No market for handicraft for Rabi women

[Stacey King]

FIJI TIMES ONLINE Serafina Silaitoga Monday, November 01, 2010

MARKETING handicraft work on the island of Rabi in the Northern Division is a challenge for the Banaban Women's Association.

Association spokeswoman Terekano Takesau said women had struggled to sell their products such as mats, tapa, jewellery made out of shells and other Banaban traditional clothing to markets in Viti Levu.

"Even to get it across to Savusavu or Labasa has been difficult because we have very limited source of income which can't breathe the travelling expenses.

"The only market that has come to our island is the Tui Tai Cruises and they have helped us a lot because their guests who are mostly Americans buy our handicraft work," Mrs Takesau said.

Like their husbands who have limited access to markets for their dalo and yaqona, Mrs Takesau said such situation has affected women's involvement in handicraft work.

"There is not much market on Rabi so women can only do much depending on the market availability otherwise they will be wasting their resources doing a lot more than what the market can offer," Mrs Takesau said.

She said women have used the market at Nuku to sell their products and depended on civil servants and other workers.

Farmers on the island have also raised their concerns about the limited market they have to sell yaqona and dalo.

However, the farmers have considered themselves blessed with the assistance of Rabi Kava - a well known grog company that sells kava in Suva.

[Stacey King]

One of the greatest ways to sell these handicrafts in online to a global market. Unfortunately at this stage Fiji does not have PayPal available. But now we are seeing the internet starting to arrive finally on Rabi. We started our whole business selling small 125ml bottles of Virgin Coconut Oil and PNG artefacts on Ebay. We had purchased a container load of PNG artefacts and could not sell them in Australia. We started to list them on Ebay and now only have a few larger items left. We shipped and sold these items all over the world. Today we also post out our VCO all over the world all via online selling.
Today we are Power Sellers on Ebay and we even advice other businesses and small start up companies how to utilise Ebay as an amazing global marketing tool. I well know from experience that this can also work for our local Rabi community. The major concerns that I would have at the moment are:
1. How will they accept payments online without PayPal or merchant credit card facilities? Maybe this could be overcome by setting up linked bank account with PayPal accounts in participating countries such as US, Aust, NZ etc.
2. Dispatch, Postage and delivery have to be prompt. We work on a same day (24 hour) turn around for dispatch. Hopefully Fiji Post direct out of Rabi has improved over the years.
3. Packaging has to be of good standard, not second-hand cartons etc. as items need to clear customs, quarantine etc in various countries. It is imperative to always fumigate
4. Quality has to be of highest standard. For example there is 100% guarantee or return policy. If a customer for any reason doesn’t like your item they can return it and you have to give them a full refund. This is all part of US laws.
5. Each item has to be photographed and an honest description made for each item.
6. From a te I-Matang perspective you will find that they are sourcing genuine handicrafts made of traditional raw materials such as pandanus, shells, coconut sinnet etc. In other words it is important for the women to produce uniquely Banaban artefacts that can only be produces by them and not found any where else. This gives the women a unique edge over a lot of other handicrafts available in the global marketplace.
7. Because all these items would be exported via Fiji Post smaller light items are the best. Remember that there are weight and size restrictions when posting, but you also have the benefit of dispatching orders with registered post that allows the customer to track and sign for their items right to their doors.
We have more basic guidelines on all this on Ebay at: http://reviews.ebay.com.au/Tips-for-Setting-Up-a-Successful-Ebay-Bu...
I believe this is the best way for the women to start their own business direct from Rabi itself. I'm sure with the right online marketing that many overseas customers would be only two happy to buy direct from Rabi women and know that the money they pay goes direct to the women.
Hopefully this is something Terikano can look at as another possible marketing opportunity for the future. The possibilities globally are endless.
Regards Stacey

[Roba]

I once lived on the island of Rambi in the late 80's and early 90's and I definitely feel how the people on the island feel nowadays esp with no market.I am interested in handicraft things and wish I can own a big warehouse full of the handicraft things n business kaboanakoakia bwaai like kienuninga ,taian riri ni maie esp banaban things costumes,antiques etc but that was all my dreams.I wish these dreams come true ma nna kata ae i kona ni karaoia mai ikai ni kona ni buokia au aomata aika tiku iaon Rambi.Remind me of that song.."Tera tibangam ngkoe ae te roro n Rambi?