BUYING local products and patronizing local services were the themes of the recent Guam Chamber of Commerce 8th Annual Small Business Expo held at the Guam Marriott hotel. Around 30 businesses showcased their products and services to consumers and potential investors in an effort to increase promotion and visibility of locally-owned businesses on-island.

The Buy Local movement was launched recently by the Guam Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Guam Economic Development Authority and the University of Guam’s Pacific Center for Economic Initiatives to advocate for an islandwide shift to locally-produced products and services.

Guam Farmers Co-op President Bill Macdonald stated: “We are doing this for promotional purposes so that people will know the importance of buying local. You can’t get any [more] local than our farmers’ produce.”

“The main goal that we have here is to let the public know that a farmer is a small business, a one-man operation. But in the same token, you have so much potential to expand,” Macdonald added.

“There is talk about economic growth, economic diversity for tourists. We are part of that, we could be part of that, but we need to buy local as an island,” he said.

L&D

Dr. Lynette E. Adams, of L&D Guam Enterprise, said the expo provided a venue for networking with other women-owned businesses on the island. L&D Guam Enterprise, she said, offers translation, rewriting, editing, and cross-cultural training on Guam.

“This expo is important. I think it is great. I believe in women empowerment and when you’re in Guam, where there are a lot of women-owned businesses, you get a lot of inspiration and you can network here at the Chamber of Commerce with other women,” she stated.

“We offer a whole range of services. Even though we are new on Guam, we can provide systems-wide services on-island that is very much buy local,” Dr. Adams explained.

K9 connection also promoted their show at the expo. Animal behaviorist and host Brett Silk said they are very excited to promote their first pet-themed show on-island. He also endorsed other pet-related services offered by his partners, including Boonie B&B, the island’s first bed and breakfast for pets, Isla Veterinary Clinic, and Puppy Love Guam.