Kasheem Lawrence, Mersuda Neils and Rebecca McIntosh, aims to not only identify entrepreneurs who were able to create businesses during the pandemic but encourage current business owners and future entrepreneurs to create sustainable business that are able to withstand any form of economic crisis. Note well, no business can be 100% recession proof, however, with the appropriate plans and measures set, these business can overcome any global economic distress.

In attaining an expert opinion on the problem domain of our campaign, I spoke with Mr. Javette Nixon. He is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Point Global Marketing Group (POINT), Seaforth Holding Limited and Esther Ventures Limited, as well as a Director at Vein Centers of Jamaica. He is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and marketing consultant for well over 10 years. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of the West Indies, Mona and a Master’s of Science degree in International Marketing from the Hult International Business School in Boston, starting his first company at just the age of 23, he has worked with many companies such as Capital & Credit Merchant Bank and actively invested in start-up businesses such as Zoombridge Solutions.

In speaking with Mr. Nixon, he emphasizes the importance to note that when going into any business, the possibility will exist of failure. Business owners would have to face challenges tougher than any they have ever seen. In directly addressing the problem of creating a resilient business, he gave three ideal solutions that can be adapted in any business:

1. Understand the underlining trends that are happening in the economy, whether it is a shift in the consumer base, or a trend in the economy, it is important for any business to understand such trends in order to make adjustments to their business where needed.
2. In order to “future-proof” your business, accessing information and mentorship is key. Whether it is through a consultancy agency or even on Youtube, it is important to research means on how to maintain and grow your business.
3. Obsess about how you can grow the customer base of the business and for each to see the value in the service that you are providing. Ask yourself, “How do I acquire customers to pay for my service?”, as customers are ultimately what pays for your business.

All in all, no business can avoid the effects of any economic crisis. As a result, challenges will arise in turn causing changes in the dynamic of the business. It is now on the business owner to ensure that he takes the necessary steps to withstand and overcome it.