Garth Walker (left) and Leighton Davis think Jamaicans have yet to fully grasp the implications of the global recession. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

From billionaires Warren Buffett of the United States of America to our own Michael Lee Chin, successful business leaders maintain that when times are tough, it's the perfect opportunity to start a new venture, invest in stocks or purchase real estate. And two young Jamaican entrepreneurs are doing just that.

Garth Walker and Leighton Davis of Creative Media Events (CME) are no strangers to the local entertainment and business scenes. They are among a group of successful friends and colleagues whose lives have crossed since they were barely through with training wheels. Davis is the former general manager of Love Television and Walker was the marketing force behind the former Mainland hardware store, as well as Adam and Eve Spa and the High Society party series.

Kept school ties

They attended popular Corporate Area high schools and have kept 'old' school ties unwrinkled. But while jobs and projects come and go, at age 33 and 34, respectively, Walker and Davis remain as enthusiastic about new ventures as they were when they got a taste of business. Now about to launch their quarterly magazine, WEALTH, which will target entrepreneurs aged 25-40, they sat with Flair to talk abut it.

The magazine is just one of the suite of offerings from CME that are the driving force behind Jamaica Spa Week, artiste management, corporate events planning and public relations.

Distributed free

As for WEALTH, Walker said it " … is a magazine that is for and about young entrepreneurs and it forces us to think outside the box. It will have at least 36 pages and will primarily be distributed free as well as online but there will be some subscribers."

Davis added that they have many top-level business people in their mailing list. When the time is right, it will be distributed throughout the Caribbean, as well as be marketed among Jamaicans living overseas.

So just what does the first edition contain? Davis said the cover story will turn the microscope on the newly opened Fiction nightclub, as well as entrepreneurs at the top of their fields, investment advice, information about stocks, a little lifestyle and some news on corporate social responsibility.

Partnership

Such publications are usually driven by advertising revenue but with the economy currently taking a battering, the company has entered into a partnership with Herald Printers to minimise printing costs. So to help spread the word, the launch will take place in early February inside the much-talked-about Fiction nightclub.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com

Garth Walker (left) and Leighton Davis from Creative Media Events believe that entrepreneurs should be the faces of their business. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

The magazine is just one of the suite of offerings from CME that are the driving force behind Jamaica Spa Week.

Walker and Davis' tip$

The duo, both married fathers of infants, are taking nothing for granted during this recession. They are aware that many persons in the small-business sector have not yet grasped what is to come and offer some advice to young entrepreneurs.

1 Be the face of your business all the time: The more people know you and associate the business with you, the better off you will be in the long run.

2 Look carefully at the classmates you had at high school. The same group that stood out in their youth will be the ones making a difference later on in life.

3 Remember that a good leader is likely to look ahead and forecast what is to come.

4 This year is going to be rough and will be one that separates the men from the boys. The ones who survive 2009 will make it. We all have to go into our think tanks now and be creative.

5 Do not forget God. He gives us the ability to think well and create wealth, so He must be kept in the mix.

6 Networking is key because entrepreneurs must be able to get things done in a short time.

7 Integrity and honesty are key.

8 Deal with people fairly and well and it will come back to you.

9 You cannot survive in the world of business if you are a wallflower - socialising is key.

10 Read everything to keep abreast of what others are doing and be familiar with the latest technological advances.