Business: Its Two (in a Row) for NCU

JarGro, a smart appliance created to support the production of foods using natural LED plant light, and a built-in irrigation system (aeroponics), earned Northern Caribbean University their second consecutive victory in the National Business Model Competition at the Jamaica Conference Centre yesterday. Last year's winner Herboo, went on to place 8th (and best non-US team) at the international business model selection in the western US state of Utah.

Team members Colin Thorpe, David Smith and Craig Campbell walked away with a cheque of J$2 million and will be entering the international level of the competition in Utah, United States, in May.

The University of Technology team, Feevr, placed second, while NCU's Vitae came in third. The teams were awarded J$1 million and J$500,000, respectively, which will be used to assist in converting their business models into reality.

Digital Farms and Genius Software Programs and Electronics shared the fourth place prize of J$200,000.

The JArGro system, aimed at urban dwellers faced with serious space restrictions, uses 98 per cent less water and 70 per cent less fertilizer along with various sensors which enables it to process and act.

The system replicates the natural way plants grow thus providing all the attributes for the plant to strive and is built around a minimalistic concept that enables it to fit in one kitchen.

The NBMC is specially designed to encourage and promote the creative and innovative thinking of local students. It facilitates entrepreneurial skills and enhances collaboration and communication between the private sector stakeholders and education.

The competition is presented by the Development Bank of Jamaica, in association with the IDB, National Commercial Bank, GK Capital, Pan-Jam, the PSOJ, the ICD Group and US-based Alta Ventures.

Business:Final Hurdles for Biz Model hopefuls

The finish line - and boarding passes for a prize trip to Provo, Utah, are in sight for the participants in this year's National Business Model Competition, presented by the Development Bank of Jamaica with  a host of corporate sponsors (NCB, GK Capital, Pan-Jam and others).

The hopefuls gathered at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, to hear  and make presentations, and for the critical announcements of the finalists which include Vitae, Digital Farms, Genius, and JarGro.

They return to the waterfront site of the Conference Centre today, where only one will be left standing as far as the competition is concerned, but all see long-term futures for their businesses and products.

Business: This Year's "Models" line up for biz recognition

The 2nd annual Jamaica Business Model Competition, competed for amongst university-based entrepreneurial teams, officially got underway Thursday last, following a launch at the Development Bank of Jamaica offices n Kingston. In addition to the DBJ, the competition is presented by Sponsors  IDB, National Commercial Bank, Pan-Jam Investments and GK Capital

 The winner, to be chosen from some 12 teams representing 3 tertiary institutions, the UWI, UTech and Northern Caribbean University (NCU), will again be taken to Provo, Utah yo compete in the IBMC at the famed Brigham Young University. Jamaica’s National Business Model Competition 2014 winner – Herboo Enterprises - placed 8th, out of a total of 42 teams in the finals of the International Business Model Competition that took place in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 1 - 3.  The local team was also awarded the International Business Model Award. They won a total of US$ 6,000.00. The principals, along with runner-up NCR Lamb, were present at the launch

The IBMC is currently co-hosted by Brigham Young University, Harvard University, and Stanford University.  This year’s event was held at Brigham Young University in Utah, and teams from universities worldwide, competed for the prestigious award of IBMC trophy and cash prize of US$25,000.

This was the first time that Jamaica has participated in the International Business Model Competition and is the culmination of six months of intense work.

Business Modelling is a relatively new phenomenon that is geared at reducing the failure rate of start-up businesses.  It focuses on identifying and precisely defining the assumptions of the new venture, testing those assumptions in the field, and then pivoting (changing) based on the lessons learned.

The Death of the Jamaican movie house

So, had a discussion Friay night last with Sasha Bowie and host Simon Crosskill on CVM-Tv's "Live@7"  programme on the topic of Jamaica's disappearing movie houses. One might believe its hardly worth comment, in that the economics of the entertainment biz (and of cinema in particular) has changed drastically all over the world.

But when you consider that we've gone from no less than 4 theatres in a 400-yard radius as recently as the 1980s, to 2 locations  for the entire city of Kingston, then one can see the merits of discussing the issue Its interesting to learn that he Palace Amusement Co that today operates as a virtual monopoly exhibitor, was itself originally in a competitive situation and is in fact now owned by persons, the Graham family (and the 150 or so shareholders) who were in competition with the original Palace

The quote from Melanie Graham is taken from a Gleaner article by Tanya Batson-Savage.

