A LATE-night thought which is now on the verge of becoming one of Fiji’s most exciting new ventures, the country’s first perfume factory, is the proud creation of 36-year-old Rupeni Rokoratu.
Mr Rokoratu, a former high school industrial arts teacher, spent nearly a decade developing what is now known as Perfume Fiji, a luxury fragrance brand he hopes will inspire a new generation of iTaukei entrepreneurs.
At the Business and Investment Ready Support Grant handover last month at the GCC Complex Talanoa Lounge, Mr Rokoratu shared the long journey behind his dream and the hard work it took to turn it into a reality.
“For many years, I stayed up late, researching, testing, failing, trying to perfect everything,” Mr Rokoratu said.
“This all started as a thought, and now it’s real.
“My message to fellow youths is simple; if I can do this, so can you.”
The Vanua Levu native was one of 24 successful applicants who received a share of the $335,000 government grant.
His factory is based in Labasa.
And while 20 to 30 percent of the perfume’s ingredients are locally sourced, the rest are imported to ensure a high-quality product.
He said bottles of Perfume Fiji will be sold at $99 each, and an office has already opened at the Arts Village in Pacific Harbour.
“It’s been a long journey, and I made a lot of mistakes while trying to create a truly luxurious product,” he said with a smile.
“But I kept going. I left my teaching job in August last year to pursue this full time.
“It took $50,000 – $70, 000 to start my perfume business with the help of a business partner, and there are also two other products that I consider an untouched market in Fiji, that needs half a million to start.”
The launch of his business Perfume Fiji is planned for September, and Mr Rokoratu is already thinking ahead.
He hinted at two other products he considers untapped markets in Fiji, ideas he believes could take off with the right investment, and which Perfume Fiji might help fund.
With his eyes on becoming a multi-millionaire before the age of 40, he says his mission goes beyond personal success.
“This is about showing that iTaukei people can thrive in business too.
“We are resource owners; we just need to shift our mind-set.
“Stop the overnight grogging, stop the laziness. Focus on the goal.”
“It’s about vision, grit, and proving that dreams, even ones born in the middle of the night, can one day fill a bottle.”
