Managing Director of Nature Island Paper Products Incorporated (NIPP Inc.), Severin McKenzie, has announced that the company will transition into a private limited liability company, known as the Nature Island People’s Paper Company Ltd. (NIPP Co.).
He stated that after NIPP announced that it will be placing the company for sale on the open market on February 23, 2016, it received positive responses from both foreign and local investors.
“The company has received positive responses from foreign investors who have demonstrated their interest in taking over the company,” he said, at a press conference on Thursday morning. “And, also, numerous Dominicans have expressed their desire and concern that the only paper company should remain local.”
McKenzie addressed concerns of the lack of sales, as was experienced with products sold under the NIPP Inc brand.
“We will be going into a much more rigorous marketing program, to sell and also, with the broadened base of ownership, we’re expecting that the word of mouth from shareholders will also be used as a marketing tool to encourage sales,” he articulated.
The company will take advantage of all available markets, including what McKenzie referred to as the “very lucrative market” in Cuba. He also unveiled plans to broaden the company’s range of production to items such as napkins, facial tissue, baby wipes, and printing paper.
The company, McKenzie said, will offer shares in private offerings to interested persons who meet the criteria set by the Directors. The minimum investment in the private offering will be $1,000. He urged Dominicans on-island and abroad to take advantage of the investment opportunity.
With the new investment, the company is expected to create in excess of twenty-five new jobs within the first year of operations. Former employees will be retained.
Former employee of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and former Local Government Commissioner of Dominica, McDonald Thomas, is a director of the company, and will be responsible for its management until its first shareholders’ meeting, on August 31, 2016, when a Board of Directors will be appointed.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In a previous article it was reported, “He stated that after NIPP Inc. closed its doors on February 23, 2016, and after the decision was announced to place the company for sale on the open market, it received positive responses from both foreign and local investors”. Nature Island Paper Products Inc. is not closed and continues to operate until August 31st 2016 when the transition to NIPPCO Ltd, the new company will take effect. We sincerely apologize for this error.
I use the toilet paper whenever I am in Dominica. I think that it is of very high quality. I do have a problem with the perforation of the sheets but I can live with that. I believe that the product is not well advertised. I also believe that the proprietor should have concentrated more on his business than get involved in politics. Sometimes it is difficult to find the products in the local stores in DA. I have been able to find the St Lucian toilet paper more often that ours. That is a problem. I do believe that proper marketing is the key to success as the product itself is of superior quality, something that is hard to find in DA.
I understand that the minimum investment is $1000.00. My question is how much is a share?
Are the people who contribute to the comments on DNO a true representation of the level of intelligence in Dominica? If so, this island is in trouble. No wonder that Dominica is ranking last in the Caribbean for development.
It appears that the country has made ten steps backward. A Dominican starts a company which produces an essential commodity that every man, woman and child uses. He is sourcing his raw material from the same supplier as all other producers in the Caribbean. There is a $5 million market in Dominica alone. All the tissue paper that is imported by the merchants is the same paper from Trinidad, the only difference is the imported comes with manufactured in Trinidad with fancy brand names and the Dominican one is manufactured by a son of the soil.
He recognizes that if he broaden the ownership of the company then the marketing of the product will expand. Did you hear the news? Ralph Gonsalves is going to sell toilet paper to Venezuela. Think Dominican! Think!
Make the paper waterproof and all you\’ll be Millionaires overnight. Too much waste on my planet.
This is a very good initiative by a Dominican! We have alot of potential to develop the manufacturing sector in this country and I support the move. I would be interested in buying shares in the company however the quality of the product really needs to be addressed. The texture is good however with the paper towels in particular, the perforated lines are not deep enough making it difficult to have a clean tear in the sheets; please address this matter. Best of luck NIPP Co.!