The Palace Amusement Company (1921) Limited was formed by Audley Morais, and operated as a Private Company prior to 1921 (silent movie days). He re-formed the company and offered shares to the public in 1921.

Over the years the Company operated Movies, Rose Gardens, and Palace Cinemas. Gaiety and Majestic was subsequently acquired, Odeon (Mandeville) was leased, and other cinemas ( urban and rural) were built. It operated cinemas and distributed films to many of the independent cinemas that existed in Jamaica and Cayman.

In 1938, Cinema Company of Jamaica Limited built the Carib, in competition to Palace.

In 1947, J. Arthur Rank, from the United Kingdom, bought control in Palace Amusement Company.   The Rank Organisation  bought out Cinema Company of Jamaica Ltd. owner of the Carib.    J. Arthur Rank closed the Movies and built Odeon in Mandeville in 1951, and Odeon in Half Way Tree in 1952.

In l949, Russell Graham built the Tropical Cinema Company, and used it as a centerpiece of the competition that he mounted for the movie audience against Palace.

In 1962, Russgram Investments Limited - a Company owned by Russell Graham - bought the controlling interest in Palace Amusement Company from J. Arthur Rank, and Douglas Graham was appointed Managing Director. The new regime purchased the Majestic Cinema on Spanish Town Road, built the Harbour View Drive In as a partly owned subsidiary, and took control of Tropical Cinema Company, which was a 2-cinema company - Tropical and Rialto.

In 1989, Russell Graham sold his Russgram Investments Company to Douglas Graham, who still has ownership of it.

Palace Amusement Company is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and has approximately 150 shareholders. There are l,437,028 issued stock units. Russgram Investments Limited presently owns 62.05% of the shares in Palace Amusement Company.

So Palace has, in effect, become what they initially fought against. A very typical situation with monopolies, at least in the Jamaican context thus far.

Odeon is by no means unique. A drive through Downtown will also reveal signs on now dilapidated buildings which clearly, if not brightly, state that they were once movie houses. However, not all the old theatre buildings bear reminders of what they once were. It has probably begun to slip from memory that there were actually four cinemas in Cross Roads not too long ago (a perspective which may vary, depending on your age).

Sharing space with Carib was the Regal theatre. It used to be housed in the building which Azan's now occupies. The more recent closing was that of the State theatre. Up to last year it was home to the Kingston Church of Christ and, at the end of last year, the seats were up for sale. Its days as a theatre are long over and there is no sign that they will return.

The other, almost directly across from Courts, now also hosts a church.

Movie buff extraordinaire, Orville Clarke, reflects on the days when there were cinemas in every parish. An avid moviegoer since the 1950s, he names several theatres which existed throughout Kingston. Among them is the very famous Rialto (also of The Harder They Come fame), along with Kings, Gaiety, Queens, Majestic, Ritz, Tropical, Globe and Deluxe. The names of the cinemas seem to reek of the glitz and glamour which they used to hold.

Outside Kingston , The Del Mar (Port Antonio), Empire (Morant Bay) and Capri (May Pen) all added to what helped to create the movie culture in Jamaica. The second city, Montego Bay, had four cinemas strand, The Roxy, Palladium and Coral.

It appears that only Carib is left from that golden era. The grand white building still stands boldly defiant in the middle of Cross Roads. Now Carib 5, the cinema has changed from the single screen set-up that could hold well over 1,000 people at once. Devoured by fire in September of 1996, the cinema managed to arise phoenix-like from the flames. It was also able to do what so many others were unable to do. Change.

Ms. Melanie Graham, marketing manager for Palace Amusement Company, attempted to explain why she believes none of these cinemas were able to last. "They all closed because they were the old type of movie cinemas. Not air-conditioned, very sparse seat, and I think with the advent of video... that added to their demise," she said. She went on to explain that in order to continue to thrive, cinemas needed a lot of investment. "I don't think at the time they were willing to spend to upgrade," she stated, also noting that the admission rates were not very profitable.