Raymond Miles shows off the designs of some of the cricket-inspired merchandise which Sun Island is producing. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Robert Lalah, Assistant Editor - Features

It's jokingly called the 'War Room', but instead of battle strategies, there are pictures of cricket-inspired T-shirts, hats and souvenirs on the walls. It is a meeting room inside the Sun Island factory outlet on Molynes Road in St. Andrew, and it is where company head Raymond Miles gets together with his staff to strategise for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.

"We set this room up since last year and we had our official launch in May. We've been planning for the event for quite some time," he said, as he sat down on a chair.

Sun Island is licensed to sell Cricket World Cup apparel and souvenirs across the entire Caribbean, and Mr. Miles says that Jamaican retailers, like those in other countries in the region, have been stocking up since last year.

Many large Kingston retailers, like Carby's and Ammar's, have dedicated entire sections of their stores to Sun Island-manufactured World Cup merchandise. Checks with the stores revealed that sales have been picking up as the much-anticipated event approaches. Mr. Miles said the situation is the same in several Caribbean countries.

Sales doing very well

"I'd say that Jamaica is on par with the other countries. The West Indies line of apparel has been doing the best across the region for obvious reasons. They've really been selling well, especially since November. It was the perfect Christmas gift and the retailers who were prepared from early did really well," he said.

There were drawings of T-shirts and other souvenirs printed with the names of countries like Pakistan, England, New Zealand and India pasted on the wall behind Raymond Miles.

"These are some of the T-shirts and novelties that we have," he said, pointing to the wall. "We import a few things, but about 75 per cent of what we offer is produced right here in Jamaica," he said.

There were key chains, miniature cricket bats, cricket balls and bucket hats on some shelves in the room and Mr. Miles boasted that because of the kind of early preparation and strategising that took place right there in the 'War Room', Sun Island is ready to meet the demands of even the most discerning cricket fans.

The Cricket World Cup showroom inside the Sun Island factory outlet on Molynes Road, St. Andrew.