You can’t keep a good man down. That phrase rings true for former resort bartender Silivenusi Waqa, who sells locally made fresh juice outside the NewWorld Supermarket in Valelevu.
Mr Waqa was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
But with a positive attitude he started off his own business to provide for his family. “My business is called Juice Me Fiji and I promote the products I make on social media platforms, ” he said.
He has accounts on Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram. “I started the business in 2020 after being laid off from Castaway Island resort because of COVID-19.” The 30-year-old said he had to make use of his skills and knowledge as a bartender to boost his business.
“The juice I make, you would only taste them in a bar or a restaurant. Mr Waqa started working as a bartender in 2017.
He said a good number of customers had been turning up his stall to buy fresh juice. “There are a lot of return customers who would come back to buy because of the taste and the ingredients we use in the juice.
“I don’t use artificial flavour and everything is natural. He uses ginger, coboi, layalaya,kumquat, cucumber, pineapple, mangoes and oranges. “I also do part-time work with a restaurant in Suva and private functions if they need a bartender.”
Mr Waqa says running a business always has its challenges. “For a juice business to thrive it depends on the weather. If it’s humid people would turn up in numbers to buy but on a rainy day, I hardly make any sales.
He said his fresh juice was good for the health. “I could earn between $500 and $600 in a week if its busy. The prices of my juice ranges from 50cents, $1, $2 and $5.” Juice Me Fiji opens from 8am to 6pm on Monday to Saturday.
“I’m encouraging youths to make use of social media and enhance their knowledge by searching educational videos on YouTube. “I learned how to mix beverages from watching YouTube tutorial videos. “I did not take a bartender course but my willingness to learn online had given me job opportunities in the hotel industry.
