Labasa Couple Plans to Improve their Online Business
It is really easy to sell online says entrepreneur, Ilai Lomaloma. A young couple in Labasa have opted for online sales using social media platforms and they believe that it is much easier, convenient and a great way forward in running businesses during this technological era.
“Not just technologically beneficial, but during the pandemic and seeing the growing numbers in COVID-19 cases in Fiji recently, we as online business operators consider to market our products through online shopping,” Mr Lomaloma said.
Mr Lomaloma was first assisted by the Ministry of Youth and Employment in setting up his sound system business.
He later ventured into designing merchandise that started late in 2019.
“My wife and I discussed that no one was doing this sort of business and we know that there would be a demand for it,” he said.
He also said they had purchased a screen printing machine before COVID-19 hit and started with
four productions.
“We created a page on Facebook and Instagram known as Alpha Designs. The pages gets shared
rapidly, and globally as well” he said.
Mr Lomaloma said: “The Ministry of Health made the first order
of more than 100 T-shirt’s for COVID frontline workers.”
“After that, we thought of creating our own design and started the provincial design that went viral on social media and was widely shared,” he said.
Mr Lomaloma said it was unbelievable and surprising to see more orders coming to us.
“The orders started to roll in from outside of Labasa, Lautoka, Nadi and Suva.”
He said they were working towards improving their business online.
Latest design
Mr Lomaloma said their latest design was, “Vanua Levu, the safest place on Earth.”
“As the business was beginning to soar, we rented a commercial space and employed five labourers to assist ourselves, as sometimes we could not cater for the orders coming in when the second wave of COVID arrived and affected the business, so we had to stop with the production,” he said.
He said there were some small orders and jobs that was approaching them which kept them afloat.
“We managed to get orders from abroad as well,” he said.