Businesses in the Suva- Nausori corridor recorded increases in their sales over the past few weeks at the height of the University of the South Pacific graduation and the State funeral of former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
Suva Retailers Association president Jitesh Patel told this newspaper that certain sectors like the hotel industry, food industries, clothing and handicraft businesses recorded increased sales, in particular those who came from abroad to be part of the late Ratu Epeli’s funeral.
He said the strict protocols of dressing in black or white only spiked sales in the clothing sector as well.
Kinisimere Volau of Volau Arts Collection said because of the two ceremonies happening at the same time, her business had thrived more compared to previous weeks.
She said the most sold items was the tabua, mats, tapa, salusalu and fans which had doubled her profit.
Veitacini Serekitakitaki of Veitacini Creation who operates her tailoring business said she had a very busy time sewing and preparing for her last-minute orders during that period as well.
“I had been very busy the whole week with all the sewing of the kalavata because of the State funeral and for the university graduation. Some people were bringing in last minute orders where they gave the orders in the morning and wanted to pick it in the afternoon,” she said.
She added although that was challenging for her to get the orders ready in a short span of time, a boost for her sales.
An entrepreneur who wishes to remain anonymous said she even had to cancel a lot of her orders because, she did not want to rush into the making of the Salusalu as this takes time and to ensure that she provided the best of her items.
She said “some entrepreneurs take a lot of orders during the busy period and fail to deliver best products, but for me, I don’t want to be like that. I want to make sure that my customers are happy and satisfied with the work I do for them”.
However, she also raised concerns that although the government and the people of Fiji did their very best to farewell the Late Ratu Epeli Nailatikau but there has been a huge amount of money spent which could have been saved to be utilised for hard times in the future.
She said that we are getting into a very critical situation due to the war and the rising cost of living will have a wide impact especially on the poor people or the less income families.
Kinisimere Volau at her shop in Flea Market in Suva. Picture: KARISHMA KUMARI
