In this article, we’ll unveil The New Online Shopping Site dedicated to products from the Caribbean.
Imagine a world where the vibrant flavors, colors, and spirit of the Caribbean are just a click away, no matter where you are on the globe. Today, we’re not just imagining – we’re introducing a revolutionary platform that brings the Caribbean products closer to you! Welcome to our exclusive look at the newest online sensation, where the heartbeat of the Caribbean meets the convenience of digital shopping. Whether you’re a homesick expat longing for a taste of home or a curious explorer eager to discover the rich culture of these magical islands, this journey will change the way you experience Caribbean shopping forever. Stay tuned, as we unveil the wonders of connecting with your roots and indulging in authentic Caribbean delights, all from the comfort of your home!
Welcome to CaribShopper!
A huge aspect of the reality of being an expat is leaving home behind, with all that it includes: family, friends, familiar places, culture and literature, weather, food, and products that we grew up with. Anywhere in the world, anyone leaving home hopes to find those familiar things in their destination country, or maybe even somewhere where they could purchase their beloved home goods.
Those products simply have a personal flavor, a familiar touch that makes us happy even a thousand miles away from home. It is not uncommon to see Italians looking for Italian restaurants – always quite deceiving anywhere out of their country – or Indians trying to buy their spices – watered down and not so flavorful abroad – or again, North Americans missing the snow and the comforts they are used to when moving to a less developed country.
Caribbean people do not differ at all: constantly creating small Caribbean communities abroad, looking for a place where to buy scotch bonnet or eat patties and jerk chicken, and talking about how the beach, if any, is not as nice as home. While we cannot do much about the beach, we can always hope to find authentic Caribbean products carrying the looks and flavors of home. It is certainly not so easy, though.
Take home with you, wherever you are
If there is one thing that ex-pats want to do when visiting “home”, is to bring back some of their “homes” with them. Caribbean people do the same when they travel to their countries, and leave with extra suitcases, boxes, and barrels packed with goodies from their homeland. The process can be quite impractical, costly, and time-consuming, limiting the portion of our holiday that we get to spend with our families, friends, and loved ones as we have to go shopping in many different places to fill our bags and fulfill our desires. As a matter of fact, buying Caribbean food and local products is almost impossible abroad. So, how to fill this gap, and change the way we bring home overseas?
The revolution of online shopping
Some products, thankfully, can be found online on big shopping platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and so on. But the selection is really limited, and depending on your location some Caribbean products cannot be found, or you must stick to foreign versions of the Caribbean product you are craving for. While online shopping websites have been a huge step forward in this domain, something needed to be done to make Caribbean expats happier. And this is where an ambitious and seasoned IT expert Jamaican man came to the rescue. With stress reduction and cost control in mind, along with deep craving satisfaction, Mr. Kadion Preston founded Caribshopper in Miami, Florida, in 2021.
What is Caribshopper?
Kadion Preston founded Caribshopper, the first digital marketplace for all things Caribbean, to reduce stress, contain costs, and satisfy those little Caribbean cravings we all very well know of. The website brings a little Caribbean flavor to the United States and Canada, connecting islanders to their home products while living overseas. On the platform, a variety of Caribbean products are sold. You can find mostly products from Jamaica, but also some from Trinidad and Tobago, and the website is certainly looking to expand in different directions. The categories include stationery, food, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, apparel, make-up, books, candles, footwear, home décor, fragrances, jewelry, haircare, music and equipment, skincare and personal care, toys and games, and more.
The website’s background
Kadion Preston, now CEO and founder of Caribshopper, left Jamaica for New York about a decade ago, to pursue a degree in computer science. His ambition, vision, and determination brought him up to Wall Street, where he landed a job in a trading firm, learning how to connect networks and software to the New York Stock Exchange. He eventually opened his own financial software consulting firm together with his brother Tennyson, but his dreams almost shattered in 2019, when COVID-19 revisited all normal jobs and the lifestyles we were used to. But even then, Kadion and Tennyson did not give up. They sold their firm, moved to sunny Miami with a whole new project in mind, and launched the Caribshopper website in January 2021.
