The Tribune

Every weekend, the Ministry of Tourism’s Authentically Bahamian Marketplace features hand-made Bahamian craft and souvenir products. Visitors and locals alike have an opportunity to experience indigenous food, craft, music and other aspects of Bahamian culture. This experience is essentially designed by the Ministry of Tourism to serve as a catalyst for other businesses to produce and sell authentic Bahamian products and services.

For some, the concept of authenticity involves having a close relationship with the consumer and customising the goods and services to suit their specific demands. Burger King touts being authentic with the slogan: “Have it your way”. What they are saying to consumers is that while being true to yourself and your brand defines an aspect of authenticity, it also involves the extent to which you incorporate the thoughts, feelings and opinions of others being impacted by your goods and services.

Authentic products that showcase the creativity of Bahamian handicrafts provide tremendous benefits to buyers and, by extension, the economy at large. Here are a few of the benefits:

1. Handcrafted products are usually green

Work done by hand takes less energy than a mass production assembly line, which makes it more environmentally sustainable. This is particularly true if the good is produced overseas and needs to be shipped a long distance to reach the consumer.

2. Handcrafted products are good for the job market

Authentically-designed handicraft providers are responsible for creating jobs. Whether they are small or medium-sized enterprises, larger manufacturing companies or single-man entrepreneurs, when businesses that produce local craft get a piece of the market, the economy smiles.

3. Handcrafted products are worth more

A number of experiments have shown that people value an object more highly when they are led to believe it contains an “air of authenticity” - for example, if they were told it was a work of art. This means that artisan products, be they jewellery or jam, are perceived to have more value in society. This is why assembly-line fast food sells at $7, and cook-to-order restaurants charge on average $40 per main course entree.

4. Handcrafted products are also just better

It is not just an amorphous air of authenticity that causes people to shell out more for handcrafted products. Handcrafted goods are often just better. Shoes, clothes, food and most other consumer items made by hand are usually of better quality than those made by machines.

5. Handcrafted products make you feel good about your purchases

Supporting local artisans and their eco-conscious business practices certainly makes the average nationalist feel as if they have done their part in strengthening the economy.

6. Handcrafted products help communities

It goes to reason that local companies producing authentic products return a higher percentage of their revenue to their communities. That means the people who make money off sales at independent businesses, their owners and employees, are more likely to spend their earnings at places in the same area where they work.

7. Handcrafted products can meet your needs better

You often have the option of customising your purchase with handmade goods. Because you are often dealing directly with the artisans when you purchase handcrafted products, they might be open to tweaking certain features specifically to fit your needs.

8. Handcrafted products are unique

One of the most prevalent, although least quantifiable, reasons people report for choosing to purchase authentically handcrafted goods is that they just like having something that did not come from a big company. The nature of handmade goods means there are fewer of them, so whatever you are wearing, eating or adding to your home is as unique as you are.

• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at iferguson@bahamas.com.