The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A fledgling Bahamian artisan company is eyeing a mass-scale light manufacturing venture, its owner telling Tribune Business there was a huge market for Bahamian hand crafted products.

Dandria Miller, chief executive of ADM’s Lair, which officially launched in 2011, told Tribune Business that after 30 years in banking she was looking now to venture into the handcraft business full time.

“I am phasing out of my 9am-5pm life, and I will be venturing into that full-time as soon as I get the business up and running so that it generates more revenue,” she said.

“I really intend to take it to another level where I want to go into light manufacturing of the items on a mass scale, and turn it into a viable business.”

Ms Miller said she initially began making handcrafted items as a hobby. “I really started at the feet of my grand mom in terms of being able to sew my own hand-made garments and quilts,” she explained.

“Then, as I saw the market opening up for these types of products both locally and internationally, that motivated me to really expand into that area. Now I have decided to take that leap of faith and turn it into a business venture.”

She added: “The reception I have received so far has ben quite encouraging. I think the market for such products is huge. It’s labour intensive. I work 9am-5pm, and every minute I am not at my job I’m in my studio.

“It’s fulfilling, however, when at the end I see the satisfaction of the customers when they receive their custom-made garments or craft items.”

ADM’s Lair Studio specialises in creating authentic Bahamian ‘handmade treasures with a flair’, designing and creating unique wall art quilts, home decor items and lap and bed quilts for adults and children.

“I’m looking at focusing on getting our kids to appreciate the Bahamian aspect of a whole lot of our cultural items,” said Ms Miller.

“The name of the company is in memory of my dad. ADM, those are his initials. He was a self-employed taxi driver who always encouraged me to follow my passion and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

ADM’s Lair recently made its debut at this year’s Bahamas National Trust Christmas Jollification, the main event for buying hand-crafted goods and other holiday products.