The idea of this innovative platform came to them as, being ex-pats themselves, they understood and intimately felt the need for a way to find products that defined their culture and somehow reconnected islanders to their homelands. “I lived in New York, San Francisco, then Miami Beach. And it was hard to stay connected to our culture. We would always have to substitute what we’re used to,” says Preston. “One of the things [we] hated was buying an extra suitcase for when we traveled home. We would pack those suitcases up with the products we loved to bring back. It happens to any immigrant.” Furthermore, the massive transition to online shopping was being pushed and somewhat accelerated by the pandemic, as not all bad things are as bad as they may seem.
Another huge component of the brothers’ inspiration to launch Caribshopper came from their mother, an importer and true entrepreneur with an unprecedented vision, who started in Jamaica a children’s clothing company that quickly grew into a local boutique and eventually, a distribution partnership with Wisconsin-based authentic American icon OshKosh B’gosh. Obviously, retail and sales were in their mindset, and entrepreneurship was in their DNA. They quickly began to cherish the possibility of doing something similar with small retailers in the Caribbean, taking their customers online instead of dealing with numerous small physical shops, cutting costs of shipping and customs.
How it started
With all this in mind, Caribshopper took off in a historical time of uncertainties but also in a time when everything was shifting to remote, smart, and online. It goes without saying that the move was very astute, and customers multiplied in no time. For its founder, the important matter was no longer to just make money out of a generic business but to have a meaningful one. And that’s why his passion and professionalism helped him overcome many difficulties, including the payment infrastructure and logistics challenges, and rise to the position it is holding nowadays. In a little over a year, Caribshopper has become the go-to website for thousands of Caribbean people living in the U.S. and Canada. Whenever they find themselves longing for a nostalgic piece of home or willing to find innovative, upcoming brands, some of which offer a modern twist on the traditional culture, Caribshopper is the right direction to head to.
And how it is going
Caribshopper is now, the first major online digital marketplace for all things Caribbean. The website was recently highlighted in the October 2023 issue of Global Miami Magazine, a new, premier publication covering international business in the Magic City. The article gave the website even more visibility and contributed to increasing its customer portfolio, reaching the households of even more Caribbean people part of the Diaspora. Caribshopper currently sells and ships products and brands from over 500 retailers in the Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Its product portfolio includes over 7,000 items, many of which are niche products that are the fruits of small enterprises that find the website is having a huge impact on their ability to stay afloat and become more and more popular. These small companies put all the effort and expertise they have into creating unique Caribbean products and then put them in the hands of digital experts who have on their side the resources and abilities to share them worldwide, taking on all responsibilities and releasing the small companies from the weight of the digital process. Caribshopper’s staff, which currently includes 22 employees, takes care of the marketing and pricing strategies as well, passing by product photography and descriptions.
Appealing to our traditional memories and desires, or putting a fresh spin on traditional Caribbean style, Caribshopper is sure to offer you what you are looking for, from clothing and accessories to home decor and food.
As we conclude our exploration of this incredible online haven for Caribbean products, remember, this is more than just a shopping experience – it’s a journey into the heart of the Caribbean from wherever you are in the world. Caribshopper brings the essence of the islands right to your doorstep, offering everything from mouth-watering snacks and traditional spices to vibrant apparel and unique home decor.
Caribshopper now also offers an exquisite selection of Caribbean liquors, bringing the flavors of the Caribbean directly to your doorstep, including classics like Jamaican Appleton Estate; Sanster Rum Cream, and Angostura white oak rum, along with a very wide selection of Liqureur, Fine Aged Spirits, Beers, and flavorful Elixirs from the Caribbean.
Whether you’re planning a special celebration, looking for a unique gift, a new Caribbean outfit for your next party, or that Caribbean snack you are craving, or something to decorate your home with a little Caribbean taste, this website is where you’re going to find it.
Imagine the joy of infusing your daily life with the authentic flavors, scents, and colors of the Caribbean. Whether you’re seeking to relive cherished memories, celebrate your heritage, or simply indulge in the rich and diverse culture of these enchanting islands, this platform is your gateway to the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.
So don’t just dream about the Caribbean – experience it. Click the link below to discover a world of unique, handpicked products that embody the spirit and charm of the Caribbean. Support local artisans, indulge in the uniqueness of the region, and bring a piece of Caribbean magic into your life. Your next extraordinary find is just a click away. Join us on this vibrant and colorful journey, and let Caribshopper be your guide to the wonders of Caribbean culture.
we hope you’re as excited as we are about the treasures that await at Caribshopper. But before you dive into this tropical paradise of unique products, we have a small but important request.
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