Business View Caribbean, July/August 2018

78 79 island but we do have competition in every sector. The best way to combat that is to provide the best service you can, be customer focused, and have reasonable pricing. If you don’t have consistent good service and good pricing, reputation only takes you so far. Every single day, you have to work hard and earn that.” Frank adds, “Complacency is the biggest downfall. Taking your customers for granted– you never do that.” The annual Flowers Sea Swim celebrates its 26th year this summer. Dara explains, “My father was an injured marathon runner and he was looking to get into a different sport. He swam his first Sea Swim, fell in love, and decided he wanted to put one on. Originally, the Sea Swim just donated to Cayman swim- ming programs but, after Hurricane Ivan hit Grand Cayman so badly in 2004, we thought we needed to make it a more community-fo- cused charity effort. That year, the Sea Swim money helped cover a year’s living expenses for three hurricane-ravaged families with the “Live Free for a Year” campaign. Every year since, the Flowers Sea Swim has given back through wonderful local charities, including Big Broth- ers, Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and Feed Our Future. “This year we are pleased to partner with the Cayman Islands Crisis Center. Our goal is to raise money for them. In addition, all the products that Flowers makes, we will donate free towards them constructing a purpose-built facility, because there are a lot of abused wom- en, children, and men in our community that need support. So, we’re excited to be a part of that initiative.” The Flowers Group are members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, the Aircraft Handling Association, and the National Concrete Ma- sonry Association, and they value every single customer –whether you’re buying one single block or tons for a huge development. On the manufacturing side, the focus is on recycling, reducing carbon emissions, increased efficiency in production, and figuring out how to be green- er. Last year’s rebranding of the company was a fun exercise, especially changing 20-year-old logos. They also implemented a new website that’s more user-friendly and interactive for the customer, with the divisions separated to easily identify different product lines. Five years down the road, Dara acknowledges, “We are definitely looking at major expansion opportunities; continuing the succession plan- ning so we remain viable and stable in the fu- ture; and increasing efficiencies so we can pass those on to our customers.We’re always looking for talent, and we want to make sure our team feels valued. If a company’s going to get big- ger, you need to have good systems in place to manage your talent and your team. “It’s a blessing and a challenge with a fami- ly-run business because it’s a very personal lev- el of responsibility. I know everybody’s story, and their family, and every day you get up and feel you’re working not only for yourself and your business, but for your team, as well.We never want to lose sight of that.We have an open door policy–people can come by and speak to us.We really try to make them feel part of this family. It’s a little like home.” PREFERRED VENDORS n Advanced Surfaces, Inc. www.advancedsurfaces.com n Fox Blocks www.foxblocks.com Fox Blocks back up our products, support service and delivery that builders, contractors and designers expect. In 2006 after 20 years of producing all brands of ICFs, Airlite Plastics introduced the Fox Blocks ICF brand to the mar- ket with the latest design for energy efficient, resilient and durable construction products. THE FLOWERS GROUP