BUSINESS picked up for Gopal Naidu a day before Tropical Cyclone Sarai’s arrival into the Western Division.
The Tavua businessman said that while his business for the whole of this year had dropped drastically by 65 per cent, all picked up within a day as people rushed to his shop to buy household items to prepare for the cyclone.
Mr Naidu owns GS Industrial Supplies located on the main street of the Gold Town, a shop that specialises in general hardware, stockist of industrial items and lifting gear.
“There was no show at all in business this year except for a few days ago when the cyclone warning started coming and people rushed into the shop to buy house materials, ropes, nails and other assorted items to secure their homes,” Mr Naidu said.
“This is by far the first time this year that business had picked up really well for my shop…without the cyclone this would not have been the case.
“This year has really been a hard time for business but I am glad I was able to serve some customers prior to Christmas and a few days after.”
Mr Naidu opened his shop to the Tavua public a day after the Category 2 cyclone passed the Western Division.
It was one of the few shops that opened in Tavua after TC Sarai had passed and Mr Naidu made good use of the opportunity to serve his people.
He has been operating his Tavua shop for the past 22 years.
