Good Morning,
Welcome to the first issue of my weekly newsletter. Each week I highlight and analyse the most interesting news, research and books that help to explain the forces shaping business in the Caribbean.
Our region is at a critical juncture; technology has lowered many barriers that limited our capacity to contribute to the global economy. Previously, our limited land may have constrained our ability to contribute to international trade. Still, in an era where the commodities are digital, with zero marginal costs and the ability to be distributed (almost) everywhere instantly, many of the old barriers no longer hold us back. Yet, many businesses in the Caribbean still operate according to older paradigms.
A lot of energy is devoted to studying the largest technology companies, and I will also spend time studying these businesses. But there is a lot of untapped wisdom in learning about businesses that triumph in silence.
Some of the questions that I hope to study include:
– How was BestBuy able to stave off Amazon in consumer electronics, given that consumer electronics are a commodity?
– What can we learn from M-Pesa’s success? What can we learn from its failures?
– Vail Resorts has experienced success transitioning from the traditional booking model to a subscription model? The advantages of recurring subscriptions are apparent, so why isn’t this more common in the hotel industry?
Each week I will be exploring these and other topics. Subscribe here to get an update each time I post.