Despite a challenging economic climate, entrepreneurs in Tunapuna and the surrounding areas are being encouraged to prioritise innovation and expansion to remain competitive.
Speaking at the opening of Pat & Max Ltd’s new facility at the Trincity Industrial Estate on Tuesday, managing director Melissa Senhouse underscored the importance of continuous growth in a volatile business environment.
“If you’re not expanding and growing, then you’re dying,” Senhouse said.
“There’s nothing called standing still. If you’re standing still, you’re dying. So you have to continuously grow and evolve for you to be able to move forward and to survive.”
Senhouse, a former president of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GTCIC) for the 2020–2022 term, said her company’s relocation reflects a deliberate strategy to scale operations and adapt to changing market demands.
“For 40 years or so, we have been in the Tunapuna area, and what started to happen is that we evolved, of course, as with all businesses, and we needed more space, so we went looking specifically for an area that we could turn into our own, and that’s here,” she said.
Originally focused on producing company identification cards, Pat & Max Ltd later expanded into traditional printery services. However, declining demand for paper-based products has forced the company to pivot towards more modern solutions.
“For example, business cards about five to 10 years ago, that would have been our mainstay. Now that’s not so right now, because people are going with the NFC (near field communication) cards. They want QR codes and all this good stuff. So we’ve actually started to shift a little bit,” Senhouse explained.
The company has since incorporated digital and customised offerings, including laser engraving and QR code-enabled products, as part of its diversification strategy.
“With respect to our laser-engraving items, we have started to introduce QR code key chains, as well as the mugs that you will see today. We’ve implemented the QR codes on all those things. So now we’ve just been putting QR codes on everything,” she said.
Senhouse added that the company has also seen strong growth in label production, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises.
“We actually started to do labels and banners in about 2021–2022, right? And labels have really taken off for us. We actually do more labels than banners for a number of customers. Because one of the things is we cater for small and medium businesses, so you have a customer who might want, let’s say, about 100 or 200 labels. They don’t want 1,000 or 10,000 labels, so they could come to us, and we’re able to facilitate that.”
While relocating from Tunapuna, Senhouse said the company remains committed to maintaining its connection with customers in the area and believes there is still strong potential for business growth.
“The business has evolved. You’re seeing a lot of new businesses popping up in Tunapuna. We’ve seen a lot of new businesses popping up in Tunapuna,” she said.
She noted that while some businesses have closed in recent years, new enterprises continue to emerge, signalling resilience within the commercial landscape.
“So, coming from COVID, we’ve had a lot of businesses closing down. But at the same speed, you’re seeing new businesses appearing. And I mean, if you look at the Tunapuna area and check the Tunapuna Piarco area in general, you’re seeing a number of businesses expanding,” she said.
“They are being filled. So that means that people are taking that chance. They are recognising that, you know what, yes, the economy, it might have a little downturn now, but if you invest now, you’re going to be preparing for the future.”
GTCIC president Ramon Gregorio echoed similar sentiments, noting that businesses must adapt to shifting economic conditions and evolving market dynamics.
“We have to challenge business owners, whether it’s in San Juan, whether it’s in Central, to be more innovative. It’s not business as usual. We’re not playing the same playing field that we did 5–10, 15 years ago. So we, I think it’s a good development for the country, and Tunapuna just has to fall in line and take pattern and take stock of what types of businesses are successful in this period, and perhaps try to drive entrepreneurs into that particular space,” Gregorio said.
He emphasised the need for entrepreneurs to identify market gaps and capitalise on emerging opportunities, particularly in sectors showing sustained demand.
“Whether it’s through digital technology or just simple brick and mortar type establishments, they are profitable. You see food and the food establishments sort of picking up all over the place, with food parks all over the country now. So food is definitely one of the avenues that persons could explore,” he said.
“There are also opportunities for them to spin off. For the persons who create the products to go into food, the opportunities are there. So what is happening in San Juan and Central is really a lesson for all of us to learn.”
Gregorio also pointed to broader structural challenges affecting the business environment, including policy adjustments, global economic pressures, and operational constraints.
“The past year has been one of adjustment. Obviously, a new government is coming into play, so business owners have had to make adjustments, look at the policies that the government is trying to implement, and really see how it fits into running our business from a day-to-day perspective,” he said.
“It has been a challenge globally, obviously, a lot of global shocks to the geopolitical environment. So it really falls to the business owner in 2026 to be more innovative, to use digital technology perhaps a bit more, to use different methods of promoting business. It certainly calls for a lot more synergy in terms of businesses teaming up together to be able to put out products and services, but certainly from a manufacturing standpoint, they’re having a lot of challenges.”
He added that long-standing issues such as VAT refunds, customs delays, and shipping disruptions continue to weigh on businesses, and called for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“Of course, there are issues with customs. They have issues with the VAT refunds and so on. So the government has an uphill battle over the next four years in terms of making the environment and the ease of doing business in T&T better. It has been a challenge, and as governments come, governments go,” Gregorio said.
“So I’m really hoping the government continues to meet with the business sector and continues to consult to be able to get feasible alternatives and work on how to live together and not in a vacuum. Because with this type of environment, it really calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach.”
Despite the challenges, Gregorio noted that improvements in security—driven by initiatives such as the Eagle Eye project and ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and the business community—have provided some encouragement for the Tunapuna commercial sector.
