Cream of the crop

After their impressive victory in the Emerging Entrepreneurs category of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s 2016 Champions of Business Award ceremony, the duo behind d’Market Movers are basking in the afterglow of their success. And with good reason.

Renie said the Barataria-based company, established seven years ago, has grown exponentially since receiving the prestigious award.

They are grateful for the support and encouragement of their faithful cheerleaders, whom, they believe, played a monumental role in their victory.

“We have had an influx of new online customers which we are very grateful for as well as interest from other businesses who would like to use us to help distribute their brands through our online sales platform and tap into new market segments,” an excited Renie told Business Day.

Renie said they also intend to use the victory to propel their mission of becoming a leader in both agri-business and E-Commerce in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the region.

Also in the pipeline for the Barataria-based company, she said, are plans to take their Farm & Function, Frozen Fruit brand across a global market.

One of three entrepreneurs short-listed for the prestigious award at the recent gala function at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, d’Market Movers came up against some stiff competition in their category.

Cocobel Chocolate Limited, founded by Isabel Brash, became a force to be reckoned with in the industry after just seven years in business while the designing company, Anya Ayoung Chee Limited, led by the former 2008 Miss TT Universe contestant and winner of the US television show Project Runway, remains a major player on the fashion circuit.

Renie admitted they were somewhat daunted by their challengers.

Asked what accounted for their victory, she initially joked, “Our winning personalities, maybe.” On a serious note, though, Renie surmised that the innovativeness of the service they offered led to their success.

“We feel that our service impacts and enhances the lives of all our clients in a positive way and that definitely shone through. The level of innovation within our service and how we communicate with our customers was a major strong point.” She said, too, that the duo’s background and journey into business, resonated with many people.

“I think many people could identify with our story of taking that leap into the unknown without a large deal of backing,” Renie said.

Pioneers in their own right, Renie and Thomas were employees at a commercial bank when they decided to venture into business, seven years ago.

Observing that their colleagues were often too bogged down with work to search for the fresh products they yearned for daily, the team began taking orders at their office for fresh fish and seasonings, which were sourced mostly from Thomas’ hometown in Las Cuevas and Renie’s family green house in Piarco. Thomas and Renie also had shared a love for food and cooking with fresh ingredients - a passion which impressed their clients.

Combining health and convenience, d’ Market Movers has turned what many may consider to be a mundane activity - supplying fruits, vegetables and other healthy commodities - into a blossoming local empire.

The hallmark of their operation, Thomas said, has been the fact that clients no longer needed to worry about where to get the best, reasonablypriced produce: the company offers fresh delivery literally on one’s doorstep.

This facility is what he believes has underpinned d’Market Movers’ success.

At its inception, seven years ago, though, Thomas and Renie had toyed with the idea of opening “a traditional brick and mortar business,” but quickly dismissed the idea in favour of an on-line establishment because of the huge cost that would likely have been associated with such a move.

Thomas and Renie said they were prepared for the challenge given the limited number of online businesses within TT at that time.

They also observed that there were no online agri-businesses at the time they launched the business in TT.

The duo’s hard work, sacrifice and determination has paid off and they are now revelling in their phenomenal success.

“We were overwhelmed with joy and a bit surprised at first because we knew we were up against some strong female entrepreneurs,” Renie said of the award.

“But once it did sink in, we did feel a sense of validation that all of our hard work and dedication was being recognised. We also discovered that people found our story very inspirational and that made us very grateful.” Thomas and Renie, who received prizes from bmobile and Angostura as well as trophies and other accolades for their victory, told Business Day they enjoyed a solemn celebration with some of their closest friends and family.

“We did take a toast. Everyone was beaming with pride and support and reminded us that this was a moment we should cherish but it was also the beginning of the next phase in our careers and business that would require even more dedication and responsibility