It’s fair to say that Barbadian Russell Manning is a jack-of-all-trades.

Russell spent a lot of his life working as a scuba diving instructor and divemaster in the Cayman Islands, but he is also good with his hands; so can weld almost anything, use power tools, and build items from wood after various stints in construction.

During the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Russell’s mother wanted some planters made from rum barrels for a kitchen garden, and her unusual request inadvertently sparked his next big adventure; a business called ‘Barrel Décor’.

Yello chatted with Russell about his new role as a small business owner. He told us how he hopes to grow his brand, why working with rum barrels can be quite challenging, and he also shared some advice for other emerging entrepreneurs.

Describe yourself using a few words.

I am creative, and adventurous, and I love the sea.

Please tell us a bit about your background.

I was born in Barbados and grew up in Chancery Lane, Christ Church. I used to spend a lot of time around the beach indulging in water sports. I’ve always been in tune with the ocean and marine conservation.

I come from a large family, my mother is one of 10, so we’re fairly close knit, and family is very important to me.

What was your initial career path?

I wanted to be an architect. I was pretty good at technical drawing and design, and I guess some of that comes into what I do now.

I have friends who say that I’m always moving around and can’t stick to one thing, but I think I’m just able to adapt and go with various changes, and I feel grateful for that, because I have no regrets whatsoever.

I’m an adventurous person and really believe that you have to go for something because you never know until you try.

I left school when I got an opportunity to work on the rebuild of Sandy Lane Hotel with an American construction company who built all the pools, the spas, and the fountains.

Sometime later I got a call from the project manager at that same company who offered me a job in Cayman working on the construction of the Ritz-Carlton resort. So, I moved to the Cayman Islands when I was 19.

Cayman is where I fell deeply in love with scuba diving. It is one of the world’s best diving locations. I tried it out of sheer curiosity, loved it, and decided to pursue a career in it and eventually became a divemaster.

Most of my life since, I’ve been working with dive shops. I also did some commercial diving and have transplanted corals.

I left Cayman after Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

When / why did you launch your business ‘Barrel Décor’?

In the past I’ve always been hands on and practical. I have experience with construction, welding, and woodwork, and have tried a few do-it-yourself projects.

During the first COVID-19 lockdown my mum mentioned that she would like to have some planters made from rum barrels for a kitchen garden so that’s when I bought three to get six planters. The planters came out well, she shared some pictures, and word soon began to spread.

We did a little bit of research to see what other things could be made with rum barrels and saw a wide range of products being sold, so I decided to experiment, and bought some more power tools to get certain jobs done.

The initial financial output to start the business was quite small. It still surprises me to this day what we’ve been able to create just from looking at pictures on the internet and without any dimensions or anything.

What has been your biggest challenge in terms of launching the business?

Trying to do everything! Keeping up with social media, communicating with customers, handling inquiries, keeping people engaged; all of that has been a bit of a challenge.

I really don’t spend a lot of time on the phone normally. I’m not into posting all the time. I also prefer to talk rather than writing messages, so dealing with customers and making sure they know what they’re going to get when they place an order, has been a bit hard.

What products do you currently supply?

It’s been a lot of trial and error but what I’ve realised with this business is that there are endless options with what can be made.

I started with the planters and then I created a barrel bar cabinet with swinging doors. I also experimented with adding some paint rather than keeping it naturally brown. But no two pieces turn out the same because of the varying marks on the barrel.

I’ve experimented a lot and created a variety of products so that people can see what can be done with custom orders. I have a long list of items that I would like to make but I’ve just been too busy to do them.

Tell us more about what it’s like working with rum barrels.

I get 20 barrels delivered at a time from Mount Gay, and just to get them offloaded and stacked in my workspace is a whole day’s work. It’s extremely labour intensive because barrels, even when they’re empty, are very heavy because they still contain liquid in the wood until they are fully dry.

Then you have to clean them, and position them for cutting and drilling, which is all quite hard work.

Most people don’t really know what goes into a barrel product which can be challenging when it comes to pricing. For instance, the inside of the barrel is charcoal because they are assembled by heat without screws or nails. So, the individual barrel staves begin straight, and then they are burnt and pressured which causes them to pop and curve into the shape of the various sized metal rings around them. So, even when it comes to just the painting and staining, it takes quite a few applications to get it right.

What I go through to make a barrel refined, safe and properly presented can be a lot, and what may look like a day’s work can easily take a week.

It is a challenge, but I enjoy starting new projects, and seeing the process as the barrel transitions.

Do you have an endless supply of rum barrels?

Yes and no. There are times when barrels are not available because they run on a cycle until they become ‘retired’ and are no longer fit for use.

Fortunately, I’ve stayed on top of stock and have never run out. As long as I can get hold of some barrels, I’ll keep afloat. I also try to be a bit selective about jobs so that I don’t run low.

Who are your clients? How do they find you?

Most of my clients have been referred and then they become repeat customers. Word-of-mouth has played an important role in getting business.

Social media is good for exposure, and to show people what can be done, but a lot of my clients have just seen my products at someone’s house and then they call me to ask for it. I have corporate clients as well and it’s been well balanced between them and individual households.

How do you plan to grow the business over the next 12-18 months?

I would like to hire some help. Someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and honest. Ideally, I would like an apprentice, a youngster who is fresh out of school, looking to get their hands dirty, and willing to learn. I’m very keen to share this craft with anyone who’s interested and would like to learn something different.

I’m also looking to expand the business and incorporate metal as well. There is a lot more I’d like to include in the product which will enhance it and make it different. So, I’ll keep trying to come up with new products and new ideas.

What advice would you give other small business owners?

You just have to keep faith and believe in yourself. Stick with it, hold onto it, and run with it.

I’ve learned a lot and seen a lot through this business, in terms of dealing with clients, work ethic and communication, and you just have to believe that what you’re doing will work.

Give it 200% and at the end of the day you’ll feel accomplished. 

What do you love about Barbados?

Barbados has always been home and it’s just a good feeling to be here. I have peace of mind when I’m here because there’s no pressure. It’s safe, you can get by, and it’s an easy way of living. Everything is at your fingertips and close by if you want it to be.

What do you do / where do you go to relax on your days off?

I usually take a drive to the East coast, put up a beach chair, and take it all in. Take my dogs somewhere.

The beach and the ocean make me feel relaxed. I find scuba diving and swimming very therapeutic and a way to reset my mind. I find the sea inspirational in terms of the colours and marine life. It’s all very peaceful.

What is your philosophy / motto in life?

I have quite a few. I believe in a positive mindset and a positive outlook on life. I believe in karma and what goes around comes around so be kind.

Do good and good follows you.

Make improvements instead of excuses.

Instead of counting the days, make the days count!

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? Why?

Teleportation. You might be in a particular situation or point of your life where you’d rather be somewhere else, and that superpower would allow you to be here one minute, and somewhere else the next.

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See more Barrel Décor products on Instagram and Facebook.