Repeka Tatila Scoops SPBD Fiji 2019 Businesswoman of the Year Award
Repeka Tatila is the South Pacific Business Development Fiji (SPBD) Businesswoman of the Year, 2019.
In 2014, she began her canteen business from her home and since then she has grown her business so that it has become a reliable source of income for her family.
“I had to learn from my mistakes,” said Repeka. When I started my business, I gave out credit to my customers, and some of them did not pay back on time.”
She said that with her husband’s support, she kept her business going, and now she is supplying ingredients to other village members so that they can conduct their baking businesses.
The mother of three children is planning to buy a bigger freezer so that she can expand her frozen food sales, along with the tinned food and dry goods like rice, flour and sugar that she supplies to her customers. Before she opened her canteen, she was a SPBD registered member at the Kanakana Centre for two years, selling tobacco.
She has become a respected businesswoman in her village, and works to motivate the other women around her.
She said that with the help of SPBD financial literacy, she has gained a better understanding of saving and budgeting. Through this, she has built up her savings and has been able to improve her family’s standard of living.
Her husband also continues to support Repeka’s business and the family by selling his yaqona and dalo crops.
Advise
Repeka believes that it is never too late to learn from your mistakes.
“There is always a turning point for every person.
“No matter how many times you commit a mistake, there should always be positive thinking so that you can learn from your mistake and make a change,” she said. Her advice to all women is: “Work hard, as that is the only way to success, and always be faithful with the operation of your business.”