Sell with a good heart — that’s the advice of 54-year-old Suva Municipal Market florist Nina Tuimouta. Tuimouta has been a florist for the past 10 years, a career she believes has allowed her to market herself.
“It shows how I manage to put a variety of colours into one flower arrangement and think of the colour combination,” she says.
“The flowers are real, not artificial.”
Tuimouta says being around other florists at the market makes her work easier by enabling them to share their knowledge and learn from each other.
“When our flowers don’t sell, I tell the ladies not to lose hope, just keep arranging their flowers.
“Being a florist you need to have patience. The customers will come but you need to be good all the time.”
The Nasau villager receives orders every day from corporate clients, with the price of her arrangements ranging from $70 to $100 for a flower wreath while a flower bouquet costs $10.
Tuimouta starts her day at 6am daily and finishes at 4pm working on flowers that she’s supplied by two women who live in Naitasiri and Tailevu.
“I do not have to worry about my flowers because I know my suppliers will bring them,” she says.
As she shares her experiences, Tuimouta also advises women to plant flowers around their compounds at home.
“Do not underestimate what you plant.
“Within two to three months you can start getting money from the flowers you plant, even the leaves.”
It’s the kind of advice that is born out of experience and financial independence. ”
You will be happy to go home with something in your hand to feed your children with food on the table,” she adds.
