E-COMMERCE IS A SOCIAL REVOLUTION THAT CHANGES THE WAY BUSINESS OPERATES.

By Sandra Davis
Go-Jamaica

As the distinctions between night and day, weekend and weekday are increasingly eroded, more people are turning to the Internet for business, entertainment, information and shopping.

With the introduction of the Internet via personal computers in peoples’ homes, all around the world now provide businesses with the opportunity to offer goods and services online.

In just four short years Go-Jamaica has provided an array of services distinct and apart from the news.  These services include e-commerce facilities, which help local businesses to sell their products and services overseas by putting advertisements online.  The ability to use credit cards for online business is a big plus.  Go-Jamaica makes entry into the lucrative market simple and affordable.  Go-Jamaica is the flagship online news and entertainment service of The Gleaner newspaper. 

LOCAL SUCCESS

Joanne Simpson, author of the books “The Jamaican Woman” (new), “Only in Jamaica” to name a few, came on board with Go-Jamaica in 1999 and is very happy with the decision to join Go-Jamaica’s storefront. Selling her books online was part of her marketing strategy in which she was able to publicize her books online.  As reference points it helps her to reach prospective clients across the world.

These transactions are all administered by Go-Jamaica – Joanne Simpson only really services the order and accepts the payment. It’s an easy and uncomplicated life - something everyone engaged in business wants!  “Another plus by operating online via Go-Jamaica I am able to work on very short cycles, responding each day to incoming orders and have time to do things I enjoy”, said Joanne Simpson. Ms Simpson states that, doing business via the Internet is the way of the future. Companies who are not selling online need to be cognizant of the fact that in order to compete worldwide one needs to have a web site.

With the Christmas season around the corner Ms. Simpson is using Go-Jamaica e-commerce facilities as a launching pad for her new book “The Jamaican Woman” by targeting Corporate Jamaica to buy her books as gifts for their clients.  Also to use it as an educational tool in which The Jamaica Library Service could use as a reference in their libraries across Jamaica.  Her main focus of this book is for ‘Black History Month’ in February 2002.  These strategies will assist her to be more armed for her overseas launch to the USA, UK and Canada starting January 2002. 

“The name Irie Regards was used because we wanted a name that was classy and Jamaican," said Carol Orane, Managing Director.  Irie Regards is a local business taking full advantage of this service offer by Go-Jamaica.  The Kingston based company specializes in gift baskets for all occasions.  It took up the e-commerce mantle a year ago, “we decided to get online with Go-Jamaica because we were looking at ways to expand our customer base and we felt there was a large population of overseas Jamaican reading the Gleaner online – who are still connected to Jamaica,” said Carol Orane. 

After Irie Regards web site was built, we went into a whole planning of advertising in the overseas papers to promote the web site.  We have been receiving orders from Jamaicans living in the USA who want to send gifts to their love ones and friends back home.  For the Christmas Irie Regards has developed a Christmas page (pictures were done by Ray Chen) which is placed on the Front Page of their web site to help generate interest at home and abroad this Christmas. 

Irie Regards future plans include having a presence on Go-Jamaica and to improve on the web site.  For companies or individuals who which to expand their business for the Internet purposes should take the route Irie Regards took - Go-Jamaica.  There is already established a shopping mall and it is very simple to get started and get the products moving.  It is the best marketing strategy that any company or individual could use to reach the overseas market.

“JamChat first heard about Go-Jamaica e-commerce facilities as being the best in Jamaica and that it was the way forward in terms of advertising our business and to maintain a competitive edge”, said Courtney Thompson, Manager. JamChat is Jamaica’s first Internet telephony reseller.  “We believe that every Jamaican has the right to use the Internet to make cheap calls”, stated Mr. Thompson.

“JamChat four months later is very impressed with the services offered by the Go-Jamaica Team which have been very efficient and effective”, commended Mr. Thompson.

JamChat plans for the Christmas and the coming New Year include advertising on Go-Jamaica and to allow customers without credit cards to still place their order online by depositing their payment in an account at The Bank of Nova Scotia.

JamChat has not regretted the day they choose to use the e-commerce services of Go-Jamaica.  “You do not know what you are missing to promote your business by not going online with Go-Jamaica,” said Courtney Thompson.

Genealogy of Jamaica is an aid to research on Jamaican families and contains about 75,000 names, over 24,000 marriage and 1136 photos plus numerous text files, all with Jamaican connection.

“Not having a web site two years ago prevented Genealogy of Jamaica from selling its product online,” said Donald Lindo, Manager. Mr. Lindo said, “Genealogy of Jamaica decided to use the e-commerce service of Go-Jamaica because it was the best possible way in which to sell our CDs to individuals living overseas and who have Jamaica connections and wanted to research information about their roots”. 

We have presently online the 3^rd edition and our plans for the New Year is to complete the 4^th edition and have it up and running so that Jamaican both overseas and local can receive more information on their family tree.  We also plan to make our presence be felt more on Go-Jamaica.

“Having used the services offered by Go-Jamaica, we would recommend to companies and individuals alike who are seeking to expand their advertising beyond the traditional print and radio media to utilize the services of Go-Jamaica,” said Donald Lindo. You will find a friendly, helpful team of young professionals willing and able to cost-effectively extend the range of potential clients/customers for your business

If you would like to investigate ways to have your business reach the world through GO-JAMAICA, contact The Gleaner Office at 932-6073 or visit GO-JAMAICA at www.go-jamaica.com.