FORMER language teacher Loraini Bula makes a living by combining her diverse interests.
As a home-based enterprises under the name Loraini’s Creations, her business combines fabric printing, a busy nursery and home crafting.
Aside from her business, Ms Bula is kept busy daily by her brood of five daughters and six grandchildren. Her business has been in operation for more than five years.
“I do some fabric printing, as you can see, and I also have a nursery. I sell flowers and fruit-trees and all these handicraft items,” she said.
Ms Bula’s nursery gives her a stable income when the sale of her fabric items slow down.
“My floral business is going well. I have a nursery in my backyard, and I plant and buy and resell them again. That is why I spend most of my time in my backyard.”
Ms Bula said she prints her fabrics but hires a specialised embroiderer to do the sewing.
She also produces virgin oil.
“With virgin oil, you must be careful with how you scoop the top layer. So, I do that myself, as well as scraping the coconuts.”
Ms Bula says one of the challenges she faces is dealing with high demands from clients. To tackle the issue she manages their expectations by being honest and frank.
On a visit to a recent agriculture show in Nadi, Ms Bula said she notices that only a small number of iTaukei women were selling flowers. This is despite the fact that they often had a lot of space in their backyard.”
“I want to encourage all the Fijian ladies that money is there beside your house, all you need to do is look around and plant whatever you can.
“Other ladies are not going to have the same plants you have so that’s where you would be able to generate money.”
Ms Bula’s tips include encouraging resourcefulness and recycling.
“Do not say you are not working and that you do not have money, you can use your old carton of milk or your old oil or ice cream containers to plant flowers.”
