SALOME Likuvo has been working as a market vendor for four years now and has experienced significant personal and financial transformation.
Living alone, Salome relies solely on the income she earns through her market business to support herself.
She shared that the venture has provided her with a stable means of livelihood, enabling her to manage daily expenses, pay her rent, and meet her basic needs comfortably.
Salome sells root crops mostly at the Nausori market and has been doing so among fellow vendors.
For her, being a market vendor is a way she is able to earn for herself.
When she first began selling produce in the market, she faced emotional challenges stemming from her own feelings of shyness and self-consciousness.
She was initially worried about how people would perceive her, as there was often a negative mind-set or judgment toward individuals who sell in open markets.
“Most first-timers are often shy as we tend to think of what our relatives and friends will say about us,” she said.
Many people, she observed, tend to criticise or look down on market vendors, which made her hesitant and anxious in the early stages of her business.
However, over time, she learned to shift her focus away from the opinions of others and concentrate on her work and goals.
“This mental adjustment proved to be an important turning point in my life.”
“By prioritising my own progress and refusing to dwell on external criticism, I gradually built my confidence and became more comfortable in my role as a vendor,” she said.
Salome buys root crops everyday from farmers that come to the market every morning to sell their fresh produce.
She has a regular supplier from whom she buys produce every day.
“Working in the market has not only allowed me to earn a living but has also enabled me to be independent,” she said.
Salome shared that she feels empowered by her ability to provide for herself without having to rely on anyone.
She said running her stall has also taught her important lessons about staying optimistic despite challenges.
Over the years, she has learned that there are some slow days in the market when customers are scarce and sales are minimal.
Instead of letting these moments discourage her, she views them as part of the natural rhythm of the business.
“Every business has its own sets of challenges and for us vendors, there are days when customers would turn up in numbers and others when we hardly get them at all – but this doesn’t discourage us,” she said.
Salome encourages others to remain positive and focused on their own goals despite temporary setbacks in life.
She said there are many ways to earn a living—whether working in an office or selling produce at the market, both provide an income in the end.
