Cookscee
8/12/2015 15:19 EST
Hi! My super young family of 5 are contemplating moving to St. Lucia. We are US citizens, but want to raise our children in a place more focused on values and family. My husband is a 16-year physical therapist, but doesn't want to continue doing that in St. Lucia unless there are no other options. I am a travel agent with a 15-year background as a physical therapist but no longer practicing. We also own a successful ice cream stand at home and would love to start a business in St. Lucia. We are from NY (way north by Canada), so St. Lucia is much less expensive as far as rent/homes go for us. Also, I have had such great feedback from my travel clients and colleagues about St. Lucia. We are planning a visit, but in the meantime are trying to find information on any type of "void" in the service industry. We love food service and tourism but aren't quite sure what type of business shows a need. Are there any references for websites or publications that would point us in the right direction? We have tried googling ice cream stands, food trucks, etc...but there's not much info on success/demand/gaps, etc. I LOVE this forum, I have learned so much already! Thanks to all who contribute and moderate!
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bobbyveee
8/12/2015 20:44 EST
Hi Cookscee.
Joey T bought his large extended family down here from Georgia in Dec, they love it here and his biz has sky rocketed.
But you cant just come and start a biz. and even harder is get a job working for a local Co. Theres a couple or more great ice cream outlets in and around Rodney Bay and the Marina. There are quite a few expat owned restaurants etc etc. but they employ Locals to do all the work. that's how it kinda works. Theres high unemployment and low wages, and food biz is reliant on the tourist season. You kinda need to come and get feet on the ground and a feel for whats happening.
So glad you love this forum, it was dead on its feet when I took it over early last yr. Mobile food is the locals forte, mainly BBQ , cheap and low profits. Ex pats look for higher end and niche if they can find. Come take a look, All the very best
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Cookscee
8/12/2015 21:25 EST
Thanks, bobbyveee! I had been chatting with a woman in St. Lucia that owned a medical practice and she said that in order to work in St. Lucia, you need to start your own business and hire locals or have a skill that not many people on the island have. Maybe I misunderstood her? She said it was a long process, so that is why we are starting early :) She told me about how you have to have a partner for the first year that lives in SL...I had contacted the SL Tourism Board and they couldn't really give me much info. I think I may be looking in the wrong places? ;) Just wondering where I can find out about how expats make a living. We are looking at possibly Nov 2016. Erin
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bobbyveee
8/13/2015 11:25 EST
Hi. YUes you need a partner, Tourist board isn't what you want.
Joey bought a Co. online and his 'attorney 'was his 'partner' . But Joey was bringing expertise to the island, so his biz really took off with lots off hard work. Im sure he'll read this shortly and be intouch, tell you how, where and how much. Nothing is impossible, having the right contacts, some money, a good biz plan and hard work , and a pinch of good luck, things can happen.
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JoeyThompson
8/14/2015 07:42 EST
Hello Cookscee.
Love the name.
Your ice cream stand / truck might work if you had a nitch. Also, you do not need a work permit for things made on Island and then sold. So, if you could figure out how to make the ice cream flavors that you sell, then you might have an "in" to making a living here.
Also, Sir Robert is correct there are some great ice cream shops, however they are fixed, not portable. If you had a mobile ice cream cart or truck that was able to move from event to event and to the hot spots each day, then I think it would be a successful business.
If the ice cream had some sort of local Caribbean flavor, made in the West Indies, people here would gravitate to it.
I know enough people here who would love to partner with you, if you actually needed a partner. Not sure you would, but you might.
Being in refrigeration, I could help you with the freezer side of things if you wanted to mass produce your product. Maybe even sell it to the supermarkets and restaurants.
I can tell you this. The cruise ship people would love to have a cool St Lucia made treat after about five minutes walking around Castries (where the ships doc) and once you've been here, you will be what I mean.
