Page 31 - IB JAN 2017

Business
Vanuatu learns from the Italian Alps

“One of the best things
about starting the business
in Vanuatu is the support
of the local and business
community. Many of the
government departments
have been extremely help-
by Bob Makin ful, and I’m particularly
grateful for the help given
I MET a fascinating business woman this by Wensie of the Depart-
week, and she doesn’t much want to be ment of Industry. Other
identified, just to let people know of her businesses really went out
products. of their way to help us in
It’s the sort of occupation which has making it a truly positive
since forever engrossed the natives of er market to sell the perfumes within also experience.
the highest Italian Alps as summer faded increased the potential for the business to “It makes us really proud to see our
from the horizon. Turning the fragrances succeed. It was from this point that the perfumes line up against both world name
of the romantic months into an aroma concept widened to Eau des îles and took perfumes in Paris Shopping and beautiful
which reminds the people there of the now in the logo of the traditional canoe as a local products in Pandanus. Our launch on
passed happier times helps the citizenry great way to bring in the island voyages social media has also shown a lot of local
endure the long and chilly dark days and of the Pacific way. support. In only one day we received more
nights to come. “I’ve had to extend my teaching abilities than a thousand new followers. Hopefully
I’ll let her tell her own story ... to practical teaching of the skills involved we can keep growing like this and make a
“My little project started in June 2015 in perfumery. And next year I hope to ex- difference to the Vanuatu economy!
when visiting some of my family in Italy pand the product range. And that means “And in 2017? New products to add to
and discovering how a particular scent more investment. the range and export to Fiji!”
could typify a village or a community. I
felt it a shame we have nothing like it in
met parfumiers and started exploring the ‘ ... It
Vanuatu, especially given all the redolent
and sweet smelling scents we are always
exposed to around the islands. And
whilst I was on an island in Tuscany I

different combinations of scents and how makes
they could be produced from the top notes
to the bottom notes and essential oils that us really
really make the recipes work.
“I knew we could make a perfumery proud to
work in Vanuatu. We have!
“I undertook work with professional see our
perfumiers getting advice from every-
one in the business and exploring the perfumes
fragrances I knew from my years in the
islands. Friends and family assisted this line up
voyage into the unknown. However,
they all confirm that what we have suc- against
ceeded in producing is a unique scent
that captures the essence and experience ... world
of the Vanuatu islands. People say in
using my perfumes that they make them name
think of the special memories they made
in Vanuatu.
“I was originally going to focus on sell- perfumes
ing the product exclusively to the Vanu- ...
atu market only, but the MSG free-trade
agreement opened up an opportunity to
export to Fiji, the Solomon Islands and
PNG and that’s when the concept moved
from beyond Vanuatu to a South Pacific ‘
Islands creation. Of course, having a larg-

Islands Business, January 2017 31