Jul 2014 Financial News

Massy makes mark (Barbados)

Jul 04, 2014

Several long-standing and familiar Barbadian corporate brand names have become casualties of a rebranding exercise by their Trinidad and Tobago owner The Neal & Massy Group.

But speaking in anticipation of likely opposition to the move by some Barbadians, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss said rather than complaining, these individuals should see it as motivation to become more “aggressive” and spread “their wings” overseas.

As a result of the rebranding announced Wednesday evening outside of the new Dome Mall by the Trinidad company’s president and group chief executive officer Gervase Warner, its change of name to Massy has resulted in what was known as Barbados Shipping & Trading for nearly 100 years becoming Massy (Barbados) Limited.

Additionally, SuperCentre will now be called Massy Stores Supermarket and there are also name changes for Dacosta Mannings (Massy Stores Home), Knights Pharmacy (Massy Stores Pharmacy), 99 Convenience (Massy Stores Express), United Insurance (Massy United Insurance), SBI Distribution (Massy Distribution), Illuminat (Massy Technologies), SP Musson (Massy Properties), Booth Steamship (Massy Shipping Services), and Dacosta Distribution (Massy Gas Products).

Saying the rebranding was three years in the making, Warner said it was not a sign that his company had no regard for the long-standing company names and brands Barbadians were familiar with, and he pointed out that some well-known brands in Trinidad had also been similarly affected.

He said what was more important was that the company had strengthened its corporate identity, would be more cohesive across all companies and would be able to improve communication with customers and partners as well as service.

“This rebrand is more than just a change of name . . . . This rebrand is about a new beginning. This represents a new beginning for all of us,” he said.

Inniss urged Barbadians, especially business leaders, to be motivated to leave their own mark outside of the country, even if in partnership with companies like Massy.

“Quite frankly some people here in Barbados may see an event like this as the final touches of a Trinidadian company takeover, and I say that we need to move beyond that rhetoric and face some realities, realities that say we here must be a bit more accepting of others and their enterprises while at the same time being more aggressive in our pursuit of indigenous enterprises and spreading our wings further afield,” he said.

“If our companies here in Barbados cannot do it alone then I would suggest that we hitch our wagon to that of Neal & Massy and others and soar to higher heights.” (SC)


Source:
Nation News
Friday July 4, 2014

http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/massy-makes-mark/