I am willing to invest, however the private offering of shares instead of a public offering gives me pause. Have the investors that Mr. McKenzie refered to both locally and in the diaspora already bought the company and this $1000.00 a plate dinner invitation, is it just a move to qualify the inclusion of the name People in the new company….Importantly also was the original company sold and if so how much was it sold for…….. ooooppss, sorry that would be private information as it was a private company.
i hope right thinking Dominicans are taking note of the comments made by some people at home and within the diaspora,some of the same people that say Dominicans are backward and unintelligent,here it is a Dominican is taking a clear step to involve other Dominicans to be part of development program,the discouraging comments they are stating is really shameful and head shaking,awa,all you people got to do is investigate the company before investing,that is all,i rest my case eh,some Dominicans are worthless
Hmmm, really wondering why are we Dominicans are so negative! Its like we can never pronounce anything good over Dominica. So sad
With the demise of the Agricultural industry and the lag in the tourism sector; doesn’t anyone see the need for a boost in manufacturing? Let’s get this straight! We really think our economy can continue on this path? I am really getting concerned the way our people see things. Anyways Mr Mckenzie I wish you all the best. Thanks for remaining focus and bring some foreign exchange into this country. I believe with your enhanced strategies and new heads like Mr Thomas an experience regional professional who have devoted over 10 years in regional development; you are on the right course to move this project. I was indeed elated to encounter news on this new development. All the best and I will take the opportunity to encourage other DOMINICANS to invest in their country no matter what the challenges are. It’s ours to build. Remember this!
I applaud your efforts Mr. Mc Kenzie and the other investors. Manufacturing in this environment is very difficult. I will continue to buy the products. I encourage other nationals here and abroad to do the same.
The business starts and ends with the quality of the product. Your product was not beta-tested thereby giving you enough feedback for improvement..I admire your patriotism, but if you are in business solely to provide employment for others, then turning a profit is not a motive. Dominicans will not buy a product just for buying sake, particularly when there is an abundance of alternatives.
Truly Mac, you studied in Cuba many years ago and wait until now when Cuba is made accessible to the multinationals to look for opportunities? Your capacity is small, you import all raw material and mechanization; utility and as a consequence, production costs are not competitive. That is the reason the rolls are small in comparison and coarse in texture. And should mention the caution that consumers in larger markets exercise when chemically treated products are applied to their bodies.
Whoa Dominicans rough! But it appears that McKenzie is a hard nut to crack and this guy is tough. He has survived 6 years manufacturing toilet tissue in Dominica at a time when local businesses are failing and giving way to the Chinese. In stead of buckling in a hostile business environment he has come up with a master innovative plan to give Dominicans the opportunity to own something, in a country where the people own nothing. Which business in Dominica is owned by the ordinary people?
So instead of the tribal animals applaud a great initiative they are displaying their stupidity and backwardness by criticizing.
A company that supplies American students at Ross University with a product for six years cannot be producing an inferior product. I have been using the product myself and it is far superior than the coshonie that all you importing.
McKenzie I going to invest my $1000.00 so that every time I use the toilet I can expect returns on my investment. I have confidence in…
Whoa! Dominicans rough! But it appears that McKenzie is a tough nut to crack. He has single-handedly survived six years running a manufacturing enterprise when many local companies are failing and making space for the Chinese. In stead of going down on his knees to beg he has come up with a master plan which will allow Dominicans to invest in themselves and prove their worth.
This is not good enough for some of the animals who can only come up with dirty negative comments. The man built a company for six years, he is supplying American students at Ross University and other state institutions without a single complain. Yet some beggar mentality no-goods, who have nothing to offer want to destroy a brilliant initiative where a poor working class individual like me can get an opportunity to invest $1,000.00 to get returns on my investment every time I shit. What else do Dominicans want? CLICO come and take your money and all you silent. Count me in I in dat. We must succeed. No to…
In the words of Mark Cuban, when you are in trouble you need to sell, sell , sell.
It is critical that the new management have a sound business plan, but in the absence of increased sales, this will be all for naught.
In order for this to be successful the Port authority and the minster responsible for trade must stop imports on products that are already produced in Dominica. Its understandable that we need an atmosphere of competition yet competing against yourself isn’t very smart in the business world.
Congrats . I am happy for you and the persons whom you have retained. God bless you . However you have to improve on the hand paper towels it is difficult to cut when in use and it is a little too rough. The toilet paper is much better than before and I always buy your product and will continue to . good luck
What criteria? Are you serious? Please explain.
McKenzie u need to go to skerrit, ask for forgiveness for your past sins, Venezuela need toilette paper. You should be a millionaire now.
What a ridiculous and infantile comment!
Delvin, I do not know if Mckenzy is political, I do not know if he supports one party or the other; but the idea that he should go and beg Skerrit pardon, spells all that is wrong with Dominica, you involve Skerrit in everything, if you have a chicken to sell you run to Skerrit to get permission to sell your chicken.
