Business View Caribbean, November/December 2018

40 41 BERGER PAINTS BARBADOS LIMITED major Berger products. Homeowners can also explore the various color tools, in both color cards and the BERGER Spectra color deck. As Duguid notes, “It’s a way to engage contractors and regular consumers. They can go to the site and get their questions answered. Today, people want more information about products for their home. Eventually, we may have online shop- ping for paint, but we’ve stayed away from that because our biggest market, now, is our retail shops. So, we decided not to be seen as a com- petitor against them. There is already compe- tition out there.” Berger Paints Barbados shares shelf space with foreign brands from North America, imported brands from England, re- gional brands, and another local brand. “But, we have much to offer paint purchasers,” Duguid adds. “We’ve been around since the 1960s, and the name ‘Berger’ is synonymous throughout the Caribbean with ‘quality.’ Despite top com- petitors coming from other countries, we pride ourselves in being an indigenous brand that has global appeal and a Caribbean feel.” Color choice is a huge deciding factor in any paint purchase. In a nod to the Caribbean love of bright, happy colors, Berger features 1,800 shades in their all-encompassing palette. The company’s Interior Inspirations collection cap- tures the essence of Caribbean decor, with trendy, classic, and vibrant combinations de- signed to suit interior living spaces. Inspired by the elements, the Berger Exterior Inspirations selection provides a range of earthy, cool, and vivid color combos, ideal for residential and commercial properties As for the manufacturing process, Mahase admits, “Part of the operations is still hands-on with semi-automatic lines for filling. To put it in context, we recently had new owners – in 2017, Berger Paints Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica were acquired by Ansa McAl Group of Compa- nies. They have introduced their processes and policies to further enhance the organization and that transition continues. Looking ahead, we’re looking to consolidate the approach with their other paint manufacturing facilities within the group, in terms of standardizing raw mate- rials, formulations and leveraging of synergies that exist. These initiatives are geared towards maximizing cost savings, improving our effi- ciencies, and effectiveness in delivery of value for money to our customers.” Berger Barbados is proactive in embracing environmentally-conscious technology. Their latest water-based products are low VOC (Vola- tile Organic Compounds) and use ‘green’ emul- sions, although it is not legislated at this time. “We are way ahead of the game,” says Duguid, “so, when it does become legal, we are already compliant.While legislation is important for a Winners Ashan Roberts & Trevon Holder