BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
FOUR years ago as a University student in Fiji, Ebony Finau saved her allowances to make extra money. Eventually, She launched his own sales operation — an online business called ‘Twice is Nice’ that sells girls’ outfits, fashion, and more) to customers in Honiara.
“The idea of this business come to life during my university journey. I tried out doing my shopping online and I find it very convenient,’’ recalls 25 –year-old Ebony from Malaita province, who graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce in Tourism and Hospitality Management in 2020.
Her idea of setting up her online retail Thrift shop while undertaking her three-year (2017-2020) Bachelor’s Program at the University of South Pacific in Fiji became possible through the Solomon Islands Government scholarship program, and as a sponsored student she usually received an allowance of Fijian Dollars (FJD) 1080.
“I use to reserve FJD 150 from what I get from my student allowances and I used the money to purchase clothes and sale the clothes upon my return into the country,” She told Solomon Women.
“Since 2019, I started my business by selling my pre-loved clothes online via Facebook and venture out later on Instagram in 2020.
“It was in 2020, after complete my studies I started to put more of my efforts and concentration into my business ambitions
“Inspired by my family to venture into such business was based on the idea to solve the inconvenience of in-store shopping to be more convenient through online social media platforms.
“My business is an online business and I use social media such as Facebook and Instagram to market my products.
“I plan to expand my target market, and product offerings so that I can expand my business capacity which can cater to other provinces.”
Her online business offers a quality assortment of items sourced from Second hands (girls’ clothing outfits, fashion, and more for kids, teenagers, working-class and more).
As a young entrepreneur, Ebony confessed that for her to fully venture into such an online business was not easy.
“I have faced a lot of financial and technical challenges, I had to take up online courses, and start networking and get more advice from experienced business owners to make my entrepreneurship goals come true.
“However, in 2021, I joined the Young Entrepreneurs’ Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) to boost my entrepreneur goals and ideas. It was from that opportunity that pushed my status to become a full-time entrepreneur,” she said.
Ebony’s online business, ‘Twice is Nice’ was amongst the winning contestants of the Ennovation Blo Iumi (EBI) program 2.0, and she was awarded $30,000 funding from the Young Entrepreneurs Council of Solomon Islands (YECSI) and Strongim Bisnis this year.
The goal of EBI 2.0 is to create a collaborative business development program that engages both the public and private sectors in the development of local young entrepreneurs with existing informal businesses and its pipeline program leads to formal business operation for young entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector.
Like any good young entrepreneur, Ebony says that for her, the hardest part about being a young female entrepreneur is playing her role as a sister, a daughter, and a boss.
“As a young entrepreneur, it is challenging in terms of our business environment; especially when you do not have the experience, and lack of confidence – if your business is going to work or not?
“But again you have to plan,’’ she said.
For now, her advice to other young aspiring and innovative entrepreneurs in the country is to be proactive in what they do, always willing to learn, and practice teamwork.
“Look for a problem and solve it. You will flourish. And always passionate about what you do.
“What I enjoy the most as an entrepreneurship is tackling risks, networking with other business like-minded peers, and also being your own boss.”
