Page 34 - Islands Business January 2021

SPBD SPBD

ers take care of all biosecurity and export requirements. their business runs, because first of all, they’re women, they
Kurisiga started the business when she was 50. are expected to make sure that the clothes are clean, the
“This is why I really admire these ladies who are in SPBD. I house is clean, the food’s done? But then the family needs
really admire them for their courage. to understand that she’s doing this for the family so they are
I’m part of WEBC (the Women Entrepreneurs Business needed here.
Council), and the opportunity came from SPBD to WEBC—be-
cause WEBC is sort of formalised business and SPBD is infor-
mal—to make sure these women [move] up, to make sure API KURISIGA’S TIPS
they are formalised, they are registered, they have a bank
account, they have a TIN. That is where I come in and coach FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
these ladies.
I tell you something, I really, really enjoyed it. I enjoyed • Reduce your expenses as much as you can: use the
it because I can see that they are, you know, these women, flowers and vegetables you grow from home, pack
some of them probably went as far as Class 8 or Form 3, your own lunch and drinks when you go to the mar-
but I tell you, they push. They are skilful at doing what they ket.
are doing. Sometimes, they learn from other ladies that are • Value and price your work realistically
there, even the ones that are selling in the market, you know,
the flea market, the market in Suva, the market in Nausori. • Know what sells and concentrate on that
They just go and see and said “Ok, I can do something like • Understand your competition, see what they are
that.” They go and ask for a space and they start doing some- doing, and work together where you can
thing. And from there, they grow. Once you expose them, • Create your point of difference, understand what
they start to grow, and they do better. makes your product unique or special?
I can say, working with Austrade really taught me to work • Pay attention to the details: how you display your
with women to take them to the next level. My first ques- products, cleanliness
tion to them is, “Why are you pricing at this? Can you tell me • Understand how you use your time (and record it)
why you are pricing this salusalu for $35?” They don’t know. I
taught them that to grow a business, you have to reduce your • Record every transaction, so you can understand
expenses. your profit and loss and how you can grow. Receipt
[On] my first visit to my mentees, I went to sit with their everything.
family. I met the mentee to understand that their planning • Look after your health: eat properly, get exercise
for business was not just them. It’s them and their family. and value your own worth.
The family plays a very important role in them making sure

THE SPBD FINANCIAL BOOKLET

“The most useful booklet for you in building your financial It also has pages to record savings, loan payments for the
security as you embark upon or continue your entrepreneur- year and daily diary pages for cash transactions for busi-
ial journey with South Pacific Business Development.” ness and households.
That is how SPBD founder Greg Casagrande describes the “With this booklet, set your financial goals for the year.
6th edition of the Build up your savings. Honour your financial obligations.
SPBD Financial Record your incomes and expenses. Be a disciplined money
Booklet which manager,” Casagrande writes in the forward to the 6th
was published edition.
in November “We encourage you to share this with your spouses and
2020. family members so they too will have a better understand-
The booklet ing on how to manage household finances.”
includes tips The booklet opens with pages for SPBD members to
for managing write, draw or paste pictures to describe their hopes and
finances—es- dreams for themselves and their families and their vision
pecially sav- for how to make their businesses grow. It also includes
ings, loans pages to record their SPBD savings, records of their loans
and business and repayments, a financial diary for both businesses and
accounts. households, plus information about SPBD services and
processes.

34 Islands Business, January 2021