The cruise ships doc, people get off and walk past one shop after another that has the exact same thing....products made in China, cheap and useless to a visitor. But cool ice cream treat while they are walking would be quite refreshing to help them endure the cheap China made crap. LOL.
PLease let me know if I can help in any way. You can e-mail me at JoeyThompson777@aol.com
Joey Thompson
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JoeyThompson
8/14/2015 07:43 EST
Hello Cookscee.
Love the name.
Your ice cream stand / truck might work if you had a nitch. Also, you do not need a work permit for things made on Island and then sold. So, if you could figure out how to make the ice cream flavors that you sell, then you might have an "in" to making a living here.
Also, Sir Robert is correct there are some great ice cream shops, however they are fixed, not portable. If you had a mobile ice cream cart or truck that was able to move from event to event and to the hot spots each day, then I think it would be a successful business.
If the ice cream had some sort of local Caribbean flavor, made in the West Indies, people here would gravitate to it.
I know enough people here who would love to partner with you, if you actually needed a partner. Not sure you would, but you might.
Being in refrigeration, I could help you with the freezer side of things if you wanted to mass produce your product. Maybe even sell it to the supermarkets and restaurants.
I can tell you this. The cruise ship people would love to have a cool St Lucia made treat after about five minutes walking around Castries (where the ships doc) and once you've been here, you will be what I mean.
The cruise ships doc, people get off and walk past one shop after another that has the exact same thing....products made in China, cheap and useless to a visitor. But cool ice cream treat while they are walking would be quite refreshing to help them endure the cheap China made crap. LOL.
PLease let me know if I can help in any way. You can e-mail me at JoeyThompson777@aol.com
Joey Thompson
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bobbyveee
8/14/2015 09:41 EST
Hi. If you could use local stuff as Joey suggested, you could really make a name for yourself on the island. Rum, local fruits and spices, im sure could produce an exciting range of ices, how you go about selling is another question. One thing is very important, enough money to cover your start up period, if you think you could do it in 6 months, have enough money for 12. Biz start ups do take time, I mean Caribbean time, nothing happens fast here. . Joey has been thro' all of this, pick his brains. In general, locals and expats will bend over backwards to help good people who are hard working and looking to improve life on the island. Good luck to you, see you in Nov.
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bobbyveee
8/17/2015 13:17 EST
Hi . There's one other thing that St L is famous for.....Chocolate. Great ice cream with chocolate, im dribbling already . Just a thought
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Cookscee
8/24/2015 12:24 EST
I am now in St Lucia! Besutiful but quite a culture shock. Spending lunch with Joey hopefully. If anyone else is nearby, would love to chat!
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bobbyveee
8/24/2015 19:23 EST
Hi there. Sorry, were in Florida till Oct. Im sure you'll soon get used to the culture, some islands or countries in the Caribbean can give you a shock that's near fatal . LOL
Hope you met up with Joey, he knows just what its like coming from USA to St L.
Please keep the forum informed. Robert
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Cookscee
8/24/2015 20:59 EST
Sorry I missed you, Robert! Yes, Joey went out of his way to make sure he met with me, even though he was incredibly busy. We had a wonderful ice cream at Elaina's and he drove me through parts of Cap and Rodney during his lunch break... MUCH different than the St. Lucia I had experienced last week at the resorts. I love the area in Cap we drove through. Still on the fence, but will monitor this forum often and I am sure I will have plenty more questions! I am so blessed to have been able to find this forum...thank you to all! Especially Joey who was the kindest and most gracious host. Very informative and generous :)
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bobbyveee
8/28/2015 09:46 EST
We ,all on this forum wish you the best for the future.
The Caribbean is going thro' a difficult time as far as unemployment is concerned. The new worry is how many tourists are going to visit Cuba and miss visiting their usual Caribbean haunts. I think for expats coming in and starting up a new venture in the food industry is challenging. so much depends on skills, determination, and how much financial support you have. We wish you well for the future, any help or questions, we are here to try and assist as best we can.
Take care.
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