Page 35 - Islands Business January 2021

SPBD SPBD

MEET THE MEMBER:
MEREAMO LALAKOBATIKI

“My name is Mereamo and I’m from Ucunivanua, Verata,
Tailevu. I sell cooked seafood, because I live on the beach,
my house is on the beach.
I started my business in 2012; I joined SPBD. My initial
plan was to sell and help my relatives. In 2012, SPBD
helped by giving me loans that made it possible to buy my
cooking utensils. In 2017, I took another loan which was
the SME loan. I took $7000. I tried running a car business.
I have a car at Tiko Kece [taxi] base. This is the third year
I’ve been running it [and] this year, in July, I paid it off.
The weekly income I get from my driver is $360. Since the
pandemic, and after paying off the car, [it has] dropped to
$300. cap and gloves in the market. I want to show the women I
When I come to Suva, I sell in Suva market, every Friday sell with that people will come for your goods if they see
and Saturday. I have a table. I sell my seafood packs there, that it’s presented hygienically. That’s important. Secondly,
outside, near the kai section. the portion of what you sell, should meet the cost. These
When I finally owned a vehicle, I was really happy days, earning money is a challenge. Many of the customers
because I didn’t have to worry about my transport home. see what I do, and they come to me because they see it’s
Now, it’s easy for me, when I come, I bring the hot food. worth it.
When I reach the market, people are already going around For my children, I told them to follow me, follow what
looking for me because it’s hot and fresh. I’m doing. They see what I’m doing and how good it is. One
[I also sell] at the USP [University of the South Pacific] of them is in Tonga; she’s doing her business now in Tonga.
market day. It’s been 8 years now and it will start again in This is what I taught them. I told them about SPBD, and how
Feb (2021). On civil servant pay days I go sell my fresh fish they can be their own boss. I see that it’s good and when
to them, and also my fish packs. I do catering for them too I’m gone, they will follow in my footsteps.”
especially for the Ministry of Health, for their workshops
and meetings.”

What have you learnt through the Fiji
Bloom program?
“A lot of things, to do my recordings
and everything. I have to do my cashflow,
how to measure my profit and loss, all
these things that helped me a lot to move
forward and better my business.
[In 2021] I’m looking to open my bread
shop in the village. I know how to make
bread. For us, if you want to buy bread,
you either go to Korovou or Nausori or
Suva. I see that good profit can be made
from selling bread.
My family is supporting me. [My daugh-
ter] needs to drive the car when we go
around to sell. And my husband, he helps
a lot. When we do the cooking, he looks
after the root crops. He does his job, I do
my job, and do the packing.
I’m happy about my sales and I see the
difference post COVID-19. I saw how we
transacted, and whatever I had learned,
I try to act on it. For instance, I wear the

Islands Business, January 2021 35