BY JOY OFASIA
LIVING in an urban city may sound tough at times, but when it comes to starting a small income-generating business, a city like Honiara can have an abundance of options just as a rural village in the country has.
Where there is a problem, there is a business opportunity; so if the Honiara has so many problems, don’t just run away from them, they are business opportunities available for locals to venture into but it depends on how it is rightly done.
As for local tailor and entrepreneur, Roselyn Seseli setting up her family-owned tailoring business has been a profitable venture especially to avoid the current trend of high employment and high cost of living experienced by the majority in Honiara.
Mrs. Seseli has produced and sold finished garment products at the Honiara Central Market.
“At first I had no idea on how to sew and design local garment products but my husband decided to empower and teach me the whole process and idea on how to design, measure, cut, and sew homemade clothes. I am very thankful to my husband for sharing with me his gifted talent in the art of tailoring.
“The bulk of our orders are from our business customers and our close family and friends,” she told Solomon Women.
Mrs. Seseli is married with five children and has been involved with the family business for more than 10 years. She sews ladies’ blouses, men’s shirts, school uniforms and cushion covers, and many more.
She recalled that despite being faced with challenges over the years, now her family has been very happy and supportive of how she had managed and sustained the business over the years.
“In the past, [as an unemployed mother] I have been faced with the problem to provide school fees for my children but now the business has greatly assisted my family and has improved our standard of living,” she said.
In the Solomon Islands, locals continue to flock to second-hand shops for clothes that suites their styles.
Mrs. Seseli encouraged unemployed women in the country to venture into the local tailoring business to meet the growing demand of local customers in the country.
“Such business is important for building capacity, promoting self-employment, and empowering women and youths to be self-reliant,” she said.