In manufacturing business there is something called marketing, that is where you have people trained in sales. That company should have at least two sales men one traveling from Dominica, north to far as Jamaica introducing the product, booking orders. Another one should be sent south as far as Guyana doing the same thing. That is called marketing, if you have a manufacturing business of any kind and you depend on sale in Dominica alone you doomed!
You do not need Skerrit’s permission market your products!
I worked for O. D. Brisbane on the island of Antigua, I was Salesman Tariff clerk and everything else we sold pharmaceuticals rum and everything. When I was through covering Antigua in a month, I headed to Montserrat to sell, and take orders.
That is what marketing is about: Ash Laboratories in Florida would sent a sales man to Antigua to book orders from Brisbane; Brisbane was Ash Laboratories in the Leeward islands. It all about marketing your products, on your own without politicians involvement!
How do you mean meet the qualification to invest?
If some is willing to invest, are you saying you will do a background check on them?
This is just nonsense
Anyone can invest. In other words, they should not have a shady past and present. This could very well occur. He must take precaution that no one who may be of a questionable character should invest in the company. Makes good sense.
Facts, some of the largest businesses in Canada, Canada and in most larger countries are owned by shady people, including the mafia, and other underworld people.
For instance, your Roman Catholic pope’s has protected know mafia murderers, giving the sanctuary in Vatican which is actually an independent state in Rome Italy! The last I know about was something which took place in a Colombian Bank or Somewhere in South America.
Remember to the roman catholic own all of the worlds largest banks, and are involve in all sorts of shady deals, like making bad loans to people and then foreclosing on their property leaving them in the streets!
“Nature Island People’s Paper Company Ltd. (NIPP Co.)” – That name sounding like a political party name.
On a serious note, let’s hope they do much better than the first company.
Dam if you do, dam if you dont. Whst a bunch of misfits you Dominicans are, It beggars belief at your narrow mindedness.
Dominican can never move forward because you yourselves bring crosses on your head. I warn words have powers to perform. As for me i wish Dominica all the best. May the good Lord have mercy on the nation. Jobs will flo from abroad and local.
Lack of education and understanding i say.
I wish mr. McKenzie good luck but also would remind him that the newly structured company belongs to the shareholders and not the directors.
And that I hope he understand ; the shareholders should also reconsider if you want the people both in Dominica and in the diaspora to take advantage of the investment opportunity you have to remember how difficult things are and even if some folks would like to be part of that venture they would not be able to come up with $ 1,000 therefore , remember you catch much more flies with honey than with lemon , but it’s a great come back and I intend to follow up on it .
Remember how Mr Obama got to be President of the United State it was with the help of all those who gave what they could the small as well as the large amounts and because of the strategy he won again a second time small amounts can also help.. Good luck.
I am confused. Why did the company close down in the first place, and what difference is going to be made?
I dont believe marketing was the issue, it was more to do with the quality of the product. Focus on that first rather than waste money on marketing and significantly increasing the wage bill (why 25 more employees?). Reset. Begin on the same scale that you left off- reduce costs if you can, and increase the product quality. If currently you got 30% of the Dominican market, try to get 60% at the same total profits. So if that means increased costs to produce, but sell at the same price so b it. From the sound of it you are looking for economies of scale by shipping to markets 10x plus larger than Dominica’s- if you want a foot in the door then you better have same quality stuff.
Simply put, this announcement seems like a con.
Yet another 5 years of duty free open under another name selling some goods. All the new companies in
Dominica do this or change name of ownership
Umm okay…
Best I give my $1000 to the homeless will get back interest, at least one day one of them
would be able to clean my back yard
“Nature Island People’s Paper Company Ltd. (NIPP Co.).”
That name already spells dome and failure, maybe the present owners should try to monopolize on the market in Venezuela where the shops, and stores are empty of toilet paper, tissues and has been like that for many years.
That might be an opportunity to revive the company!
once we do not turn Dominica into another haiti, where deforestation has become a serious environmental problem. What percentage of the raw materials provided for this paper comoany is provided in Dominica?
We do not produce paper pulp, or even finished paper. The raw material is all imported but you are right to draw the attention to deforestation and I would suggest that the production of charcoal be strictly regulated. There is no need for that with bottled gas being as cheap as it is.
Would like some clarity in regards to buying shares and investing in this company.
I hope they make better quality products this time so locals will be happy to purchase them.
God speed!