It started off as a hobby but now she is a full- time businesswoman selling pot plants and you can call her a horticulturist as well.
Meet Lavenia Palmer who sells pot plants with her friends beside the FNPF’s Downtown Boulevard building in Suva. Before being a horticulturist, Mrs Palmer worked at Courts Fiji Ltd for 33 years.
“I retired in 2010 and started work as a sales executive and worked my way up to manager’s position before I retired.
I always believe that customers come first before a product and that used to be my motto.
“I taught that principle to those who work at Courts and it’s important to look after your customers,” she said.
Mrs Palmer hails from Nasaqalau, Lakeba in Lau and even though she is retired, she says she enjoys selling assorted pot plants and putting smiles on people’s faces.
When asked about business during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said,
“I’m so lucky that these flowers and plants don’t catch viruses. It’s business as usual for us and we are not affected by this pandemic.
“People still buy pot plants. I even sell fruit plants such as soursop, guava and lemons.
“And even plants for avocado and sandalwood, a variety of chilli (pepper) plants,” she added.
Mrs Palmer said she operated at the boulevard location with four women selling a variety of plants under the banner Unique Plant Group.
“We are part of the Suva Orchid and Horticulture Association.
“We used to be based at the sea wall near the Civic Center and when we were told to move from there, we are thankful to the FNPF management in allowing us to sell on their premises and they gave us this space to sell our products,” she said.
“I plant, I buy plants that I don’t have and I sell as well. It’s important to look after your plants, give them water, food and ensure that they have enough sunlight.
I’m thankful for the experience gained at Courts that helped a lot to start my own business,” she added.
Mrs Palmer said prices of pot plants range between $5 and $35.
The Unique Plant Group sells from Monday to Sunday from 7am until 6pm. ” I enjoy doing this and at the same time earning some money,” she added.
