Founder and director of Mereoni’s Creations & Sweet Fragrances Mereoni Naikanitoba has proved that passion and dedication have no limit after she transformed her hobby into a successful business.
Ms Naikanitoba’s business specialises in hand made freshwater pearl jewellery, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and custom blended perfumes and operates her business at the Downtown Boulevard in Suva.
Originally from Naduri Village in Macuata, the retired schoolteacher discovered creativity and entrepreneurship as a young girl when she used to help her mother bake and sell to support their family.
The single mother of three said what started as a dream had now grown into a thriving business, from selling her products to friends and at the local markets to owning a space at the Boulevard.
“My business is not just about products but it’s about creating opportunities and inspiring every woman,” Ms Naikanitoba told this newspaper in an interview.
She said she used to make jewelleries whenever she travelled to keep herself occupied.
For now, she focuses on pearl jewellery.
“Because I love pearls, I decided to just focus on pearls.”
Ms Naikanitoba said she initially invested around $1500 from her Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) savings and had started her business from home.
She later secured $500 under the Women’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Grant, which she further invested to grow her business.
Since then, she said she had expanded her business and was now exporting her products to Nauru and other overseas countries.
She added that getting the raw materials for her jewellery were some of the challenges she encountered because she had to travel to the Western Division frequently to source her supplies.
Ms Naikanitoba said she now plans to expand her business and open a shop in another location in the city citing the lack of space at her current location.
